New chapter in construction

FOUR women working on the same commercial building project in the city have joined forces to launch Western Australia's first association dedicated to women working in construction.

The National Association of Women in Construction, or NAWIC, is formally launching a chapter in WA, the last remaining state to come on board.

With 1,200 members nationwide, the association's charter is to raise the profile of women working in the construction industry and be an instrument for change within the industry.

Its members are taken from a diverse group of construction-related occupations, from tradespeople, sub-contractors and builders to engineers, architects, interior designers and project managers.

Thinc Projects project management consultant Monika Kompara, who is working on the Inpex Browse commercial office fit-out on levels 19 through 22 of the 100 St Georges Terrace project, is leading the push for a WA chapter.

She is joined by industry colleagues working in different capacities on the same project: Coffey project management consultant and tenancy coordinator for the building Kristie Spagnolo; DTZ senior project manager Kerryn Briody, who is working on the office fit-out for Apache Energy; and head of DTZ's WA building consultancy Catherine Fenwick, who is doing the office fit-out for KBR.

The four women will make up the acting council of the NAWIC WA chapter until elections mid-year.

Ms Kompara said the association would put on events and also provide networking, support, mentorship and conflict resolution assistance to members, which can include individuals, students and corporate members.

"The association allows females to help each other and encourage a team environment. In construction, it can get very lonely and it's nice to know who the other women are out there," Ms Kompara told WA Business News.