Autumn Lu’s Nomination Receives Judges Commendation in the NAWIC NSW 2024 Executive Women’s Leadership Scholarship

With a 14-year career characterised by inclusive leadership opportunities for women in construction, MBM Director Autumn Lu received a high commendation for her nomination in the 2024 NAWIC NSW Executive Women’s Leadership Scholarship. The announcement took place at Wednesday night’s NAWIC NSW Winners Series event, where Professor Jua Cilliers, Head of the School of the Built Environment at UTS, was awarded the $30,000 scholarship to pursue her leadership vision and elevate women’s voices at the C-suite level.

The high commendation recognises Autumn’s impact within the construction industry and her goals to shape an inclusive and equitable sector. Autumn aims to support and encourage more women into leadership roles through her mentorship efforts and insights to influence company policies towards stronger inclusivity, diversity, and gender equality.

From her beginnings as a Cadet in 2010, Autumn rose to executive-level leadership while actively championing women’s professional pathways. Now directing a team of seven quantity surveying specialists, Autumn commits to ensuring career progression through consistent mentorship. Her guidance has contributed to her team members’ internal promotions and development. One team member is now an Associate, another an Executive Quantity Surveyor leading a team of four, and a third has advanced to Senior Quantity Surveyor.

In addition to her leadership accomplishments, Autumn is an active member of several key industry bodies and engages in socially impactful initiatives with not-for-profit organisations. She volunteers her time and expertise to mentor aspiring female leaders and advocates for policies that support work-life balance and equal opportunities for women in the workplace.

Founding Director David Madden praised Autumn’s active approach to empowering women’s leadership. “The high commendation is a celebration of Autumn’s ability to inspire and mentor others, setting her apart as a driving force for positive change both within MBM and the wider industry. I have no doubt that her ongoing achievements and leadership will continue to elevate industry standards, progress gender equity in construction, and pave the way for the next generation of female leaders.”

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is a not-for-profit organisation supporting the empowerment of women and striving for gender-equality in construction and related industries. NAWIC supports the creation of an equitable industry by equipping women with the business acumen and leadership skills to face the challenges of the construction environment through the NAWIC NSW Executive Women’s Leadership Scholarship.