SPEAKER INTERVIEW: MORGAN TUCKNESS

The Big 5 hosts Morgan Tuckness as one of the event's speakers at the Women in Construction Forum. Part of a broad complimentary and CPD certified agenda dedicated to educating and empowering construction professionals, Morgan Tuckness's panel discussion takes place on November 27 at 15:05 - 15:55 hrs.

The Panel discussion focuses on:
​What can organizations and individuals do to create a truly inclusive and diverse environment and empower women into leadership roles in construction?

Here's what Morgan Tuckness, Head of Technical Services, Global Director at Drees & Sommer ​ revealed to us ahead of the event:

What are the major obstacles for women in the construction sector?

The major obstacles lie within the policies. There has been a big mental shift in the industry over the past few years and the inclusion of women professionals has become more important and relevant. However, the policies that would enable them to perform and succeed are still lacking. Examples of these are the adaption of workplaces on and offsite, the consideration of maternity and paternity leave options to be equal, as it should not be more beneficial for a company to hire a man rather than a woman.

What is your take on the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) policies in the workplace and in the construction sector in particular?

A healthy mix of people with diverse background, ages and genders make for the best workplace. This also comes with its challenges or, better, added responsibility for the management to implement and enforce a proper code of conduct and work environment. Management must lead by example and be sensitive to the staff pool needs and requirements.

What are your recommendations to improve D&I policies in the region and support women in the construction sector?

I believe in leveling the playing field and making it equal for both men and women, and in making the workplace comfortable and accessible for all. Implementing equal pay for equal work, ensuring that maternity and paternity leave are mandatory paid time off, and encouraging employees to use this latter are also important steps. Finally, I would recommend that companies select diversity or equality champions across the organization empowering them to take action and make necessary changes.

What can industry professionals learn by attending your speech at the Women in Construction Forum this year?

Taking part in this panel will be an opportunity to open the discussion further about what the industry needs and how to get there. More honest conversation, challenging companies to take action and be part of the change is the only thing which will lead to true progress.

Why do you think it’s important to participate in events like The Big 5's Women in Construction Forum & Awards?  

These are the platforms that will form solutions and build connections across the industry with like-minded individuals. Ultimately a company with an equal and satisfied workforce will not only retain and grow talent which will continue to thrive, but will also be more successful and profitable in the long-term.

About Morgan Tuckness -

Morgan Tuckness is a U.S. trained architect with over 14- years of professional experience within the fields of development management, design, and hospitality development. For over 12-years, Morgan served as the Regional Director of Architecture & Construction for Marriott Vacations and the Ritz-Carlton Development Company, the real-estate development subsidiary of Marriott International. Her areas of focus ranged from program and design management to project management and asset turnover. Throughout her tenure with Marriott, Morgan has been involved with over 85 projects located in the U.S., Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia.

Most recently, Morgan has brought her experience from the Owner, Developer, and Operator side to Consulting. Morgan has joined Drees & Sommer, the German-based Project Management Company that has been supporting the public and private sector owners and investors for over 49 years. Today the company delivers services supporting hospitality development, development consulting, project management, engineering, real estate consulting, infrastructure consulting and strategic process consulting. With the backing of over 40 offices internationally and over 3,200 associates – Morgan’s chief responsibility is to lead Technical Services & Development division within Global Hospitality team.  

You can hear more from Morgan Tuckness at the Women in Construction Seminar on 27th November, 15:05 - 15:55.

Register online to attend the event for free at THIS LINK.