A BWI delegation attended the Trades Women Build Nations (TWBN) Conference on 19–21 September 2025 held in the United States, the largest annual gathering of tradeswomen in the world.The conference, which was hosted by the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), welcomed 6,000 women from the trades to Chicago, Illinois. More than just an annual gathering, TWBN has become a powerful showcase of unity, empowerment, and opportunity for women in the unionised construction sector. The event underscored a strong commitment to broadening access to meaningful careers in the building trades and to strengthening entry points for women and underrepresented communities.

The conference included plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and culminated with a powerful banner parade that filled the streets of Chicago. BWI affiliates in the United States, including IUPAT, IUEC, the Ironworkers, and SMART unions, brought strong delegations of tradeswomen who played a leading role in the conference and its side events. BWI was represented by Anna Andreeva, BWI Global Gender Coordinator, and Tove Rita Melgård, a member of the BWI European Women Committee from Fellesforbundet, Norway. Adding to the momentum, Jimmy Williams, BWI Regional Vice President for North America, proudly led the banner parade and offered inspirational support to IUPAT women during the union caucuses.

Among the keynote speakers was Illinois Governor JB Pritzker who expressed strong support for women in trades, for workers, and for trade unions. He shared his ambition to enshrine the right to organise in the Illinois State Constitution.

For women in trades across the world, TWBN serves as an inspiring reminder of what is possible when solidarity, collective action, and determination come together. The experiences of sisters in the United States demonstrate the power of unity in breaking barriers, winning rights, and opening doors to the next generation of women in construction. Their message is clear: women everywhere belong in the trades, and together, they can build a stronger, more inclusive future for the entire labour movement.