Master Builders Victoria (MBV) is celebrating 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) with a sold-out breakfast tomorrow being attended by more than 600 people from the building and construction industry at the Sofitel Melbourne, coming together to discuss equity and innovation to encourage more women to enter the industry.

Master Builders Victoria CEO (Interim) Michaela Lihou says with increasing demands on the industry and workforce shortages, there has probably never been a more pertinent time to reflect on the barriers currently preventing women from entering the industry, and the innovations which need to be adapted to clear those barriers.

“It’s interesting that there has been some public debate about this year’s theme for IWD with many people using ‘EmbraceEquity’ as the widely accepted focus for 2023, but the United Nations pointing out today that their theme is in fact, ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future,” she says.

“The reality is for our industry, we need to do both.”

“We need to embrace the need for, and the strengths of, a more equitable industry and also acknowledge the role that innovation and technology can play in helping us deliver that. This isn’t an either/or debate for the building and construction industry!”

Key note speakers at tomorrow’s breakfast will be Lauren Matthews, Acting Executive Director and Director of Programs at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and former Gold Medallist Paralympian Kelly Cartwright OAM, who will also take part in a lively panel discussion with Duncan Bryce, Head of Building Solutions with the Bunnings Group on the challenges and opportunities of developing a workforce where diversity, equity and inclusion are genuinely valued.

The event is being hosted by television, radio and podcast personality Jo Stanley.

“Unfortunately, striving for gender equity in our industry has been a very long and slow burn,” says Ms Lihou. “The stats tell us that women have consistently comprised only two per cent of field-based workers in the Australian construction sector over the past 30 years.”

“But we are making progress, albeit slowly. Of the more than 50,000 apprentices and trainees who entered the industry in 2022, 37 per cent were women, up from 31 per cent in 2018.”

“Events like our fourth annual IWD breakfast aren’t simply about waving a flag calling for equity. This is about recognising the workforce challenges confronting our industry and coming together to discuss the logical and sensible answers to those challenges which can – and should – include more women.”

“This is about striving for overall industry best practice, to deliver better outcomes and a stronger Victorian industry and economy.”

Tomorrow’s MBV event is supported by Bunnings Trade, Incolink, AGL, Built Environs, CBUS Super Fund, Multiplex and AHB Group.