What a year 2024 was for Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT)!
Together, with the unwavering support of our incredible village of EWIT Alliance members, advocates, industry leaders, and Tradie Ladies, we’ve taken bold strides to move the needle toward our ambitious “30 by 30” mission, achieving 30 per cent female representation in skilled trades by 2030.
We’re reflecting on the milestones and successes that have brought the village closer to building a future where diversity is encouraged and celebrated.
Impactful school programs: Building the pipeline
This year, we wrapped up another incredible run of school-based programs designed to ignite interest in skilled trades among students from Years 7-10. These hands-on, immersive programs allowed young women to explore trades in a psychologically safe environment. The results? Students across Australia have chosen pathways in construction, electrical work, and school-based apprenticeships. Schools like Dromana Secondary College reported an increase in female students selecting VET pathways, while Melton Specialist School celebrated their first female enrolment in Building and Construction for 2025!
The EWIT Gala: Celebrating excellence in trades
In February, we hosted the 2nd annual EWIT Gala and Awards Evening—a night dedicated to honouring trailblazers in trades across a multitude of industries including construction, manufacturing and transport. Over 350 attendees came together to celebrate leaders driving cultural change, with awards such as ‘Tradie Lady of the Year’ and ‘Innovator of Cultural Change.’ This event highlighted the incredible talent within the trades sector and reinforced our commitment to showcasing role models who inspire the next generation. We are very excited for our 2025 Gala in October and can’t wait to celebrate all the game changers in the industry. Get your nominations ready!
Expanding globally: EWIT’s launch in Canada
A bold and exiting milestones of 2024 was EWIT’s expansion into Canada. Under the leadership of Lexi Gilbert, our Co-Founder and CEO of EWIT Canada, we’ve adapted our proven model of blending recruitment, leadership training, and immersive events to the Canadian skilled trades landscape. With Alberta as our headquarters, Canada’s strong trades community has embraced the “30 by 30” mission, ensuring our movement has a global reach. Together, we’re breaking barriers, addressing labour shortages, and creating a culture where women and gender-diverse individuals can thrive.
Advocacy and industry partnerships
2024 was also a year of driving systemic change. EWIT worked alongside NAWIC and Tradeswomen Australia to advocate for women in trades, welcoming federal government measures that address gender inequities in the skilled workforce. Additionally, the EWIT Alliance corporate membership initiative united industry leaders, educational institutions, and government bodies to collectively implement meaningful change. Together, we’re laying the foundation for tangible progress.
Transforming industries with positive psychology
EWIT’s work continues to be underpinned by principles of positive psychology, ensuring that every program and partnership fosters confidence, courage, and a sense of belonging. Through initiatives like the “Kicking Goals in Trades” program with North Melbourne FC’s Freestyle initiative, we inspired students to explore the trades, paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive workforce.
Looking ahead: A call to action
This year has shown us that it truly takes a village to achieve transformative change. From expanding internationally to inspiring students in classrooms, we’ve seen firsthand the power of community. But there’s still work to do. Achieving 30% representation by 2030 will require all of us to come together leaders, tradespeople, educators, and advocates to continue driving impact, empowering individuals, and transforming industries.
As we gear up for 2025, we invite you to join the EWIT movement. Whether through partnerships, programs, or simply spreading the word, your contribution matters. Together, we can make skilled trades more diverse, dynamic, and successful. Let’s move the needle toward 30 by 30, one impactful step at a time.
Here’s to an extraordinary 2025 of making an impact, empowering people, and transforming industries!