Timber iQ August - September 2017 // Issue: 33 | Page 3

EDITOR'S NOTE Happy women's month! I t was a lot harder to find women to profile for our women in timber feature than I would’ve anticipated. And that says a lot considering how low my expectations were to begin with! It’s not just in the timber industry; the construction industry is known for being a predominantly male-driven sector. The few women who manage to stick it out, must work extra hard to constantly prove themselves to their male counterparts. How is this fair? August is women’s month – maybe we should spend a few minutes thinking about the inequality in our sector (not just with regards to gender). It’s more than just another public holiday that messes up our work diaries – or at least it should be. What is your business doing to encourage (and empower) women in the timber construction industry? And I don’t just mean hiring a female assistant; I’m talking about judging potential employees on their skills and experience, without placing women at a disadvantage based solely on their gender. But enough of my soap box rant on the misogyny of the work place. Check out our women in timber feature on page 36. We also look at the dos and don’ts of working at heights on page 30 and the challenges that come with transporting timber (page 42). When it comes to projects, we have a whole range on offer this edition. While round posts for play structures are the norm on playgrounds, Sitari Country Estate opted for square posts (read more on page 16). We also look at an impressive wooden tower (page 20). In the end, we should be encouraging the growth of women in our industry all the time, not just in August. We’re always looking for personality profiles, by the way. So, let us know if you know anyone interesting (male or female) that we can interview for this feature. Ilana Koegelenberg Managing editor [email protected]