Building Minds 2025: Empowerment of Women in Construction and Architecture

3rd Apr 2025

Last Thursday, we hosted Building Minds: Empowerment of Women in Construction and Architecture, a thought-provoking event dedicated to highlighting the challenges and progress of women in traditionally male-dominated fields. The discussion not only celebrated achievements but also tackled the deep-rooted biases that continue to hinder gender equality.

Building Minds is an ongoing initiative designed to spark meaningful conversations within the industry. This year’s event shifted its focus from last year’s theme of mental health in construction to the crucial topic of gender equity. By bringing together influential women in the field, we created a space to share experiences, confront barriers, and explore solutions for a more inclusive future.

Paula Chandler

National Design Director, Wates Construction

Federica Minozzi

CEO, Iris Ceramica Group

Rebecca Heald

Founder of The Heald Method | Reimagining Sustainability in Construction

Cassandra Codling

Regional Director, NHBC

Rachael Davidson

Founding Director at SMITHS, Committee Member at Women in Architecture, and Programme Director at Build The Way

Kate Marlow

Founding Partner, Here Design

Kate, Founding Partner at Here Design, moderated the talk, and opened the discussion with the stark reality of the current landscape: women make up just 15% of the UK construction workforce and 31% of architects, with leadership roles still largely male-dominated. Within Kate’s industry, the design sector, approximately only 17% of Creative Directors are female. The gender pay gap remains a major issue, with RIBA Business Benchmarking 2023 reporting a 16% disparity within architecture.

With these statistics in mind, the panellists explored the barriers women face and the structural changes needed to foster a truly inclusive environment where women can thrive.

Voices of Resilience: Breaking Down Barriers

Paula Chandler set the tone by discussing the resistance she faced early in her career. She shared a revealing anecdote about her boss denying her a promotion, saying that there was no way he could promote her because then he’d lose his ‘king maker’. In summary, Paula was the driving force behind exceptional outcomes but, as it turned out, he was taking all the credit for it. This shocking exchange highlights the systemic bias that often prevents women from advancing to leadership positions. Paula emphasised the need for systemic changes in how companies evaluate and promote talent, advocating for merit-based advancements that disregard gender and inviting women to ‘project manage their own destiny’.

Federica Minozzi continued the conversation with an international perspective, highlighting how only 3% of companies in Italy have women as members of their governance bodies – a shocking statistic in 2025. She explained how historic cultural norms in Italy are still prevalent, and often limit women’s roles to traditional expectations as the ‘caregiver’, thereby impacting professional opportunities. She stressed the importance of corporate policies that support gender diversity as a means of breaking down these stereotypes.

Rachael Davidson tackled the balance of motherhood and professional life, challenging the bias that women cannot be both dedicated mothers and successful professionals. Rachael explained, “I want to be a role model to my children. Particularly my daughter, in terms of you can work, and have a career, and be creative and ambitious, but you can also be at home and do all the things that you need to do as a mother.” She advocated for more flexible working environments that accommodate the needs of working parents.

Rebecca Heald highlighted the importance of visibility, representation, and education. She shared her initiatives around promoting the industry within schools, not just to children, but also educating the teachers. During her time as a teacher, Rebecca commented, “I probably had, I don't know, half of my class would've been perfect for the construction industry. Did I have a clue? No. Because as far as I was concerned, I had to get them through their GCSEs. I had to get them through the academic system.” She highlighted how role models and support through education can significantly alter career trajectories and perceptions within male-dominated spaces.

Lastly, Cassandra Codling talked about the importance of making training accessible. She talked about NHBC’s multi-skill training hub, an initiative set up to address the skills shortage. This includes training women in prison with the necessary skills to secure jobs on site once released. Cassandra also addressed the issue of imposter syndrome, encouraging women to own their accomplishments and capabilities. She reinforced the message with her empowering mantra, "Believe in yourself. You've got this."

Deconstructing Bias:

Each panellist provided strategies and personal anecdotes on how they’ve worked to dismantle the biases within the construction and architecture industries:

Creating Inclusive Cultures: The panellists agreed on the importance of fostering workplace cultures that actively challenge gender stereotypes through training, discussions, and strict non-discrimination policies.
Policy Reforms: Federica Minozzi highlighted the need for policies that not only prevent gender bias but also actively promote gender diversity, including equal pay initiatives and career development programs specifically tailored for women.
Support Systems: Rachael Davidson emphasised the role of support systems, including formal mentoring programs, networks, and alliances within the industry, which provide crucial support and advocacy for women.
Public Advocacy: Rebecca Heald and Paula Chandler discussed their efforts in public advocacy to raise awareness about gender bias, participating in forums, writing articles, and engaging with media to highlight issues and solutions.

Moving Forward: Calls to Action

As the discussion drew to a close, each panellist shared a powerful call to action, underscoring the collective effort needed to combat gender bias:

Paula Chandler: "Never underestimate the impact you have on others and use your influence positively – to make the path less steep for those following in our footsteps."
Federica Minozzi: "Together, we can do so much. Let's dream together to shape a better future."
Rachael Davidson: "Be kind and curious. Learn about your colleagues' experiences and use that understanding to create supportive environments."
Rebecca Heald: "We're doing great work empowering women; let's ensure we also support the young boys and men in our industry."
Cassandra Codling: "Move away from imposter syndrome. Have confidence and believe in yourself—you've got this."

The event concluded on a note of optimism, with a renewed commitment to pushing for gender equity in construction and architecture. As participants left the Building Minds 2025 event, they carried with them not just the conversations of the day, but a charge to effect change, both in their organizations and across the industry at large.

A huge thank you to all of our brilliant panellists for sharing their stories, and to Kate Marlow for expertly moderating the conversation. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going!