The second edition of The Big 5’s Women in Construction (WIC) Forum & Awards will be taking place this November 27th at the Dubai World Trade Centre in order to host the official Certificate Ceremony for companies that have agreed to willingly sign the WEPs. This follows the successful launch of the Middle East’s largest construction event in 2018. Industry leaders, including Brian Johnson, Managing Partner at Godwin Austen Johnson, and Hind Al Owais, Vice President- International Participants at Expo 2020 will be speaking at this event meant to focus on diversity, inclusion, gender balance, and women in leadership.
This year, the event also supports the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), an initiative of the UN Women and the UN Global Compact, providing seven principles that organizations in all fields can commit to adopt in order to advocate gender balance in the workplace, community, and marketplace.
Companies willing to come together and sign the WEPs can do so at the official Certificate Ceremony hosted by The Big 5’s Women in Construction Forum & Awards.
“Despite the unconscious gender bias barriers, women continue to build their path in the industry. Corporates have a critical role to play and the WEPs is the tool that will help them to act and guide them in their journey for greater gender equality... We are proud to have dmg events, the organizers of The Big 5, part of the WEPs community, and we hope that The Big 5 Women in Construction Forum & Awards will bring together the industry to join the WEPs and the global movement.”
- Hanane Arif, Head of Communication, Societe Generale Middle East and Chairwomen of WEPs Local Network UAE
According to a research published by the WEPs UAE Local Network, eliminating discrimination against female workers can increase productivity by up to 40%. “Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) policies in organizations boost business,” says Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Director at dmg events.
“With this is mind, we are proud to bring back the Women in Construction Forum & Awards to share inspiring stories of women in construction and leadership positions, promote D&I policies that increase productivity in construction businesses, and support the WEP’s initiative,” Heijmans adds.
“There has been a big mental shift in the industry over the past few years and the inclusion of woman professionals has become more important and relevant. However, the policies that would enable them to perform and succeed are lacking... Taking part in the Women in Construction Forum & Awards will be an opportunity to open the discussion further about what the industry needs and how to get there.”
- Morgan Tuckness, Head of Technical Services, Global Director, Drees & Sommer, and a speaker at The Big 5’s WIC Forum
The lineup of speakers at the WIC Forum also includes leading industry names of the likes of Brian Johnson, Managing Partner at Godwin Austen Johnson, Hind Al Owais, Vice President- International Participants at Expo 2020, and Katie Fifer, Vice President- Finance, Asia & Middle East at Katerra, among many others.
Following the keynote presentations and panel discussions, The Big 5 will award industry professionals and organizations in the construction sector in the following categories: “Woman in Leadership”, “Next-Gen Woman”, and “Company Championing Inclusion & Diversity”.
The WEPs Pledge Ceremony and a networking session will close the second edition of Women in Construction Forum & Awards.
On the sidelines of the event, a growing movement of women and men is joining the Ambassadors Program of The Big 5’s Women in Construction, with the aim of fostering meaningful discussions and promoting gender balance in the traditionally male dominated construction sector.
Register online to attend for free The Big 5 and the WIC Forum & Awards, clicking HERE.
How to sign the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
WEPs, an initiative of the UN Women, the global champion for gender equality, and the UN Global Compact, the largest sustainability network in the world, provides seven principles that organizations in all fields can commit to adopt in order to advocate gender balance in the workplace, community and marketplace.
On 27th November 2019, The Big 5 will host an official Certificate Ceremony for the companies who are willing to come together and sign the WEPs.
Interested companies shall get in touch with The Big 5 at womeninconstruction@thebig5.ae, and express their in-principle interest by November 10.
Details about the WEPs and its principles can also be found here: https://www.empowerwomen.org/en/weps/about.
