CIF celebrates International Women’s Day
Over 100 men and women attended the Construction Industry Federation’s (CIF) recently-held breakfast briefing on Increasing Female Participation in Construction. CIF Director of Industrial Relations, Jean Winters said: “The Construction industry is a very male dominated industry. We have about 136,000 people in the sector and just 8% of these are women. Unfortunately we don’t see too many of the women involved in CIF activities and we would like that to change. We need more women participation and getting involved and being moved into more senior roles within the industry.
“This International Women’s Day at the CIF, we have gathered to celebrate the many pioneering women involved in the industry over the years, such as our former President Mirette Corboy and those like her, who have become not only leaders in their field of expertise, but role models for the generations of young women and girls following them.”
The briefing was held to address the chronically low levels of female participation within the industry and heard from a number of speakers including Paypal Vice President Louise Phelan, Phil Kane, Country Manager for Eaton Group, Claire Solon, President of Society Chartered Surveyors, Jen Kelly of Women in Trades Network Ireland and Deirdre Hennessy, Senior Associate with ByrneWallace.
While female participation continues to grow across many sectors in Irish society, construction appears to be a last bastion of male-domination in business. However, there is a strong tradition of female leadership in the industry. According to a recent report carried out by DKM with input from SOLAS, the industry could expand by 33% to €20 billion by 2020. It’s estimated that 112,000 additional employees will be required across management, craft and trade to deliver the houses and infrastructure needed support Ireland’s rapidly growing population and economy.
Pictured is Paypal Vice-President Louise Phelan with Jean Winters, CIF Director, Industrial Relations, beside a photograph of Mirette Corboy, the CIF’s first and only female president, who served two terms during the 1980s and 1990s.
