Obayashi At Obayashi Singapore, a Singapore-based subsidiary of , the percentage of female employees has reached 25%, and women are carving out their own careers in the construction field, where the same unconscious bias remains as in Japan.

Here we introduce four female engineers who are active on construction sites in Singapore.

Assistant Manager Hazel Leon

Growing up in Singapore, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of skyscrapers being built one after another, and with a dream of working in the construction industry, I went on to university and earned a degree in civil engineering.
I started my career in project management for Singapore's public housing projects and building structural renovation projects, then moved to a prime contractor. I then joined Obayashi Singapore. My days begin with a safety patrol on-site. This is followed by coordination meetings with many construction stakeholders, updating drawings used in coordination meetings, updating process plans, handling complaints, and even procurement, all carried out with the speed and precision required on-site. The multitasking skills I developed while raising children translate into the ability to prioritize and accurately complete multiple tasks required on construction sites. I also believe that my sense of responsibility for the work I'm assigned and my drive to fulfill those responsibilities will motivate me to face the demanding work on-site.

Construction Engineer Phan Pui Si

I have been interested in civil engineering since I was in junior high school, and after graduating from university I started my career by gaining practical experience on-site at a construction company.
Soon after joining the company, I sometimes felt that the small number of women made it difficult to work, but at times like that I tried to overcome it by facing the situation honestly and not limiting myself. To achieve this, I always try to solve work issues as a team. By sharing knowledge and skills within the organization, I have realized that even in a workplace with few women, you can learn a lot. I am where I am today thanks to the support of many people, so I would like to make great use of what I have learned in future projects.

Construction Engineer Khoo Huy Eng

I studied engineering design theory at university, but during a short-term internship at a construction site, I became interested in on-site work, and now I work at a construction site as a prime contractor, where I can interact with a variety of stakeholders, including developers, government officials, and designers. When I was a student, I didn't have a very good image of the construction industry, but during my short-term internship I learned that if you have the curiosity to learn from anything and the willingness to accept a variety of things, you can open up your own possibilities. There may be some short-term disadvantages to promoting opportunities for women in the construction industry, but in the long term, I believe that with experience, track record, and technical acquisition, the presence of female engineers will become an indispensable industry.

Jennifer Hernandez Fulger, Facilities Engineer

I joined Obayashi Singapore in search of a workplace where I could utilize my skills as a facilities engineer and grow. Each project offers a variety of approaches and challenges, and I always feel like I'm growing. In order to ensure that work is carried out in a timely and accurate manner, I try to ask frank questions without hesitation about anything I'm unsure about. Being tough and building trust among team members are essential for promoting opportunities for women in the construction industry. I believe that good teamwork, proactiveness, and diligence are essential for the success of a project.

Singapore is characterized by its multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious cultures, inherited from various countries such as China, Malaysia and India. Obayashi Singapore will continue to work towards creating a diverse and inclusive workplace for its employees.