The Excellence Awards showcase and promote women performing at their best, the uniqueness of women in construction, and the pursuit of excellence of the construction industry as a whole.

The evening was opened by the Victorian Minister for Women’s Affairs Maxine Morand, and attended by over 400 guests from the Victorian building and construction industry.

“We need more women working in this crucial sector of the Victorian economy and as such we need to promote the diverse roles that are available,” she said.

The Minister said that the participation of women in this industry has remained largely unchanged since 1986 – ranging between 12 and 14 per cent.

Victorian outstanding achievement award winners included:

• Outstanding achievement in design award – Beatrix Lehnert (Grocon Constructions)
• Construction – Charlotte Hickey (APM Group)
• Delivery and development – Deborah Cownley (Melbourne Water)
• Contribution to environmental sustainability – Elena Bondareva (Thinc Projects)
• Advancing the interests of women in construction – Valerie Francis (University of Melbourne)
• Businesswoman – Katherine Armstrong (Lateral Projects and Development)
• Young achiever – Jaclyn Gow (Baulderstone)
• Apprentice / trainee (carpentry) – Cheryl Unwin
• Student – Meg Hermann (University of Melbourne).