Five Talks Empowering Women in Construction at UK Construction Week

UK Construction Week (UKCW), the UK’s biggest event for the built environment, will champion women in the construction industry at its upcoming Birmingham show with a dedicated programme of panel discussions, skills workshops and networking opportunities.

Taking place at the NEC from 30 September to 2 October, this year’s event will address the sector’s ongoing challenges of representation and retention, while showcasing the development opportunities available for women to drive greater diversity in the construction industry.

Now in its 10th year and with a theme of ‘where decisions are made’, UKCW Birmingham will be celebrating the impact of women shaping the built environment. The programme of talks and workshops include sessions intended to inspire leadership, drive cultural change, and create meaningful connections across the industry.

Talk highlights include:

Wednesday 1st October

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation Hub, 10.30am

Unlock the Power Within: A Leadership Activation

An energising session with Natalie Baksheieva, Executive Coach and Trainer. Discover practical strategies to build clarity, confidence, and leadership skills for every stage of your career.

Digital Construction Hub, 3.30pm

Crafting Business Brilliance – Women in BIM Panel

Hear from Women in BIM experts on how generative AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and agility in construction. Speakers include Emma Rees, Wates Smartspace; Hadeel Saadoon, Turner & Townsend; Lilian Ho, Aecom; and Mairead Gallager-Morgan, Grimshaws.

Digital Construction Hub, 4.15pm

Women in BIM Networking Session

Connect directly with Women in BIM experts, exchange insights, and share experiences in an informal, one-to-one setting. This is expected to be a popular event, therefore seats are reserved on a first come first served basis. Visitors can easily book their seat using UKCW’s dedicated show app.

Thursday October 2nd

Culture Change & Skills Hub, 1.15pm – 3.15pm

Building Connections: Meet Women Who Shape Construction

Join a dynamic networking session moderated by Monique Wintle-Camp with panellists Siu Mun Li, director at Siu-lutions; Holly Kattenhorn, Senior Construction Manager at L.A. Kattenhorn & Partners; Renee Preston, CEO at Gallaway Construction & Founder, Construction for Women; and Sam McCabe, Sustainable Buildings Lead Scotland & Passive House Designer at WSP & Women in Property, who all volunteer for NAWIC (The National Association of Women in Construction). Engage in practical networking exercises, small group reflections, and conversations that explore challenges and opportunities for women in construction, and how to build a stronger, more inclusive industry. Whether you’re new to the sector or a seasoned professional, come along to share, learn, and expand your network in a supportive environment.

This long format session will feature the following:

Micro skills session – From Awkward to Authentic: Building Your Network with Confidence
Panel Discussion: Women at Work: Real Stories, Real Change in Construction
Small Group Reflection: What’s one bold step you’ll take next?

Round Table at the Build Connect Lounge, 11am

Women Leaders in Construction – Beyond Allyship: Conversations for Leaders Who Want to Get It Right

Bringing together a small group of industry leaders for a closed-door roundtable on lived experiences, leadership, and building inclusive cultures. Led by Monique Wintle-Camp, MD at Wintle-Camp Coaching, hear directly from women in construction about their lived experiences and reflect on what that means for your leadership, culture, and company.

Neil Gaisford, Divisional Director, Construction, commented: “It was important for us to put women’s voices and experiences at the forefront of this year’s show – not just to spotlight the fantastic leaders already making waves in the built environment, but to also challenge the industry to do more. It needs to move faster on diversity and cultural change to ensure retention and inspire more women to consider a career in construction. This year’s programme has been designed to inspire reflection and action to ensure the next decade of UKCW reflects a more inclusive and dynamic community.”

UKCW Birmingham attracts visitors and exhibitors from across the globe, and will showcase a host of international exhibitors from the likes of China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Turkey. Amongst those already confirmed are Lanes Group; Build Warranty; Reader Cement; Unibond; Xpedeon; Cure It Composites; Don & Low; Metador; and Licata. Alongside over 300 leading brands from around the world, UKCW Birmingham will feature 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars and talks across five stages.

To help attendees get the most out of the show, UK Construction Week has launched its handy web-based app. Visitors can quickly build a personalised itinerary of talks, book meetings and navigate the floorplan all from the palm of their hand.

To register for UKCW Birmingham for free, visit https://forms.reg.buzz/ukcw-birmingham-2025/cab-pr

To download the show app, visit https://www.ukconstructionweek.com/ukcw-app.