WOMEN IN TUNNELLING | INSIGHT
on 6 March, at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) headquarters, as a joint event between the BTS and BTSYM. We wanted to celebrate the achievements of
women in the tunnelling industry and the event saw an impressive turnout and strong engagement. The event aimed to celebrate Women in Tunnelling. There were 50 people gathered of diverse ages and genders. The event was supported by a fantastic lecture by Ramboll and then followed a very insightful session of networking and mentorship. People from a variety of profiles and roles attended, from high school students to company directors, including women who have left the industry. Also, one of the initiatives we launched is a living
collage with photographs and one-line quotes from women at every stage of their tunnelling journey. The artwork travels to conferences and grows every time someone emails their tile to btsym@britishtunnelling. com - help us keep it alive! Anna Hayes shared a reflection for the IWD and it
reminds us that visible role models don’t just inspire the next generation; they sustain those already in the trenches. Her story also echoes Maya Angelou’s words that adorn her college title: “Let me remind all women that we live longer and better lives when we have sisters we love, not necessarily born in our bloodline or of our race. Sisters.” Anna shared: “I wanted to share my inspirational story that started
with my mum, Patricia Perry – wife, mother of four, nanny to eight grandchildren and a secondary-school teacher who doubled as a careers adviser. “Being the youngest child and only girl, I was used
to a male-dominated (and rather sexist) home, but Mum encouraged me to explore careers. Four of the five top options on the questionnaire turned out to be construction-related! “Through her contacts I spoke with directors and
managers to find out what a ‘quantity surveyor’ really was and, after completing my A-levels, I landed my first job with British Airports Authority. That launched me into a career of more than 35 years in construction – from site engineer to project management, business development, work winning and, today, leadership and mentoring. “During my time in the industry Mum always had
my back, proofreading important articles to catch my dyslexia slips and – crucially – cheering me on when I returned to work after having children. “Mum passed away in January 2021 after suffering
from dementia and losing her ability to read and write – a mighty blow. But I am surrounded by friends who are my sisters in every sense, and their support proves what happens when life, career and home overlap. “I’m delighted that I had – and still have – so many
sisters in my world.” Alongside our activities at the ICE in London, we
also went to speak at Harris Academy Bermondsey Girls School and participated in the ITA35 International Women’s Day Initiative.
The following is Christina Trigle’s advice, which
she shared as part of our living collage. She has three observations from her time in construction and tunnelling. They are clear and concise and convey what we should focus on to be the best version of ourselves while supporting each other to grow together. 1. Do what you enjoy and be yourself. There is at times a very macho idea of leadership in construction, although this is fortunately changing. If you bring your own personality and style to your work (dare I say femininity?), this is much more valuable and respected than forcing yourself to be the caricature of an aggressive pit boss.
2. You will find wonderful friends and mentors within the industry. Make sure you keep in touch as you move on to new projects and no longer work together. Support networks are as important in your profession as your personal life and it’s inevitable that not everyone you work with will be fantastic!
3. Although there have been few female role models for me in senior leadership positions so far, they have made such a difference. Wherever you are in your career, just by being visible in the tunnelling community, you make it seem like an accessible choice for other women.
Also, we received a poem by Nilima Rajpari, Assistant site engineer – Tunnels and shafts delivery unit:
A poem dedicated to all the women out there!!
Brick by brick, women shape the world, Lifting the dreams, standing high. With steady hands and a positive vision, They aim the sky with strength and might
Steel and stone, they bend with grace, Breaking obstacles, holding space. In hard hats crowned, they pave the way, Brave and fearless, here to stay
Arabel Vilas Serín
REFERENCES ● ‘Women in construction: Striving for equality on
site (2025).
https://www.geplus.co.uk/features/ women-in-the-construction-industry-04-03-2025/
● ICE data, May 2025 ● ‘Gender pay gap: biggest construction firms make slow but steady progress’ (08/04/2024) https://
constructionmanagement.co.uk/gender-pay-gap- biggest-construction-firms-make-slow-but- steady-progress
● ‘Breaking ground and barriers’ (2024): Women in ground engineering and the imposter syndrome.
https://www.geplus.co.uk/opinion/breaking- ground-and-barriers-28-02-2024/
June 2025 | 33
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