International Women’s Day 2026 - Celebrating Women Breaking Barriers in Plumbing
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Give to Gain’. The theme emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. When individuals, organisations and communities invest in supporting women, the entire workforce benefits through greater opportunity, diversity and innovation.
In honour of International Women’s Day 2026, the CIPHE is celebrating those who have challenged stereotypes in the plumbing industry and helped to inspire others to follow in their footsteps through careers in the trades.
While progress has been made, women remain significantly under-represented across the plumbing and heating profession, with representation increasing only modestly from 1.9% in 2021 to 2.4% in 2022. Encouraging more into the industry is therefore essential - not only to address the skills gap, but also to ensure the sector is inclusive, welcoming and reflective of modern society. Greater representation helps break down outdated assumptions and demonstrates that skilled trades offer rewarding careers for everyone.
Lillian Ann Baumbach – The First Female Master Plumber
Lillian Ann Baumbach challenged convention in 1951, when she became the first woman in the United States to earn a Master Plumber’s licence at just 21 years old.
Lillian developed an early passion for the trade, spending school summer holidays working alongside her father, W. J. Baumbach, in his plumbing and heating business. After leaving high school, she began an apprenticeship and went on to complete the training despite being the only woman in her class.
Undeterred by the barriers of the time, she successfully passed her Master Plumber examination - a remarkable achievement during the 1950s when women were often discouraged from entering technical professions.
Daisy Turner ACIPHE
The CIPHE is also proud to highlight Daisy Turner ACIPHE, a talented plumber and heating engineer, who has already achieved several successes in national skills competitions.
Daisy was recently part of a team that volunteered in Nepal, helping deliver a water distribution project for Bokhejunda, a remote village in the Himalayas. Through this initiative, she and her colleagues worked on installing a gravity-fed water system that will provide 24-hour running water for around 60 residents – a transformational improvement for health, hygiene and overall quality of life.
Reflecting on her career, Daisy said: "On IWD in 2022 I competed in my first plumbing competition! Since that day, I've continued to put myself forward for every opportunity and push myself to be the best I can be. IWD is always a standout in the calendar and the 8th of March should be a proud day not only for me but for all women in the industry"
International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to recognise the contributions of women working across the CIPHE.
Celebrating Women at CIPHE
Natasha Fallows reflected on her career in finance:
“I enjoy working with numbers and solving complex problems. I began my career in auditing before progressing into senior management accounting roles, where the variety of work and the attention to detail required were a strong fit for my skills.
A key challenge I have faced, particularly earlier in my career, has been balancing professional responsibilities with family life when my children were young."
Lizzi Lake shared what has helped her build confidence in the workplace:
" Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and understanding your own helps navigate the workplace and life. Confidence builds naturally with experience, and you shouldn't be afraid to make your voice heard."
Thinking about advice for women starting their careers, Susan Sawyer said:
"Find what your passion is or what you wish to do and go with it whole heartedly, even if you get knockbacks from job opportunities, its normal, don’t let that put you off “
The legacy of Lillian Baumbach, together with the contribution made by people like Daisy Turner and colleagues across the CIPHE remind us that progress begins with opportunity, support and determination, perfectly reflecting the spirit of ‘Give to Gain’.