WHEN Awesome Women In Construction (AWIC) Founder Amanda Bulow learned she had been nominated for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards, her reaction was one of quiet disbelief.
For Ms Bulow, the nomination is a major personal and professional milestone, reflecting decades of commitment to the construction industry and to creating opportunities for women within it.
“It’s an incredible honour,” she said.
“It’s recognition for the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication I’ve given to AWIC over the past nine years and to my 25-year career as a procurement and estimating specialist. This is definitely a career highlight.”
She founded AWIC in 2017, starting with a breakfast meeting of just 14 women. What began as a small gathering has grown into a national organisation dedicated to educating, advocating and amplifying the voices of women across Australia.
Today, the organisation has more than 3000 members and has delivered over 100 events, including networking forums, professional development workshops, leadership panels and industry awards.
“AWIC has given women a voice, a seat at the table, and a community they can rely on,” Ms Bulow said.
“There’s far more support for women today than when I started in the pre-2000s – in every way.
“We now have workwear and boots designed specifically for women, which seems small but is a huge step toward acceptance. Women are also walking away from workplaces that don’t respect or value them, which is a positive shift.”
Ms Bulow’s work doesn’t stop at advocacy, with her latest venture, Be Ready – a tech company aimed at inspiring the next generation of workers through digital tools for career exploration.
The goal is to show students that construction offers more than just hard hats and tool belts.
“Construction isn’t just dirty trucks and tool belts,” she said.
“I spent the first 15 years of my career in an air-conditioned office, managing procurement. It takes around 30 different roles to turn a paddock into a postcode, and young people – especially young women – need to know about those opportunities.”
Looking ahead, Ms Bulow plans to expand AWIC’s reach into regional Queensland and develop Be Ready into a national platform, while completing her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Through it all, her motivation comes from the women around her.
“My mum, my aunt, my sisters-in-law, my nieces and my friends inspire me every day,” she said.
