Here, we speak with one of the very few site forewomen in Ireland, Sheena Dowdall, about life on the construction site, some misconceptions about the industry, and how we can work towards greater gender equality…How familiar that sentence is to so many of us, regardless of the industry we find ourselves working within.
Another stepping stone on her journey into the world of construction came in 2010, when they began the process of building their home, and Sheena found herself poring over the drawings with her father, enthralled by the process of watching the foundations be laid and progress into this superstructure.“My role involves taking over works once the first fix has been completed.
Though some workers may have found having a female boss surprising, Sheena tells us that they quickly learnt they had to overcome this and have respect from someone in management, male or female. Glenveagh has a zero-tolerance policy, which is taken very seriously.“My best advice is to not be afraid to stand your ground and to speak up. It’s so important to report any issues you are experiencing so that they can be dealt with accordingly.