#BuildingEquality – Sharing Your Stories: Nancy Sweeney

As part of the #BuildingEquality Campaign, Nancy Sweeney, BCAR Manager, Glenveagh Properties, shares her story as a woman in construction.

My interest in the Construction Industry was sparked by a field school trip to the Giants Causeway which eventually led me to begin my career in the industry by completing a diploma in Industrial Geology and eventually a Degree in Geotechnical Engineering.

Although this was the foundation of my career I went on to specialise in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on concrete design and structure working for various concrete specialists and as a Technical Manager for a concrete producer.

I eventually went on to work for a number of Main Contractors and Developers as a Civil Engineer with a focus based on my experience in concrete design. During the downturn in 2008 I was eventually forced to emigrate to Australia where I ended up working for some of the biggest Civil Contracting Companies in the country with Projects including a Dam and Major Pipeline Project in NSW, and a raised motorway Project in South Australia and lastly one of the biggest projects to be ever undertaken in Australia the Gorgon LNG Gas Project situated on a remote Class A nature reserve off the Northwest Coast of Western Australia where I worked as a Quality Manager, upon which my background in Geology and Engineering was influential in acquiring the role.

I eventually returned to Ireland in 2016 where I continued working in the field of Quality and Building Compliance.
The country that I left in 2010 was quite different to the one I came home to in terms of building compliance and certification and I had a bit to learn in respect to the new Building Control Requirements that were brought into force during this time.

I eventually began working for Glenveagh Homes as their Quality & BCAR Manager, a role that has now become an integral part of our business by collaborating with both our Construction Teams and Professional Teams in ensuring that we provide all the relevant compliance signoff and documents in a timely and professional manner.
My experience since working with Glenveagh has given me encouragement as to how women are valued and facilitated in the industry and would be pleased to see this trend continue.
I believe the industry has evolved over the decades to allow a more diverse scope of works for people and genders of all ages and I would encourage our schools and universities to play in vital role in promoting and generating courses to reflect this trend.