Nicola McCracken (Health and Safety Manager, Lagan Construction Group) was shortlisted as a finalist at the 2015 WISE Awards as her contribution to health and safety in the workplace was recognised in the WISE Health and Safety Award.
WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) aims to encourage girls and women to study and build careers using science, technology, engineering and maths. WISE’s royal patron, HRH The Princess Royal attended the gala dinner in central London where Nicola met Princess Anne on the evening as a finalist.
At Lagan Construction Group, Nicola has had key role in major projects, including the construction of the £160m international airport in Islamabad. On this project Nicola quickly gained the trust of the client and she is believed to be the first Health and Safety manager to hold inductions and training for the local workforce. She ensured people working on the project had the best welfare facilities and secure accommodation, always managing to bring a home from home atmosphere when others were battling homesickness. She also encouraged employment of a female Pakistani graduate engineer.
Nicola is the youngest chairman in the history of the Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISG), Nicola has contributed to many construction safety initiatives during 20 years on the committee. Through Northern Ireland’s Women in Construction Network, she promotes the construction industry to students and even persuaded her babysitter to do a construction degree.
