Talking points:

• How has COVID-19 affected the construction industry and what are the biggest roadblocks the pandemic has raised in relation to diversity and inclusion? What should companies do to ensure that their workforce has equal access to quality opportunities across the region and that their talent is nurtured and motivated?
• Maternity and paternity leave – companies need to remove themselves from the conversation about which parent has to stay home during the child’s early months by offering equal leave to both parents, so the parents can make the decision without external influences
• Equal pay has been a hot topic in the industry on a regional and global level for years. What must the industry do to address this challenge once and for all?
• Permanent vs freelance talent. The pandemic has left a large number of people within the industry opting for freelance work on a project-to-project basis. Is this the future and could this mean the end of discussions around ‘diversity in the office’?
• Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, remote and flexible working are still foreign concepts to many construction firms in the region. Why is this the case and why should companies that are still fixated on a ‘time in the office’ mentality embrace change?
• A positive and healthy office culture is key to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Now that flexible/remote working is being practiced more by certain companies due to the outbreak of COVID-19, how can these firms ensure that culture built in the office is as supportive, and respective of boundaries, when it comes to staff working from remote locations?
• The use of technology can bring a number of positives including better quality, less wastage, lower costs etc. Technology also has the potential to accelerate diversity in the workplace as the design and even the delivery of projects becomes ever more automated. What can be done to push the adoption of technology in an industry that is notoriously resistant to change?
• The demand to build the structures and cities of the future is an ever present demand. What is the one thing companies should do today to ensure that they have a pipeline of talent available to tackle future project demands?

Moderator: Leanne Henderson, Founder, Hospitality Advisor at Taurima

Speakers:

• Greg Kane, Chief Executive Officer for WSP in the Middle East
• Mayada Hantash, Customer Success – Middle East Region at Autodesk
• Marcus Taylor, CEO & Founder of FifthEdge
• Pilar Gómez Fabra, Head of Organization, Talent and Wellbeing of ACCIONA´s infrastructure Division

Talking points:

• What are some of the chief reasons why the C-suite and board roles in the majority of regional and global construction firms are still either completely male or majority male dominated?
• What changes can sitting executives put in place within their respective organisations to provide a clear path for women to aim for executive, C-suite and board roles? What is the one key change that could make all the difference in providing a clear path for women to the upper echelons of a business?
• Are bigger AEC firms setting an example for the industry by ensuring that their workforce is diverse and balanced at the top levels?
• Role models and mentors are key to ensuring that women progress in their respective careers. Where does the construction industry stand in this respect – are there enough mentors and role models to inspire and support women in their careers?
• COVID-19 has forced hundreds if not thousands of companies to finally adopt remote and flexible working practices. Could this finally be the end of companies prioritising in-office presence, as a key marker to climbing the career ladder?
• How committed are construction companies to balancing the upper rungs of their business? How many firms follow through with their D&I plans and hold themselves accountable?
• Research has found that male-dominated workplace culture is responsible for slowing the progression of talented women and may even push talented women to seek employment elsewhere. How can this seemingly widespread challenge be addressed?

Moderator: John Shenton, Contracts Manager, Hitachi ABB Power Grids

Speakers:

• Caroline Parsons, HR Director & Director – Shared Services, WSP in the Middle East
• Claire Tromp, Director, Compass Project Consulting
• Engi Jaber, CEO and Managing Director, Climatize Engineering Consultants
• Morgan Tuckness, Head of Technical Services & Development, Global Hospitality, Drees & Sommer

Talking points:

• What level of engagement do companies and industry bodies currently have with academia? Is it time for companies and industry bodies to mandate outreach to academic institutions and young people, as part of a construction professional’s day-to-day job? What more can be done to build mutually beneficial relationships?
• What are some of pain points construction companies and graduates have, when they first start working with each other? How can these challenges be addressed?
• How can construction firms engage directly with young people to highlight the industry as a potential career choice? Is social media the answer?
• Does the construction industry have a sufficient pipeline of skills and talent for the next five to 10 years or is the well starting to run dry?
• How can the construction industry influence and educate parents about unconscious bias, so that the parents then offer the same career choices to their children regardless of gender? How can the industry dispel myths about gender in the construction sector?
• The construction industry is using more sophisticated methodologies and tools to design and deliver projects. How can the industry ensure that curriculum and courses keep pace with current trends and tools?
• Does the construction industry have enough ambassadors and mentors to keep attracting young people to a career in the built environment?
• Many construction firms offer internships however the value offered to students is limited in terms of the experience and knowledge they gain. How can this be improved?

Moderator: Fatima A. AlKatheeri, Member, CIPS

Speakers:

• Dalia Wagdi, Sustainability Manager, Climatize Engineering Consultants
• Iryna Akulenka, Managing Consultant, HKA
• Joe Tabet, Founder and Managing Director, JT+Partners
• John Shenton, Contracts Manager, Hitachi ABB Power Grids