Hacia Atherton, CPA, is on a mission to empower women in trades and see more women in the workforce with meaningful economic opportunities and skills.
She comes from a family of change makers with the Atherton family having a long history with skilled trades in Australia that dates back to before federation. She established Empowered Women In Trades (EWIT) to inspire women to see trades as a viable career option and to support industry and society to shift their culture to create a supportive environment for these women to thrive.
Who is EWIT & what does it aim to achieve?
Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) is a not-for-profit organisation established to support educational institutions and workplaces to encourage women to see trades as a viable career path. In collaboration with educational institutions and industry leaders, we aim to increase women’s role in learning the trade skills required for people and industry to thrive. In order to rebuild Australia’s trades-based sectors and to enhance our communities and businesses, EWIT is there for women in the workforce to learn the skills to thrive in these industries. We will support women to enter trades and excel into leadership positions across trades industries. While supporting industry to ensure that workplaces have the resources to enhance the economic development of the sector.
Why have you decided to partner with RMIT and provide the best poster award for ‘research related to female participation in the construction and manufacturing industries’?
I have now read two fantastic research papers from RMIT regarding female participation within trade based industries and see RMIT as a thought leader in this space. I feel it is essential that there is a strong partnership between industry and academia so we can collaborate and make meaningful change in this area.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing women in built environment?
Two of the biggest issues I hear women facing are of those connected to conscious and unconscious gender bias and the ongoing issues connected to this. The second is women's own self-doubt in their abilities to succeed in a male dominated environment, however, once they take that first courageous step to entering it is amazing to see the journey these women go on to find their self-confidence.
What advice do you have for aspiring women in the built environment?
Have the courage to step outside your comfort zone and give it a go! Don’t let fear get in the way of having access to a fun and financially lucrative career path.
What initiatives is EWIT currently working on?
We have two flag ship programs we are working on:
- Trade Academy, a program that delivers a unique virtual and hands-on approach to teach as many women and Australians as possible how to use tools and increase the awareness of what a career within skilled trades looks like. These programs are designed to empower women by providing them with the opportunity to gain the skills and confidence to imagine, design and create anything and enable women to see the trade-based industries as viable pathway.
- The EWIT Pledge is key to moving the roadblocks that are preventing women entering and succeeding in industries such as construction, manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, automotive, mining and defence industries. This program aims to provides a win-win fix to Australia’s skills shortage issues and the pink recession, whereby women have been disproportionally affected by the negative financial impacts of COVID19.
This year’s winner of the inaugural EWIT Award is Sheniz Ahmet who was recognised a RMIT PCPM’s Virtual Awards Presentation, 11th November 2021. Sheniz will receive a $500 prize for her research titled ‘An Exploration of how some of the workplace practices in the construction industry can be improved to promote women careers advancement.’
