Women in Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering Leadership Summit 2024

Developing critical thinking

- Stimulate inquisitiveness in your thought processing

- The laws of induction and deduction in processing information

- Build self-efficacy and self-trust to develop a critical mindset

Foundations of strategic foresight 

- Scenario development and analysis 

- Identify patterns and repetitions

- Assessing the implications of present actions and decisions

Efficient communication in complex scenarios

- Differentiating between active listening and reflective listening 

- How to plan your communication strategy

- Communicating effectively in complex scenarios

Inductive and deductive communication

- Determine your communication style

- Understand the role of inductive and deductive reasoning in different contexts

- Explore different communication styles and techniques

Join Liquid Learning for this kick-off session as we prepare for two days of incredible speakers, senior leaders, expert deep-dives and unmissable panel discussions!

Infrastructure and construction is going through a period of disruption and uncertainty. The leadership needed is different to that of the past. In this session, Rowenna will touch on being authentic and discuss challenging times in her career such as the Global GFC and COVID-19. She shares the need to be adaptable, seize on the opportunities that arise, and how she has used uncertainty to build her own resilience and that of her team.

- Adapting your leadership and working style 

- Embracing authentic leadership 

- Developing personal and team resilience amidst challenges

Construction is one of the least digitised industries in Australia. With increasing shifts towards digital infrastructure and the impacts of new technology in the industry, there is a need to understand the potential of this digital transformation. Join Pia as she draws on her analytical and business intelligence skills, and her extensive experience in the construction industry, to explore how technology and data can enhance productivity and reshape the industry's future.

- Navigating future digital trends 

- Producing innovative and data equipped teams 

- Understanding how to apply digital technologies and data 

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Actively participating in decision-making is not always easy to achieve, particularly in a predominantly male industry. In this session, Rexine highlights the importance of being able to put ideas on the table even if it contradicts others, and creating an environment where all stakeholders are heard.

- Influence through listening, understanding and collaborating

- Effective conversations with a range of stakeholders, staff and peers 

- Being a genuine leader and still finding time for your own personal development

Striking an effective work-life balance is challenging amidst tight work schedules and competing priorities. It can impact both career progression as well as your psychological safety and wellbeing. Join Deb as she explores the benefits and practical considerations for flexible working arrangements and how to prioritise your needs, ensuring you can thrive in both your career and personal life.

- Setting effective boundaries 

- Strategies to target burnout and prioritise safety and wellbeing

- Navigating career progression alongside having a lifestyle balance

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Career progression undoubtedly comes with its challenges. Overcoming the barriers women leaders face requires organisational change and support. In this empowering panel conversation, join senior leaders as they explore ways to manage, initiate, and lead change to support the development of women leaders in the industry. 

- Examining initiatives being used to attract and retain more women leaders

- Empowering and supporting existing and emerging leaders 

- Recognising the significance of role models and mentors 

Unconscious bias is a key factor affecting the underrepresentation of women in the construction and engineering sector. There is a need to address the root causes of these biases and tackle underlying stereotypes. Join Ashleigh as she examines how to facilitate inclusive work cultures and build empowered, resilient, and assertive leaders.

- Developing strategies to challenge barriers 

- Creating an inclusive and supportive work environment 

- Empowering yourself and others

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing your conference experience.

The future of work is constantly evolving and requires flexibility, adaptability and resilience. In this skills-based session, Karen will explore strategies for navigating high-pressure projects and how to boost your productivity and be your most effective self.

- Understand how to maximise your mindset and performance 

- Master high level workloads, including through change and challenging times

- Proactively manage expectations and set clear goals

Join us for our end of day one networking. Enjoy canapés and drinks whilst getting to know your peers further, build ongoing relationships, and share your highlights of the day.

Welcome back for Day Two - there's a lot to digest from our amazing speakers and action modules so far!

Recap the key learnings and takeaways from Day One, and prep an action plan to maximise your event experience over our jam-packed second day!

In order to effectively lead for the future of the sector, it's essential to embrace and adopt new digital systems, such as digital engineering and AI. And beyond this, there's a need for the industry to effectively integrate innovative solutions to drive productivity. This session will explore how to drive innovation through digital transformation and beyond, addressing diversity, safety, and net zero.

- Understanding the impact of AI, digital and robotics

- Adopting innovations to drive productivity

- Driving collaboration between clients, contractors and design partners

More and more companies are focusing on establishing ESG strategies and preparing for Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards. And yet, despite the importance of meeting targets and reporting standards, there are many challenges that leaders must navigate to drive improvement for the sector. Join Katie as she shares her insights into supporting sustainability initiatives and how leaders can effectively prioritise ESG goals.

- Prioritising and implementing sustainability change

- Influencing decision makers to build a better future 

- Setting clear targets

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Leaders need to engage with a range of different stakeholders and personalities, and build confidence from a place of trust. But in order to convince others of your capabilities, you must first learn to trust in them yourself. Join Danielle as she explores techniques for having meaningful conversations, ensuring you always get a seat at the table, and how to build respect in the workplace while navigating expectations.

- Understand ‘the why’ of effective communication

- Strategies for negotiation, persuasion and influence 

- Develop a framework for building respect and confidence

Authentic leaders embrace their own unique strengths and cultivate a genuine voice, which they can then adapt to any work environment. But of course, this is easier said than done, and calls for self-awareness and an alignment of values and actions, to build genuine trust with others. In this session, Libby will offer insights into how she adapted her authentic leadership style and made it her own.

- Understanding the strengths of having an adaptable career 

- Navigating multidisciplinary and remote based teams

- Leaning into your strengths 

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

In today’s dynamic work environment, transitioning from an emerging leader to a senior role requires more than just technical expertise. This panel will explore the critical skills, mindset shifts, and strategic actions necessary for career advancement. Experienced leaders will share their journeys, highlighting the importance of continuous learning.

- Learning beyond technical expertise

- Prioritising self-development 

- Building connections to advance your career 

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing your conference experience.

Leading high performance teams requires setting clear visions, and maintaining open and transparent communication channels. Whether your team is new or well-established, it's crucial to invest in knowledge and skill development, encourage them to take initiative, and support them in tackling new challenges. In this session, Katherine shares key strategies to build and engage your team and bring out their best.

- Building your team competency skills

- Encouraging continuous learning 

- Empowering those around you to succeed 

We wrap up our inspirational and jam packed two days with this interactive action planning session. This is your chance to table any topic or trend for a final group discussion. Reflecting on the inspiring stories that have been shared, discussing your key learnings with your peers, and creating your action plan for moving forward.

- Reflect on your key learnings from the Summit

- Identify opportunities for career progression and growth

- Create an action plan for your leadership journey

Building your professional brand and leadership identity

- Identify your purpose and build your personal brand

- Leverage your personal brand to strengthen your leadership identity

- Align your leadership strength with the expectations of your organisation

Using authentic and strategic communication skills

- Learn to understand and prioritise key relationships

- Identify channels for communication and recognize which are the most effective

- Develop successful strategies to make an impact

Emotional agility and overcoming criticism

- Effective strategies for self-awareness and self-regulation

- Understand the circles of control, influence, and concern

- View criticism as a stepping stone, not a brick wall

Embracing a growth mindset for personal and team success

- Develop your mindset for team leadership

- Identify individual strengths and limitations of team members

- Set common team goals and vision, connecting the team to organisational purpose