Hane Laena has been with Leighton Asia since 2022. As a site engineer, she supervises work carried out on-site and ensures adherence to the approved method and materials. She also coordinates with subcontractors and tracks the site progress.

What inspired you to join the industry?

Joining the industry was a personal decision albeit family motivated. My father works in the property development industry. He has no technical background or expertise in building and maintenance, and I wanted to fill that gap. That’s why I opted to study civil engineering and enter the construction industry.

Describe your experience at Leighton Asia.

Dynamic. Empowering. Prudent. In my experience, Leighton Asia’s prudence has supported my career as a woman in this fast-paced industry. The dynamic and diverse team of supportive colleagues empowers me to be a visionary, to be wise in decision-making, and to provide quick yet effective judgement that supports our project.

What makes Leighton Asia different?

Leighton Asia has built a strong reputation in prioritising its safety philosophy. What I appreciate the most is the opportunity for women to have a voice, and the company actively embraces us to speak up.

In the project where I am deployed, it is one of the projects in Indonesia with more women and there is no gender disparity.

What do you think about gender equality/diversity in the construction industry in Indonesia?

I believe its thriving now. Considering how difficult it once was for women, we’re in very much comfortable position now. Here at Leighton Asia, we have celebrations for International Women’s Day, campaigns and forums that highlights women accomplishments and contributions, and discuss the areas of improvement on gender and inclusivity.

What else do you think can be done to further drive gender equality/diversity in the construction industry in general or in Indonesia? 

First and foremost, as individuals I believe it's essential to have the ability to defend ourselves and stand up for what's just. Upholding mutual respect should be a principle that is universally upheld. It's fundamental for everyone to play a role in fostering this behavior.