Each month Middle East Consultant (MEC) sits down with an executive from the built environment to get to know them better from a professional and personal standpoint. Through the ‘Women in Construction’ focus, we learn more about their role, achievements, how they have progressed through their career, and any challenges they have faced. Here, MEC sits down with Olivia Taylor, Senior Consultant, HKA.
What drove you to get into construction?
Interestingly, my first creative passion was jewellery design. At school I completed a jewellery design course with a teacher I’m still in touch with today, more than 25 years later. I loved the entire process—from developing an idea with a client to designing, casting and creating something that was both functional and beautiful.
That experience sparked my passion for design, and architecture felt like the natural progression. Instead of creating individual pieces of jewellery, I could create spaces that would shape people’s lives for decades.
What has kept me in the industry is the problem-solving. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to complex technical challenges and finding practical solutions. That eventually led me into construction claims and disputes, where you’re unpicking highly technical issues and helping resolve them. Looking back, it’s a natural extension of what first attracted me to design.
Having worked across the full project lifecycle—from concept design through construction and, ultimately, dispute resolution—has given me a holistic understanding of how projects are created and where challenges arise.
Tell us about your career and your key achievements.
I’d describe my career as having 3 distinct stages. The first major milestone was qualifying as a Chartered Architect in the UK. Becoming chartered requires 3 degrees and around 8-years of study and professional experience, so achieving that was a huge personal and professional accomplishment.
The second was making the decision to leave architecture and move into quantum consulting and construction disputes. After investing so much time building one career, starting again in a completely different discipline was daunting, and many people thought I was taking a huge risk. But it has given me an incredibly broad understanding of the industry, combining technical, programming and commercial expertise.
My proudest achievement, however, has been becoming a mother. Returning to work after maternity leave meant rebuilding my confidence, strengthening my resilience and re-establishing my career. That experience has made me a more rounded professional and, I hope, a better role model for others.
How have you made your mark in the industry? What projects have you worked on?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on several landmark projects throughout my career, including Ain Dubai and Here East in London, which transformed the former Olympic Broadcast Centre into a thriving business and innovation hub now home to companies such as Sky Sports and University College London’s robotics department.
I’ve worked across a wide range of sectors, each with its own technical and commercial complexities. While many people associate architecture with design and drawing, the reality is that architects spend much of their time coordinating multidisciplinary teams, resolving technical issues and managing complex project challenges. That variety has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
What are some of the barriers to women entering construction?
I think the biggest barrier is perception. When people hear “construction,” they often picture building sites, hard hats and high-visibility jackets. In reality, the industry offers an enormous range of careers, including architecture, engineering, planning, project management, quantity surveying, commercial management and specialist consultancy.
Personally, I’ve been fortunate to work with supportive colleagues throughout my career, although, like many young professionals, I felt I had to establish my credibility very early on. I overcame that by focusing on developing deep technical expertise and consistently delivering high-quality work. Over time, your reputation speaks for itself.
The industry offers incredible opportunities, but we need to do a better job of showing young women just how many different career paths exist.
The GCC construction sector remains male-dominated. How do you see that changing?
It is still male-dominated, but I genuinely believe the industry is moving in the right direction.
Part of the challenge is simply time. Serious conversations around gender equality have accelerated over the past decade, but it takes years for those entering the profession to progress into senior leadership positions.
When I started my career, it was unusual to walk into a meeting and see multiple women around the table in senior technical roles. Today, that’s becoming increasingly common.
The bigger issue now is retention. Many professionals reach the most important stage of their career development at exactly the same time as major life events—starting a family, relocating or taking on caring responsibilities. If we want to see more women in leadership, we need to create workplaces that support people through those stages rather than losing talented professionals mid-career.
How important is mental health in the workplace?
It’s something I’m incredibly passionate about. My sister is a mental health nurse, and I’m also a qualified Mental Health First Aider. I first trained while working in London and volunteered to complete the training again after joining HKA.
Mental health affects everyone at different stages of life, and businesses have a responsibility to create environments where people feel comfortable asking for support. That means providing access to mental health resources, encouraging open conversations, giving people the time they need when they’re struggling and ensuring those experiences don’t negatively affect career progression.
People know they can come to me if they need someone to talk to. I’d like to see those conversations become even more normal, particularly for men, who are often less likely to seek support. Mental health should never carry a stigma, regardless of your gender or position within an organisation.
What should governments and construction firms do to improve diversity and equal pay?
Equal pay is closely linked to career progression. To create a genuinely level playing field, organisations need transparent promotion pathways, objective performance measures and regular reviews of pay structures.
As a working parent, I also believe flexibility should never be viewed as solely a women’s issue. Men and women should both feel able to take on caring responsibilities without that affecting perceptions of commitment or ambition.
That cultural change has to come from leadership. When organisations judge people on their outcomes rather than their physical presence, they create environments where talented people can thrive regardless of gender or family responsibilities.
Ultimately, I’d like to see progression driven purely by capability, contribution and performance.
What has your experience been like working in the GCC compared with the UK?
The GCC is often perceived as being a more difficult place for women to build careers, but my experience has been much more positive and nuanced.
I’ve worked with talented professionals from many different nationalities and backgrounds, and some of the strongest project leaders I’ve worked alongside have been women.
One of the biggest advantages of working in the GCC is the scale and ambition of the projects. They’re fast-paced, technically complex and give relatively young professionals opportunities to take on significant responsibility much earlier in their careers than they might elsewhere.
While challenges still exist, I’ve found that if you’re capable, hardworking and willing to learn, there are excellent opportunities to build a rewarding career.
Have you experienced discrimination during your career?
Early in my career there were occasions when my expertise was questioned in ways I didn’t see happen to male colleagues. I was sometimes spoken over in meetings, challenged before I had finished explaining my position or judged based on my age rather than my experience. On a couple of occasions I was even asked my age during professional meetings.
Construction is naturally a high-pressure environment, and robust debate is part of the job. But there’s a difference between challenging an idea and dismissing someone’s expertise.
Those experiences taught me the importance of preparation. Rather than trying to be the loudest voice in the room, I focused on being the best-prepared. Strong technical knowledge and consistent delivery build credibility over time.
The industry has improved significantly since I started, and those experiences have made me more resilient and more empathetic towards others facing similar challenges.
Do you feel there is a limit to how far women can progress?
Five years ago, I might have answered differently. Today, I don’t believe my gender limits my own progression, but I also think it’s unrealistic to pretend barriers don’t still exist. Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership across much of the industry.
Architecture is a good example. Around half of architecture students are women, yet only around a third of registered architects are female, and representation at senior leadership level drops even further.
Progress is happening, but there’s still work to do around retention, visibility and supporting people through key life stages. My approach has always been to keep developing my expertise, deliver results and continue putting myself forward for opportunities.
What advice would you give to women entering the construction industry?
My biggest piece of advice is: don’t mistake confidence for competence.
Construction can sometimes reward the loudest voice in the room, but the loudest person isn’t always the most knowledgeable. Build your technical expertise, understand your subject thoroughly and have confidence in your own judgement.
There will be times when you’re underestimated or challenged more than others. Don’t let those moments define your confidence or your career.
The industry needs talented people. If you’re willing to work hard, keep learning and develop real expertise, there is absolutely a place for you.
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