PBC Today sat down with Lesley Treacy, head of ESG at Dandara, ahead of International Women’s Day to discuss her journey in the construction industry, and how to empower women and promote inclusivity in a traditionally male-dominated sector
Having worked as an external environmental and social sustainability consultant for several years for HSBC and other housebuilders, including Countryside and Fairview, I joined Dandara 18 months ago to implement and deliver ESG processes.
Within my role, I support the continuation of embedding sustainability within the business to help the drive to reach the UK’s net zero ambitions.
A key priority of this will be to tackle embodied carbon emissions, develop a net zero carbon pathway, and ensure a responsible supply chain by implementing sustainable practices.
Since starting at Dandara, I have helped refine the social and local values offered at Dandara. The company is now using a more efficient platform to monitor both uses of environmental and social resources, with this information helping improve the understanding of consumption patterns.
As well as continuing to support social and local value creation and focusing on the pathway to net zero carbon, I am also looking to collaborate with HR and Recruitment teams to create an Employment and Skills Strategy that responds to both the needs of the industry and those of local communities.
As a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, you bring a wealth of experience in CSR and ESG. How can companies leverage these frameworks to promote gender equality and empower women across the industry?
Industry framework and membership organisations have a pivotal role in promoting ED&I. They can create an environment where people of varying backgrounds and interests are brought together and valued.
They also give members the opportunity to share lived experiences and perspectives – these voices can then influence the industry, offering fresh perspectives in panel debates or providing resources and best practice examples.
From your perspective, what are some of the key challenges women face in the industry, and how can these challenges be addressed to foster a more inclusive and diverse sector?
A key challenge women face in the industry is the inequality in pay and the ethnic pay gap. Traditionally, there were limited opportunities for career advancement which subsequently limited opportunities for career advancement and meant that fewer leadership roles were available to women.
I believe training and development schemes and strategies would benefit women starting out in the industry, with advancement pathways set out to enable younger women to help envision their end goal.
Improving the affordability of childcare is a societal responsibility, one that should not be expected to fall onto women but one where we will gain the most benefit. In my opinion, allowing local authorities to use infrastructure levy funds for childcare is a key step in creating an accessible and affordable system for all.
This will mean that more women can return to work and continue with their careers without having a massive financial burden.
Finally, improving available mentorship opportunities would also be helpful for many—at the start and midway through careers. The challenges that women face throughout their careers are no doubt similar to those in other industries that have historically been more male-dominated.
You’ve been involved in developing corporate sustainability strategies. What do you enjoy most about working in the sector?
The diversity of the roles and level of interaction across all business teams means that two days are rarely the same.
This enables me to get to know the priority areas for different teams and their interactions, which is important when developing strategies that will ultimately impact these teams and individuals.
Who are the women that inspire you, and why do they inspire you?
On a personal level, it has to be my mum—how she was able to raise seven well-rounded children is beyond me! and my mother-in-law, who moved from India to England in the 1970s and worked as an Architect.
Working in a male-dominated environment was certainly not easy at times. However, her work ethic and ability to speak up helped her excel, and she is a super strong role model for my two girls.
What advice would you give any women who are hoping to enter the industry?
Use the free resources available. There are several great membership organisations out there, offering e-learning modules, as well as events with impressive speakers and networking opportunities.
Attend events too – although it may feel daunting at first – it gets easier, and soon you’ll get to recognise faces.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. This will enable you to learn the perspectives of other teams and departments.
Additionally, try to get placements in different parts of the business for a few weeks. This will help you understand drivers and form relationships, making it easier to pick up the phone if you have a question.
