I joined the Global Risk Committee of Australia-based GHD as an independent member in 2024 to provide advisement on the risks associated with the global engineering and construction industries. With engineering and construction operations in Australia, the US, the UK, the Middle East, and South Amerca, this firm is “committed to making water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come”.
When the board recruiter first spoke to me about interviewing to become the first independent Director of Brinkman Construction a front-range Colorado general contractor, I remember asking him, “Did you tell them I’m a woman?!” Sadly, I could not imagine a general contractor choosing a woman for this role, but I was wrong. I joined the Board of Directors of Brinkman Construction as their first outside Non-Executive Director in 2018 when founders Paul and Kevin Brinkman transitioned the company to an employee-owned ESOP. I am proud to have been chosen by Paul as the first independent Chair of the Board in 2022.
“As the first Independent Director on our newly formed Brinkman Construction ESOP Board, Gretchen’s organizational and governance knowledge was instrumental in strengthening our governance practices. During her three-year term as Chair, Gretchen’s leadership enabled each Director to contribute individually and ensured that we operated as an effective, aligned and strategic team.”
– Paul Brinkman Founder and Non-Executive Director,Brinkman Construction
My induction into the National Academy of Construction (NAC) was a liberating moment for me because I realized that I had nothing more to prove in the industry and could now fully focus my attention on helping other women thrive. I was honored to join roughly 440 of my industry peers as a member and to serve on the Executive Committee as Chair of the Development Committee in 2023 and 2024. This organization recognizes the industry’s top leaders and invests in building the future leaders of the construction industry.
Moving to Australia in 2018 and starting over in the construction industry was not easy. I am grateful to those who recognized not just my expertise, but also my passion for helping our industry improve. I joined the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce Steering Committee (CICT) (AUS) in 2021. This bi-partisan collaboration between government, private industry, academia, and the nonprofit sector was established to create and inspire the implementation of a construction industry Culture Standard. This evidence-based approach to industry improvement will positively impact the culture and productivity of the entire supply chain of the Australian construction industry.
Rarely if ever has a woman stood on stage before 400 of Australia’s con struction leaders to present the Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA), a tremendous oppo rtunity to celebrate our industry and serve as a role model to women in the construction industry throughout Australia. I joined the Judging Panel of ACAA in 2022 and had the tremendous honor of Chairing the Judging Panel in 2023. This award, co-sponsored by the Australian Contractors Association (ACA) and Engineers Australia (EA) is given to one outstanding construction project each year.
I believe that it will require tremendous leadership in the construction industry to achieve the level of inclusion necessary to fuel our success. I joined the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) National Committee in 2022 to work collaboratively with my peers to drive greater levels of inclusion in the US construction industry.
Have you ever had the chance to watch hundreds of people dancing because they can now safely cross a river to go to market or the doctor? I joined the Board of Bridges to Prosperity in 2016 and served as Chair of the Board in 2019 and 2020, and also served as Chair of the Development, Audit, and Governance Committees during my tenure. This global NGO drives investment in infrastructure in rural communities in countries such as Rwanda and Bolivia to end isolation-based poverty. This was an excellent opportunity to combine my passion for philanthropy and the construction industry, and research shows that these rural footbridges increase female participation in local markets by roughly 75%.