Winners announced for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction 2024

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is delighted to announce the winners for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards 2024.

The awards ceremony, which celebrates and honours the outstanding individuals within the sector, took place on 30 September at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel at the start of UK Construction Week. The Awards Ceremony was hosted by National Federation of Builders, and showcased the influential women that work in construction, making female and non-binary role models more visible and accessible to inspire others, and demonstrating that the sector is open to everyone.

The category winners were:

Local Heros – exceptional women from nine different regions across the United Kingdom who are currently working at an operational or site level role in construction
Midlands: Kayleigh Merritt, Winvic Construction Ltd
East of England: Suzanne Moss, Ringway Infrastructure Services
South West: Danielle Haskings, MCS
North East: Denise Cherry, YIRTG
North West: Melissa Fazackerley, Dimension H&S Ltd
South East: Chloe Xidhas, Independent Contract Consultant
Scotland: Emily Carr, Kier Construction
Northern Ireland: Melanie Dawson, Origin7
Wales: Katherine Evans, Bold as Brass

Women on the Tools – for those working within a specific trade within the industry who have or are striving to inspire the next generation of construction workers
Nettie Taylor, Eliza Tay Lady Decorators

The Influencer – for those who have made a considerable and real impact at an organisational or national level within an organisation in one of three sub-categories (client, designer and contractor)
Designer: Sam May, WSP
Client: Liz McDermott, QuickFix Profiles
Contractor: Carolyn Jay, Ringway Infrastructure Services

Allies – the only category that recognises people, no matter the gender, within the industry who are acting as key influencers in supporting inclusion and change
Alice Brookes, On the Tools
Claire Brown, Turner & Townsend
Clare Yelland, Friel
Gail Farley, HMS Works
Jason Newton, Redrow NW
Joanna Strahan, C2C Group
Lade Ogunlaja, Turner & Townsend
Magdalena Stefanick, Tilbury Douglas
Tony O’Sullivan, CPI Mortars Ltd
Kelly Cartwright, Core Recruiter

One to Watch – for industry newcomers leading the way in championing equality, diversity, inclusion and equity
Kynleigh Parker, Lovell Partnerships

The Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction were also unveiled at the awards with the UK’s Most Influential Overall accolade awarded to Katherine Evans from Bold as Brass.

**Katherine Evans from Bold as Brass announced as the Most Influential Overall at this year’s awards**

Danny Clarke, Engagement Director, England at CITB, said: “Congratulations to our award winners and to all of those who were shortlisted for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction. We are delighted to recognise the incredible women and allies who are driving real change in the construction industry.

“The award ceremony and Top 100 shortlist celebrate the women that work at every level within the sector and their phenomenal achievements, while inspiring others and encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in this field. We are proud to showcase those who are leading in our industry and hope to see more even more applicants next year.”

Richard Beresford, Chief Executive Officer at National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “It was a privilege to attend the Top 100 Most Influential Awards event and celebrate the outstanding women and allies that have gone above and beyond this year.  It is testament to the positive changes taking place in the industry and we must build on its success and continue to empower and support our women in construction.”

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