Women are steadily transforming the face of heavy industries such as cement, steel, mining, power and large-scale manufacturing. Once considered male-dominated domains, these sectors are now opening up opportunities for women to contribute not only as engineers and technical experts but also as Senior Managers, Plant Heads and Policy Leaders. This shift has been enabled by a combination of factors — progressive recruitment policies, workplace safety improvements, skill-development initiatives and targeted leadership programs designed to build confidence and capability.

By bringing diverse perspectives to strategic decisions, women leaders in heavy industries are influencing innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability practices. They are also role models for younger professionals, showing that gender need not limit career aspirations in challenging environments. As organizations embrace inclusivity and invest in mentorship, the presence of women in leadership roles becomes a catalyst for cultural change and long-term business growth.

In high-pressure industries like cement and construction, leadership often demands strength, speed, and precision—but rarely invites stillness or reflection. This presentation explores how integrating mindfulness into leadership empowers women to navigate complexity with clarity, balance authority with empathy, and lead high-performing teams without losing their sense of self. Drawing on 18+ years of experience in industrial engineering, safety management, and life and mindfulness coaching, Diana Halawi Ghosn shares practical tools and real-world strategies to help women leaders remain centered, resilient, and impactful—even in the most demanding environments. Attendees will gain insights into building mental agility, fostering psychological safety, and leading with presence in a male-dominated field. It's time to lead not just with power—but with purpose.

The Ladies in Construction Network in Brussels is an informal and steadily growing community of women working in EU affairs, policy, and communication for the construction sector. It was created to connect professionals based in Brussels, fostering dialogue, mutual support, and greater visibility for women shaping the future of Europe’s built environment.

Through interactive workshops and informal meetings, the network identifies key themes for discussion — from inclusion, communication, and leadership to safety, sustainability, and digitalisation. These exchanges help bridge the gap between technical expertise and European decision-making, while building stronger professional links across organisations and sectors.

In this session, Magdalena Herbik, Public Affairs & Communications Manager at BIBM – the Federation of the European Precast Concrete Industry – and Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee of Concrete Europe, will present the network’s origins, objectives, and next steps, illustrating how shared engagement among women in Brussels can inspire a more inclusive, innovative, and forward-looking construction industry.

The contribution of women can play a crucial role in promoting the sustainability of concrete, thanks to their skills and innovative perspectives in the fields of research, management, and education. In the scientific arena, many female researchers are engaged in the development of alternative materials and low-impact technologies, ranging from studies on the use of recycled aggregates to bio-based concrete.

In leadership roles, women tend to promote more inclusive decisions focused on collective well-being, favouring construction solutions aligned with environmental and social criteria. Their involvement in education and awareness-raising is essential to spreading a culture of sustainability that engages both communities and professionals in the sector.

In this presentation, Engineer Bertagnoli aims to highlight the sustainability of the most widely used construction material in the world, shifting from a technical to a policy-making perspective. Her experience spans from laboratory research to construction sites, and now to the European level through the management of concrete and concrete admixture organizations. The goal is to demonstrate how decisions made at the European level translate into concrete actions for the sector, and how the contribution of women can positively influence these processes.

In an ever-evolving world with climate change and the wider environmental crisis becoming increasingly pressing, awareness on sustainability is rising.

But neither fast enough nor always with clarity on what the right steps are at the different layers of our economy and activities towards a sustainable transition.

How do we 'sell' sustainability when it's neither mandatory nor saves money directly? 

Do policy, targets and associated actions to comply with them add up for overall carbon reduction or do they have significant unintended consequences?

Where is the healthy line between celebrating even small wins to encourage further progress and avoiding greenwashing that settles for far less than needed?

The session will explore real-world examples from the UK construction industry on challenges such as they above with a view to discuss what are the most suitable ways to overcome them.

1. Opening – "Why We Are Here"

"Heavy industry may look like a fortress of concrete and steel, yet the true revolution begins with courageous people who break the mold—women who bring vision and humanity where once only brute force mattered.

As an architect and the founder of Pro Arhitectura, I live every day at the intersection of dream and execution—I know what it means to earn your seat at the decision-making table."

2. Personal Story

A brief timeline: how I built Pro Arhitectura and gained credibility in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Challenges: prejudice, tough negotiations with large construction companies, moments of self-doubt.

Key lessons: perseverance, adaptability, and authentic leadership.

3. Initiatives and Strategies That Work

Internal programs: training for young architects, mentorship initiatives (Inside Rockstars, training hub, etc.).

How I create a "ladder" for other women: recruitment policies, mixed teams, clear KPIs for equality.

Examples from my large-scale projects—green hospitals, sustainable industrial parks—showing how we integrated innovation and sustainability with diverse teams.

4. Global and Local Perspective

Comparison: Romania vs. Europe (for example, Building Health conferences, CarbonZero, international partnerships).

Transferable best practices: collaboration with universities, alliances with major construction firms, creation of women-leader networks.

5. Closing – "A Call to Action"

"In a world built of concrete and numbers, our true strength lies in building invisible bridges—from women toward the future."

The construction sector faces a paradox: it is an engine of economic growth, yet it is often perceived as slow to innovate. This talk, "Innovation in Construction: A Woman's Gaze on Paradoxes," delves into the human and cultural barriers that perpetuate this challenge. Drawing on academic research and practical insights, we will unpack three key paradoxes: the conflict between management and creativity, the disconnect between universal tools and local realities, and the self-fulfilling prophecy of a "laggard" identity. The solution lies not in technology alone, but in a new, pragmatic framework for innovation management. This framework, anchored in high-trust, meso-level networks and a culture that embraces both control and chaos, can transform challenges into opportunities. Women play a unique role as catalysts for change in the industry, which is shown also by statistical data on female leadership and expertise in Romania as a powerful case study for a new, holistic approach to innovation. Acts of recognition are also very important, in particular in developing economies as a compensation for temporary lower performance indicators. 

This session will highlight the power of women leaders in transforming male-dominated industries by embracing authenticity, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. Through personal reflections and concrete examples from the cement and construction sectors, we will examine how inclusive leadership can accelerate cultural shifts and organizational results. The session features the journey of a female executive whose leadership catalyzed a significant increase in the presence of women across industrial operations—demonstrating how representation and intentional action can spark systemic change. Participants will leave inspired to lead transformation from wherever they stand.