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Building Better Futures: How Women's Leadership is Transforming Infrastructure Development
Women’s leadership in infrastructure is essential to the success of sustainable projects. According to a 2023 report by McKinsey, companies with women on their boards are 27% more likely to outperform companies with male-only boards. Yet, globally, women are underrepresented in the infrastructure sector. In Australia, women make up only 12% of the construction workforce. This disparity is prevalent across the ASEAN region as well. However, increasing women’s involvement in infrastructure leadership offers significant potential for innovation and improved outcomes, particularly as countries work towards sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development.
ASEAN has long recognised the importance of women's inclusion in the economy. In 1988, the region formalised its commitment to women’s empowerment through the Declaration of the Advancement of Women in the ASEAN Region. More recently, ASEAN countries developed the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework 2021–2025 to guide regional efforts on the inclusion of women and gender mainstreaming, leading to infrastructure sector-specific initiatives such as the ASEAN RE Gender Roadmap and guidance on Mainstreaming Gender in ASEAN Energy Policy and Planning. Despite these efforts, women's representation in infrastructure remains low across the region, with vast untapped potential for improvement.
What does it take to close the gap?
Women in ASEAN already achieve nearly the same level of educational attainment as men and are increasingly entering STEM fields, putting them in a strong position for leadership roles. However, cultural norms, personal safety concerns, and limited opportunities continue to hinder their participation in the sector. This underrepresentation is a missed opportunity, as women bring diverse perspectives to infrastructure planning and execution.
There is action underway
Australia is committed to supporting ASEAN in fostering gender inclusion in infrastructure. Through P4I, Australia works alongside ASEAN partners to exchange best practices and advocate for women’s leadership in the sector. In Australia, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water launched Equal by 30 campaign, an initiative that encourages public and private sectors to achieve equal pay, opportunities, and leadership for women in the clean energy industry by 2030.
There are great examples of initiatives driving this agenda forward:
- In March, P4I collaborated with ASEAN’s Lead Implementing Body on Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI) to host the Women’s Leadership in Infrastructure Workshop, which convened over 90 regional delegates to discuss gender inclusion strategies. The workshop provided government agencies and private sector organisations with the opportunity to hear examples of successful gender advocacy projects and collaborate on new inclusivity strategies. A key area of discussion was the role of gender mainstreaming in procurement policy, which has been a major focus for leaders in the Philippines. By requiring companies to assess the impact of proposed activity on women, the tendering process can embed inclusivity across the private sector.
- Through ongoing programs such as the Women in Leadership mentoring scheme in Cambodia, P4I continues to advocate for gender equality and greater visibility of women leaders in infrastructure. In partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport, P4I has paired a select group of Cambodian women working in transport to form mentoring relationships with Australian women in leadership from the transport sector, exchanging vital knowledge and fostering collaboration.
- In September, at the 2024 ASEAN Energy Business Forum, P4I worked with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Oxfam, and UN Environmental Programme to co-host a multistakeholder forum on Just and Inclusive Transition in ASEAN. This forum facilitated important discussions on the impact of women’s leadership and importance of gender mainstreaming within policy and planning for the regional energy transition.
Fostering gender inclusivity in the infrastructure sector is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic necessity. By empowering women and integrating their voices into decision-making processes, we can unlock innovative solutions that lead to more resilient and equitable infrastructure for all.
