As part of the #BuildingEquality 2018 Campaign, Roseanne Dizon, Student Engineer, Punch Consulting Engineers, shares her story as a woman in construction.

Growing up with a liking of maths and physics, coupled with an admiration of building construction (sparked when I tagged along to my mother’s meeting with the architect for our house in the Philippines), my interest became translated to a CAO form that was entirely populated by engineering courses.

I soon realised, however, that my road was a less travelled one – especially for the women in my family. It was difficult for family members, relatives and peers to see the potential of a young lady in an industry that was strongly perceived to be “only for men”. Nonetheless, I pushed forward with my decision to pursue engineering and I found myself rewarded by a university course that continually challenges me and above all, one that I genuinely enjoyed.

My real interest in the course immensely helps to excel academically, and I am proud to have received awards and scholarships during my studies. I have also been lucky to gain insightful work experiences – in a construction site in the summer of 2016 and in a design office in the summer of 2017 – that have further encouraged me to a career in the exciting and challenging world of engineering.

Now, for my work placement, I find myself in a company that cares for exposing me to a diverse range of projects and experiences, appreciates my contributions, and where I am also inspired by excellent role models around me in the office. As I look forward to graduating in 2019, I am excited about my future in engineering. I hope to work with other role models in the industry to dismiss the misconception that women are out of place in the world of construction and to encourage young women to follow their aspirations.

To learn more about the #BuildingEquality campaign and to share your own story, please visit our dedicated #BuildingEquality page here

Construction Industry Federation