Who you are and what you do?
My name is Ali Musai and I am the National Sales and Operations Manager at Builder’s Academy Australia (BAA).
BAA is a Registered Training Organisation (RT0 ID 21583) and is part of the Simonds Group. This includes Simonds Homes, one of Australia’s largest builders of detached housing in Australia. I am approaching 6 years with BAA. I enjoy working for a Group that celebrates over 70 years in the building and construction industry. The greatest aspect of my role is supporting students in building their careers through education, and that is what makes BAA an award-winning organisation. With over 8000 graduates BAA is one of Australia’s leading education providers in the delivery of Building and Construction, Work Health and Safety, and Leadership qualifications.
Why do you support Top 100 Women?
BAA is a sponsor of Top 100 Women because our organisations share in the same vision and that’s to increase participation of women in the building and construction industry. I find Tamika Smith, the founder of Top 100 Women, to be an extraordinary role model for other women in the industry. She has lived the journey, faced the challenges and overcome the barriers with success. The work, initiatives and awareness that Top 100 Women is undertaking are creating a much needed shift in encouraging women to consider opportunities in the construction industry. This is a journey BAA is definitely wanting to support and be a part of.
What is your vision for the future of the construction sector?
I want to see a change in perceptions. A pervasive idea exists that construction careers are limited to swinging a hammer, that construction isn’t a place for women, or that women working in construction can’t be fulfilled or have families. I have seen through our female graduates that women are making a critical impact in construction and are gaining recognition that’s helping draw more women to the field.
Ultimately, it is up to the company to encourage and promote a gender diverse workforce, acknowledge the unique challenges that women face, and facilitate support networks that help women at all levels to have equal opportunities in the workplace.
As an industry that ranks as one of the three highest creators of economic value in Australia, and is the second biggest employer, construction needs to draw from the widest pool of talent the country has to offer. We all need to work together to cultivate new attitudes to make the construction industry stronger and embrace a diverse workforce. I know that when it comes to workplace diversity, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Employing more women brings a diversity of ideas and skills, both of which are key ingredients for organisational innovation and success.
Construction is an exciting and ever-changing industry; every day and every project is different. A career in construction brings the opportunity for personal pride in what you are. It also offers the chance to have a significant impact on the future of our communities. I’d like to see the future of the construction industry, including the recruitment, retention and development of women being more balanced. The importance of encouraging females to consider opportunities in the construction industry should be explored by educators, parents and young people. There are so many exciting and rewarding careers that await.
Connect with Ali Musai
