MBV Honours 2023 International Women’s Day

Gavriel Berkowitz Editor

On Thursday 8th March, Master Builders Victoria (MBV) hosted our 2023 MBV International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast at the Sofitel on Collins, Melbourne.

This was MBV’s fourth annually hosted MBV IWD Breakfast, celebrated in alignment with this year’s widely recognised IWD theme ‘Embrace Equity’. The event again proved very popular with tickets selling out weeks prior to the day. More than 600 professionals from the building and construction industry came together to discuss equity and innovation, and the importance of encouraging more women to enter the industry.

Opening the event, our Guest MC Jo Stanley — Television, radio and podcast personality, introduced Wurundjeri women’s dance group Djirri Djirri, who performed an engaging welcome dance and an acknowledgement to country.

Master Builders Victoria CEO (Interim),

Michaela Lihou then began the presentations with a powerful message on the value and importance of achieving real equity for women within our industry, sharing a personal story about her own journey.

This was followed by a presentation from guest speaker Lauren Matthews, Acting Executive Director and Director of Programs at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, who spoke on the current challenges and initiatives pertaining to achieving equity and respect in the workplace.

Guests were also inspired by the personal story of Kelly Cartwright OAM, former Gold Medallist Paralympian, receiving key messages of the importance of perseverance and believing in one self’s ability to achieve outstanding accomplishments.

Following their presentations, these insightful speakers took part in a lively panel discussion, where they were joined by Duncan Bryce, Head of Building Solutions with the Bunnings Group. The discussion centred around the challenges and opportunities of developing a workforce where diversity, equity and inclusion are genuinely valued.

MBV CEO (Interim), Michaela Lihou, said that 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.

Michaela Lihou also stated that “unfortunately, striving for gender equity in our industry has been a very long and slow burn. 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.” Michaela also reminded guests that 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 which has increased from 31 per cent in 2018. Michaela said that “this is about striving for overall industry best practice, to deliver better outcomes and a stronger Victorian industry and economy.”

A closing address was delivered by MBV President, Mark Little, who again thanked our generous event sponsors: Centerpiece Event Sponsor – Bunnings Trade, Industry Partner - Incolink and other valued Sponsors - Cbus, Built Environs, Diida – part of AHB Group, AGL, and Multiplex.

MBV would like to thank everyone who attended this wonderful event, we hope to see you at more MBV events in the future.

MBV’s calendar of events for 2023 can be viewed on pages 28-29.