The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has hosted a global webinar on male allyship and cultural ambassadorship as part of its work to advance fair and inclusive workplaces.
By Cathryn Greville, CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction.
It’s exciting to enter into 2026 feeling energised after a year of progress for NAWIC and celebrations marking our 30th anniversary in 2025.
Our organisation remains volunteer-led, and this sets us apart in the sector. It gives us boots-on-the-ground insights and local knowledge on women’s experiences and the issues affecting construction.
NAWIC’s Organisational Strategy 2025–2028 outlines our focus as we continue to work towards an equitable construction industry that is fair, inclusive and respectful, and where everyone can thrive. We know that culture change is integral to achieving gender equity.
Last year we amplified our voice in advocacy, secured record funding for culture change initiatives, engaged CEOs personally in our mission, opened opportunities for further collaboration across the sector, received recognition for our volunteering and achievements, and grew our membership, sponsorship and support base.
It was also an honour to host and facilitate the NAWIC Global Webinar on Male Allyship and Cultural Ambassadorship in November, providing an opportunity to collaborate on an international scale.
More than 800 participants from our global network registered for this discussion, including those from the United States, Canada and New Zealand. The session allowed us to share our work on culture change and receive feedback on creating fair, inclusive and respectful workplaces.
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It was exciting to outline our approach with others working to achieve similar objectives overseas. In order to attract, retain and advance women in the construction sector, we need safe and inclusive environments that meet their needs and offer supportive career pathways.
Men make up 11 per cent of our more than 16,000 members in Australia, but not all NAWIC organisations internationally open their membership to all genders. The webinar was an opportunity to highlight the important role male allies can play in creating an equitable construction industry for all. When you get workplace culture right, everybody benefits, both individuals and organisations. It’s all about calling men and leaders in rather than calling them out and meeting them wherever they are on this journey of change.
Research shows that men in allyship programs are three times more likely to advance gender equity, almost 70 per cent of women want more men involved in gender equity, and these initiatives are most effective when men are involved as allies and champions.
We know the challenges women face in the construction sector are not women’s issues, but societal and sector issues, which means we all share both the responsibility and the potential to address them.
Doreen Bartoldus, NAWIC USA past national president for 2021 to 2022, acted as moderator for the global webinar, which also featured NAWIC Australia male ally advocates Adam Woodley (director and senior advisor at WOODLEY Advisory Group), Nigel Gorman (CEO of Aussie Painters Network and NAWIC National Male Ally Award winner) and Greg Belle (NAWIC senior project manager, Allyship in Action).
Male allyship and cultural ambassadorship are central to our Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women project, which attracted $5 million in federal government funding through the Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program. The three-year project is being delivered in partnership with ADCO, the Australian Workers’ Union, CPB Contractors and Holmesglen Institute.
Belle provided an overview of the current situation in the industry, the aims of the project, which builds on our NAWIC Male Allies program, and the research that underpins it. Men make up most of the construction workforce in Australia, while women make up 12.4 per cent in total, so when men challenge current practices and champion inclusion, this increases the likelihood of change. The project will engage with men online, offer a site-based program, empower men to sponsor women and utilise cultural ambassadors to embed positive change on the ground.
He also explored what we can all do to support culture change, from self-education and being aware of our own behaviour to staying engaged and setting personal goals. For organisations, the emphasis is on putting effective policies in place, supported by leaders who are accountable and who ensure these policies are reflected across the supply chain, including with subcontractors.
Woodley and Gorman joined the panel to discuss male allyship, sharing real-world examples of the change they are supporting and seeing, the role men can play and the actions that can accelerate progress towards gender equity. They are both passionate advocates for diversity and inclusion, and webinar participants were keen to learn more from them.
Achieving culture change is at the heart of our organisational strategy, and the global webinar allowed us to share what we have learned so far and invite others to join us on this journey.
Thank you to our webinar speakers and volunteers, including our chapter leaders and board members, who contribute time and energy to help us deliver our work. It was inspiring to attend Awards for Excellence events in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania in November to celebrate the achievements of the women, businesses and allies who are shaping the future of construction. It was also a pleasure to meet with our members in these jurisdictions and discuss the positive difference they are all making.
I look forward to sharing more about our progress in the year ahead.