ACCIONA’s Annika Jackson has been awarded the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, Young Achiever Award at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Queensland Awards for Excellence 2025, held on 7 November at The Star Brisbane.

The award recognises outstanding leadership, mentoring and Indigenous engagement by individuals under 27 working in construction, property, civil or related industries.

Annika expressed her gratitude. “What an honour. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to receive this award!” Ms Jackson said.

Annika joined ACCIONA in 2023 as a Construction Worker on the Gold Coast and quickly became known for her commitment to supporting others.

Her passion for mentoring led her to participate in Women in Construction programs across major infrastructure projects including Brisbane Metro and Coomera Connector Stage 1 North. 

Through these programs, she has guided young Indigenous women to explore new career pathways in the construction industry.

A proud Indigenous woman with ties to the Mandandanji and Gunggari peoples, Annika also serves as the first Queensland representative on ACCIONA’s First Nations Leadership Group.

In this role, she has helped build cultural awareness and strengthen connections across the business by sharing her experiences and perspectives.

As the first person in her family to finish university, she is continuously seeking opportunities for learning and growth. She hopes that this will lead her to a supervisor position one day. 

Matt Strevens, Project Director for the Coomera Connector, commended Annika’s contribution to the industry.

“This is fantastic and very well-deserved industry recognition for Annika, who always goes the extra mile to look out for her colleagues and to be involved with Indigenous and mentoring initiatives at both corporate and project level,” Mr Strevens said.

The NAWIC Queensland Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the construction sector. ACCIONA was also a sponsor of the Emerging Leader Award, which recognises the achievements of women under 35.

This year’s recipient was Ash Raju from Brisbane Airport Corporation.

Annika’s recognition highlights the growing impact of young leaders in shaping a more inclusive and supportive construction industry.

Her achievements reflect ACCIONA’s commitment to fostering diverse talent and creating meaningful opportunities for First Nations peoples across its projects.