The Australian Flexible Pavement Association is committed to fostering workforce diversity and inclusion and supporting workplaces that respect and value all people. In March 2024, AfPA held its inaugural multi-State International Women’s Day Industry event designed to inspire, acknowledge and engage women in the flexible pavement industry.
International Women’s Day
AfPA held breakfasts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, representing the first multi-state International Women’s Day (IWD) event.
The event as attended by 430 people nationally, sought to celebrate the achievements of women across the industry. It also promoted gender diversity while increasing awareness and positive action to address barriers. Several opportunities were also identified to support women in the industry.
The event was aligned to the International Women’s Day 2024 theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusion’. The Keynote Speakers included Julie Mitchell (Deputy Director-General. Transport and Main Roads), Pamela Henderson (Head of Technical Services, Transport for NSW), Meredith Hammat MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport, Tourism and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Charmaine Higgins (Group Executive for People & Capability, Ventia) and Evonne Penrose (Trainee Safety Supervisor, BMD).
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Together with Industry Panels in each State, these figures reflected on their career journeys and shared experiences and advice in how industry can ‘inspire inclusion’ and support our workforce.
AfPA has long been committed to inspiring, acknowledging, and engaging women from across the flexible pavement industry, the broader building and construction sector, and beyond. This follows the publication of AfPA’s Diversity and Inclusion Roadmap in May 2023.
The Roadmap aims to promote inclusivity and address skills shortages across the flexible pavement industry. AfPA has consistently recognised the positive impact of an inclusive workforce on productivity, innovation, and capability, which in turn contributes to building a stronger industry to support roads and infrastructure. The AfPA Diversity and Inclusion Roadmap comprises of a number of initiatives being driven by the Association together with it’s members and the broader industry to strengthen and empower the industry.
The initiatives represent a strategic and multifaceted approach that seeks to attract, recruit, retain and develop careers for workers in the industry.
AfPA IWD Breakfasts
AfPA attracted 430 attendees to the breakfasts at the Langham (Sydney), The Kew Golf Course (Victoria), Adelaide Convention Centre, and Frasers Restaurant (Perth). All five breakfasts sold out, with long waitlists for those hoping to attend.
Sponsors like Ventia, COLAS, Puma Energy Bitumen, Just Careers Training and Licences 4 Work ensured these breakfasts could go ahead.
The breakfasts were delicious, the discussions insightful, and it is clear that there is a significant demand for more of these breakfasts across a range of matters concerning Diversity and Inclusion in the future. AfPA is proud of its services to its members, and the IWD breakfasts show just how important members are to the organisation.
This article was originally published in the May edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
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