Speech by MOS Faishal at Association of Women in Construction (Singapore) 4th International Women's Day Summit 2025
Mar 28, 2025
A very good afternoon to all, it is my pleasure to join you today for the 4th International Women’s Day Summit by the Association of Women in Construction (Singapore) (AWiCS).
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on 8 March, is a significant occasion that celebrates the achievements of women and raises awareness about gender equality and the ongoing challenges that women continue to face all around the world.
I strongly believe that everyone has a part to play in advancing gender equality. I am heartened to see the growth of AWiCS, and commend its continuous efforts in championing a more diverse and inclusive Built Environment sector.
The Built Environment sector which has traditionally been seen as a male-dominated sector, is seeing a transformation over the past decade and as a result, we have seen a steady growth in the number of women joining the sector. Today, almost one third of the sector are women. This has much to do with your efforts, so congratulations!
It is heartening to see more women stepping into professional leadership, technical and operational roles across the industry.
Women as Catalysts for Change
In line with this year’s IWD Summit theme, “Building a Legacy: Women, the Catalyst for Change”, I look forward to celebrating the successes and contributions of many outstanding women in the Built Environment.
Women have been catalysts of transformation throughout history. In the Built Environment sector, they have shaped the sector through their leadership and innumerable contributions, both big and small.
An example is Er. Ng Beow Suan, a Technical Director at Alpha Consulting Engineers Pte Ltd, where she specialises in designing and project managing mixed-use developments. Over the course of her career, she has worked on many projects that Singaporeans are familiar with such as Jcube, CapitaGreen, Frasers Tower and Paya Lebar Square.
Engineers like Er. Ng play critical roles in turning our building plans into reality, and in shaping the way Singaporeans live, work and play. In my current capacity as HomeTeamNS President, I work with the team to build clubhouses, and the team leader is a lady. The HomeTeamNS CEO is also a lady, and she is here with us today. This is how we provide opportunities for everyone.
I sincerely thank all of you here for playing a part in shaping our living environment and improving the quality of life for fellow Singaporeans. This has left a tangible legacy for future generations.
Challenges in the industry
While Singapore has continued to make good progress in advancing women’s development, there are still some barriers that women continue to face every day at work and in life. Some examples include: traditional perceptions and gender stereotypes that still exist in some of the workplaces; work-life balance, especially for caregivers, and access to inclusive spaces for women such as restrooms or lactation rooms at workplaces; some women may also perceive a lack of opportunities for advancement to leadership positions.
Therefore, we need to press on with our efforts to provide equitable opportunities across genders, to see support for more women groomed for leadership positions especially within the sector.
As Singapore continues to embark on many ambitious building projects, including Changi Terminal 5, new MRT lines and more BTO flats, we need to ensure that we have a strong and inclusive pipeline of talents as well as a diverse workforce to deliver these projects.
Call to Action: Encouraging more efforts
The Government has embarked on efforts to ensure there are ample opportunities for women to join the sector and contribute. BCA has launched the BuildSG Industry Branding Campaign to highlight the nation-building role of the BE sector, and how the work of people in the sector has shaped the way Singaporeans live, work and play.
It builds on our existing outreach efforts to improve public perception of the Built Environment sector to the public by showcasing the sector’s job diversity and exciting opportunities that have emerged as the sector transforms. Potential entrants, including women, will likely find it more enticing to enter this dynamic sector.
Additionally, as a part of the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM), women who join the sector can look forward to strong leadership development. The BuildSG Leadership Engagement And Development (LEAD) framework is designed to nurture forward-thinking industry leaders, including women, to drive industry transformation efforts.
In tandem, the sector has also been improving our HR practices to foster more progressive and attractive workplaces. More than 100 BE firms have undertaken a ‘HR health check’ through the use of Human Capital Diagnostic Tool (HCDT) framework to identify areas for improvement in their workplace practices.
These efforts will take time to bear fruit, but we have seen some promising early results.
The work done by AWiCS in actively providing mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities for women in construction is commendable. I am heartened to hear that AWiCS offers a 6–12-month mentorship programme initiative that connects mentees and mentors. This is important, as mentees can learn from their mentors what the Built Environment sector is like and the opportunities and challenges. Mentors can also help women who join the sector develop their aspirations.
The programme aims to foster mentoring relationships and facilitate professional and personal growth for women in the Built Environment, thus allowing them to navigate their career path with confidence. Such efforts also serve to provide a safe and inclusive space for women in the industry.
As a mentee, you will be able to gain insights from experienced mentors from diverse professions in the BE sector, including clients, consultants, contractors and authorities. This allows mentees to establish meaningful relationships that can open doors to new opportunities.
Women with 3 to 5 years of experience within the Built Environment Industry will also have a chance to give back and guide the future of female leaders by being mentors.
In addition to these measures, employers and employees must continue to be committed to identify and overcome persistent stereotypes and unhelpful mindsets.
Rallying Together for Change
It will take the collective efforts of all BE stakeholders to uplift our sector and ensure that it is an inclusive, diverse and resilient one. As leaders in your respective professions, you play an important role in being a voice for change.
In your respective workplaces, you can advocate for inclusive cultures, strong networks and support systems for gender equality and representation in the Built Environment sector, helping both male and female employees balance their responsibilities within and outside work.
In your respective communities, you can also serve as ambassadors of the Built Environment sector to welcome and support new talents to join the sector.
As we look ahead towards a more inclusive sector, we must continue working together – government agencies, industry leaders, firms – to ensure that the Built Environment sector continues to be a sector that supports, recognises and celebrates the role of women. We are making good progress as a nation, and I am happy to see initiatives and collaborations continuing year after year to ensure that we advance gender equality.
I look forward to seeing more women joining the Built Environment sector, contributing and leading as the work of building Singapore continues. Let us all continue working together to build an equitable, resilient and inclusive Singapore. Thank you.