Meet the finalists of the ACT Women’s Awards 2026: Amanda Allan
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From transforming healthcare and improving women’s safety to opening doors in construction, automotive and sport, 11 remarkable women and gender-diverse people have been named finalists in the 2026 ACT Women’s Awards.
In the lead-up to the 2026 ACT Women’s Awards ceremony on Thursday 3 September, we wanted to get to know each of the finalists a little better. Today we meet Amanda Allan, recognised for supporting women’s participation in the construction industry through mentoring, professional development and more inclusive workplace initiatives.
Congratulations on being named a finalist in the 2026 ACT Women’s Awards! How did you feel when you found out?
I was actually jumping up and down, spinning, and calling for my husband from the other end of the house while I reread the email to make sure I wasn’t mistaken! Pure unadulterated joy – I was so excited to be recognised after so much hard work.
In a nutshell, tell us about the work or initiative that led to your nomination.
I head up the ACT Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction alongside some seriously passionate volunteers and supportive sponsors – all in the name of equitable participation and increased representation of women and gender-diverse people in construction.
I oversee mentoring programs, workshops, events, awards, and scholarships, and spearhead our advocacy efforts – which have included developing a digital toolkit for organisations looking to comply with the new ACT Government Standards.
More than a list of achievements and programs, it was about how I show up. With kindness, the intention to listen, and to connect people and ideas.
Looking back, was there a particular moment, challenge or experience that set you on this path?
When I was young, I visited my auntie’s family in Canberra and was out with her while she was collecting donations for the Nurses’ Memorial Foundation.
One man had been quite rude when he’d said no to her, so she’d muttered, “Well, don’t get sick then…” under her breath as he walked away.
She’ll never forget her cherub-looking niece with bouncing curls walking up to the next person – bucket held out in front of her:
“Would you like to make a donation to the Nurses’ Memorial Foundation?”
“No, thank you.”
“WELL DON’T GET SICK THEN.”
I suppose the rest is history.
What achievement are you most proud of – and why?
I’m seriously proud of the Culture in Construction Toolkit.
It expands on the ACT Government’s Culture in Construction Standard, addresses NAWIC’s goals, and it gives businesses exactly what they’ve been asking for – what “good” looks like.
I know given the current economic climate that organisations are so busy doing the work that culture is often the last thing on the list – so I’ve designed the toolkit to insert into existing processes you’d already have in your business and on site, and made sure it’s not sitting behind a paywall so it’s accessible. It’s all modular as well – so you can take the bits that work for you and leave the rest.
If you have genuine intent to change culture in your workplace, you’ve now got practical templates, guidance and implementation resources.
If you’re really keen, you can even build on what I developed (in fact, I’d encourage it!).
Is there a woman, mentor or role model who has inspired your journey?
In a way, all the women in my life have inspired the journey.
I am the sum of everything that has come before me.
Some taught me to be bold, some taught me to be mindful of what I say, some taught me how to live more for myself, and some even showed me what I didn’t want to be – but for better or worse, they all passed on their stories – they inspired me to live my life a certain way because of their own experiences.
What does being recognised as an ACT Women’s Awards finalist mean to you?
Being recognised as a finalist means that the work we’re doing has value beyond just the construction industry; and that by broadening our efforts to support others doing adjacent work, we can make an even bigger impact.
It also means that what we’re doing is working.
What advice would you give to a young woman or gender-diverse person hoping to make a difference in their own community or industry?
That if you’re looking for a sign, this is it.
Everybody needs something a little bit different, which is great because we all do things a little bit differently. Diversity breeds better-informed decisions and innovation, so all you need to do is jump in and do it your way.
You don’t need to wait until you’re ready, because there will never be a perfect moment.
Just do what you can, where you can. Whether you give your time, money, or resources – and when life and circumstances change, it’s okay to scale back to focus on yourself and your own priorities.
