Webinar: Constructing equality – tackling and addressing unconscious bias

The first event in the 2024 Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering (IWCE) event series took place on 8 March, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Ground Engineering has joined the series for the first time this year, together with its sister titles Construction News and New Civil Engineer.

Some great strides have been made in construction and engineering when it comes to improving the industry’s make-up to better reflect today’s society. But under-represented groups, such as women and ethnic minorities, are still facing obstacles in their careers.

One of these challenges is the unconscious bias that people might have towards these under-represented groups. Put simply, individuals might stereotype people based on assumptions or more deep-seated beliefs, without realising they are doing so.

To tackle these challenges, the industry is increasingly embracing unconscious bias training and a better understanding of the issues at hand. During the webinar a panel of experts discussed tackling implicit bias, how individuals can identify their own biases, and EDI policies that can help tackle these issues.

The panellists were Arcadis global DEI director Melania Santoro, Mace HR director Samantha Hindhaugh and Willmott Dixon Interiors preconstruction manager Kelly Mewett.

The webinar was be wrapped up with a Q&A session.

Entries are also open for the 2024 IWCE Awards. You can submit entries to 20 categories celebrating the best women, allies, initiatives and teams for both technical excellence and their contribution to diversity.

Watch the webinar on demand below: