
Belinda Virant
Managing Director – Australia
Arcadis
Belinda is the Managing Director Arcadis Australia and is responsible for leading all parts of the Australian business, including Transportation, Places and Precincts, Water, Energy, Resources, and Environmental Services. She is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction and is accountable for the overall Australian business operation. She has also been a Board Member of Arcadis Australia Pacific since 2021. Before this, Belinda led the Australian Mobility business, incorporating transport planning, transport advisory, multidisciplinary engineering, and advisory services across highways, rail, airports, ports, new mobility, and independent assurance services.
Belinda is a chartered civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in Australia and overseas. She is recognised for her strong leadership and management, clear communication, and detailed knowledge and understanding of the delivery of major transport infrastructure projects. In 2024, Belinda was awarded the Judy Raper for Leadership as part of the UNSW Women in Engineering Alumni Awards. She completed the World Business Council for Sustainable Development LEAP program in 2023. Belinda is passionate about creating a truly inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity is celebrated, and every individual is empowered to succeed. She is focused on cultivating an environment that encourages all team members to bring their authentic selves to work each day and is steadfast in her journey to ensure our workplace reflects the rich diversity present in our society.
SESSIONS
Day 1
9:30
CEO Panel: Driving an Industry Cultural Shift for a Fair, Inclusive, and Respectful Workplace
What concrete actions are leaders taking to create workplaces that attract, retain, and advance women?
What are the key organisational commitments to gender equity, and how are they being measured?
How are organisations embedding inclusivity into leadership, ensuring workplaces are agile, collaborative, and equitable?
Moderator: Cathryn Greville, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Anne Jolic, Chief Executive Officer, Development Victoria
Mark McManamny, Chief Executive – Australia New Zealand, AECOM
Belinda Virant, Managing Director – Australia, Arcadis
Day 2
11:05
Industry Update: Tackling the Skills Shortage and Unlocking New Talent Pipelines
Making the sector a career of choice for women: What will have the biggest impact in attracting and retaining more women in the industry?
Diversifying talent sources: How can the sector leverage transferable skills, upskilling programs, and leadership development to create sustainable career pathways?
What policies, workplace initiatives, and industry-wide efforts are needed to build a more inclusive and future-ready workforce?
Moderator: Cathryn Greville, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Steve Brogan, Chief of Policy and Research, Infrastructure Australia
Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director, Housing Industry Association (HIA)
Katherine Richards, Chief Engineer, Engineers Australia