Following a special edition dedicated to women in the construction industry, Middle East Consultant continues to share the inspiration and experiences of women working in the male-dominated industry across the GCC. Here, we catch up with Ann Thomas, architect at LWK + PARTNERS.
What drove you to get into construction and your very first role in the industry?
Being born and brought up in the UAE, buildings and cities have always fascinated me. I always wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field but somehow enjoyed the creative side of things as well. I ended up writing a few university exams for both architecture and engineering and as luck would have it, I got though the architecture exam with a better ranking. This encouraged me to consider this, as this unique field has the best of both worlds – logic & reasoning and creativity.
My very first role was that of a junior architect in a small practice in India. This was something that I always wanted – hands on experience that you would get, by doing small to medium scale projects. I got to see projects develop through the various stages of design and move onto completion on sites. This got me to experience architecture from both within and outside the office.
My influences have been architects I worked with over the years. Working closely with people from different backgrounds helped me to learn and get inspired. This has influenced my career path in ways I did not expect.
Share a brief about your career, mentioning key achievements with regards to your role.
I have had the opportunity to work both in India and the UAE. This has helped me see different markets and learn from them. Once I moved back to UAE, I wanted to work in a larger firm to get an opportunity to work on large scale projects. This dream came true when I got to work for an international architecture practice in Dubai. This is where I made the most connections within the industry. I always pictured myself as a technical architect in the future, but life had other plans for me.
I moved to LWK + PARTNERS as part of their core team as they opened their MENA studio based in Dubai in 2018 – it’s an architecture studio with alternative thinking with a different creative approach to various projects. I got the unique opportunity to work on urban intervention projects for RTA that attained royal endorsement in the first few months, I expanded my scale and worked on numerous master planning schemes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and, most recently, I’m working on marine focused developments for Abu Dhabi Ports which I lead on multiple sites. Along this journey I got exposed to various challenges that pushed me to study and learn new aspects of design. I have been fortunate to receive support and I was given the opportunity to present one of the projects we worked on to university students which an exciting, and memorable experience.
Besides fairness and being the right thing to do, diversity in the construction industry is important because of the value women can bring to employers, clients and customers. How have you made your mark in the industry working on projects specifically (your proudest moment)?
Diversity is required in every field, as it helps to bring different perspectives to the table. I truly believe that every person, irrespective of their gender and background, brings something unique to each project.
The RTA projects we worked on were focused on trying to make Dubai a ‘walkable city’. Seeing these projects signed off by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was definitely a highlight in my career.
Leading the Abu Dhabi Ports multi-site project in which we developed marine transport facilities, marinas and marine community hub was another achievement, especially when we won the Best Future Project at the Architecture Leaders Award 2021.
What are some of the barriers to women entering the construction industry? What was your personal experience?
Personally, for me the lack of experience from the UAE was what I had to battle with to get my initial footing. Once I was given an opportunity, the bigger struggle for me was to show that the experience and knowledge I had gained was enough for companies to give me responsibilities according to my role. Once that trust was established, it was about rising to the challenges that each project throws at you.
I have been fortunate enough to never have faced any blatant gender barriers at the various places I have worked. However, I do notice a serious lack of women in leadership roles and hope things will change in the future.
The GCC construction sector is still male dominated, however diversity is beginning to increase. If you agree with the above, comment on what is driving this and how you see the GCC markets changing in the coming years? If you do not agree with the earlier statement, please share your thoughts/views of the market.
There is an increasing diversity in the GCC construction sector. This is a refreshing change that we get to witness. Women are being seen in various sectors and roles within the industry despite challenges. Visibility has a key role to play in this. Giving a platform to come out and share their experiences and work, will inspire more women to join the industry and continue to thrive.
Everyone has a part to play in diversity and equal pay. What would you like to see government authorities and construction firms do to increase diversity and make pay a level playing field?
Authorities can implement hiring quotas, encourage construction firms to consider work life balance in the industry and ensure equal pay. This would encourage more women to stay in the industry. All these not only benefit women, but also benefits companies and the industry in the long run.
Besides authorities and construction firms, who else can play a part in increasing diversity and balancing pay scales?
Education institutions can work with students to help them understand the unique challenges faced by all in the industry. In this way better preparing them for the future.
The environment within the firms needs to be encouraging for people of all backgrounds irrespective of gender etc. Platforms that encourage visibility for women in the industry need to be more prevalent. Finally, women in the industry have the ultimate power to directly influence and inspire people who work with them to appreciate diversity.
As a woman in the industry, what has your experience been working in the GCC construction sector? If you have worked in markets outside the GCC, how does your experience here compare with what you’ve experienced and observed in other markets?
The main difference I felt between India and the UAE is the difference in the work-life balance. The industry here is more challenging/demanding and these are tough times we face. This means giving it your all continuously – that can get exhausting. However, once you see the projects moving forward and receive appreciation for your efforts, you tend to move on and hope that things get better and stable in the future.
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge women in the construction sector face in GCC countries? How can these challenges be addressed?
As mentioned previously, visibility is one of the challenges. We have many talented women coming into the industry. It is important to give them a voice and space. This will in turn attract more women into the industry. Another challenge is to ensure that women are not phased out as they move up in the ladder. Having women in more senior and leadership roles is extremely important and this needs to be encouraged.
In doing your job, what sort of discrimination (if any) have you faced and how did you/employer address it?
Fortunately, I have never faced any sort of discrimination. I have always had seniors who ensure that I am given the opportunity to present my views where needed. However, I have heard some shocking comments thrown at some women colleagues around me over the years. Unfortunately, most of these are passed off as sheer comments, as most people do not want to deal with it later. I hope that companies ensure that they build an environment in which people are respected irrespective of any differences.
Do you feel there’s a limit with regards to how far you can progress within your respective organisation?
Unfortunately, the state of the industry is such that it feels like there is a limit for women. However, the organisation I am currently in have almost 50% female talent and they always encouraged me and other women to take up responsibilities and lead projects. They have always initiated discussions to see what roles and responsibilities would come next depending on our strengths and performance. These discussions give us some power over the future, and they help us to carve out our career path within the organisation.
How does the firm you currently work for approach diversity in the workplace? What more can your firm do to increase diversity?
The firm’s approach has been unbiased from the start. I was one of the first architects that was hired and that says a lot about their confidence in people, irrespective of gender. I was able to see them opening doors based on talent alone and what a person brings to the table. Seeing the diversity at our workplace gives me hope that the future of the industry is turning around.
How do you personally push for diversity and equal pay in the construction sector? Are you involved in any groups/councils etc. that focus on increasing diversity and equal pay?
I personally try to prove myself through the work delivered, so that both clients and people I work with see that women can hold their ground in the industry. I believe this makes it slightly easier for better interactions and biases to be removed for future women in the industry.
What advice would you give to a woman entering the GCC construction industry today?
I want women to not be overwhelmed by the male dominant industry. Instead, I hope they will be inspired to join such a vibrant industry that is constantly changing and creatively challenging. At no point in your career, should you let go of the momentum, however uncomfortable new experiences are. Stand your ground but enjoy the ride and journey.