Getting more girls into Construction through the Trade
School route!
This is another STEM Positive Disruptor - MIA conversation with special guest, Jo Farrell, General Manager of Kane Constructions ACT, and Founder, Build Like A Girl, a not-for-profit program that supports girls and women to work in trades.
In 2024, she was recognized as Canberra’s 2024 citizen of the year and Australian Capital Territory (ACT), woman of the year, due to her great work among other things of getting more girls and women into Construction
through the trade school and apprenticeship route, also in her role as the general manager of Kane Constructions ACT, part of the multimillion-dollar Kane group, Jo pushed for a better gender balance and increased the female staff
from 6% in February 2020 to 48% in December 2022 and this has increased since then.
I describe her as trailblazer and role model, who against all odds was determined to fulfil her desire to work in the construction industry despite the initial obstacles she faced and she is even more determined and focused
using her position within her company, her work with the government and other institutions to encourage and help more females into the industry (through the
trade and apprenticeship route) and help them navigate their career journey including getting equal pay.
I highly recommend you listen to our conversation,
her career journey and solutions she provided too where the government, industry and education system.
This is my take away from our conversation.
1. Mindset of the industry has to change, there is a demand for skills (there is a skills shortage), they need to open their doors to a wider spectrum of people especially females or else the same narrative will be heard for years to come.
2. Management style has to change because of the diversity of people who now work in the industry and if we want to be more profitable and productive, but
also to be more inclusive and accessible then the old style of management is no longer as effective.
3. There has to be a cultural shift in how we talk to young
girls and boys (stamp out the stereotypical approach in our environment that depicts what you can or cannot do because of your gender or what career path
you can follow)
There is more, but please listen to our conversation,
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