FACC Wings for Women: FACC wins Women's Empowerment Award of Upper Austria

On July 10, 2025, FACC was awarded the prestigious “StrongWomen.StrongCountry” prize by the district of Upper Austria.

Founded in September 2023, the FACC Wings for Women network aims to increase the number of women in technical professions and management positions and to further promote their career opportunities within the company. The platform for internal company networking, which was founded two years ago, was honored at a festive award ceremony of the initiative StrongWomen. StrongCountry at the “Female.Forum” in the WKO Linz. A total of 90 projects entered in the race for the Upper Austrian state prize “StrongWomen.StrongCountry” 2025 - the award for winning in the category “Companies with over 100 employees” was presented to the team of FACC Wings for Women by Christine Haberlander, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria:

"The number of submissions has more than doubled compared to 2023. This shows that it is important to bring initiatives to strengthen the role of women in front of the curtain and make them publicly visible. FACC Wings for Women is a strong initiative that has been closely networked with the Women's Department of the District of Upper Austria from the very beginning. Networks are essential to empower women and promote careers. They offer exchange, role models and support - and that is exactly what is needed to achieve sustainable change. I particularly appreciate the fact that men are also actively involved - because true equality can only be achieved together," says Christine Haberlander, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria.

“Diverse companies are more resilient, more successful and also more innovative,” emphasizes Sabine Lenzbauer, President of FACC Wings for Women. "The award we have now received encourages us on our path to become even more committed to the concerns, issues and needs of women in the future. We are particularly grateful to the district of Upper Austria, which has supported our initiative from the very beginning and thus sends an important signal for the strengthening of initiatives such as FACC Wings for Women."

"FACC Wings for Women has developed a strong dynamic in an impressively short time and quickly developed a radiance beyond the company boundaries of FACC. As a winner of the Strong Women. Strong Country and also as a leading Austrian company, we are proud to carry this important message to the public: Supporting women in companies is not only a social responsibility, but also an essential cornerstone in order to be prepared for the challenges of the future with a diverse crew,” says FACC CEO Robert Machtlinger, emphasizing the importance of FACC Wings for Women.

FACC Wings for Women - a success story

Since its foundation in September 2023, FACC Wings for Women has stood for the creation of an environment that shows female employees in particular the opportunities and possibilities to make a career as a manager. With offers such as all-day childcare and highly flexible working time models, FACC has been focusing for years on a working environment that prioritizes the needs of families, women and men. With the establishment of FACC Wings for Women two years ago, a further important step was taken with the particular aim of increasing the proportion of female management positions in the company. Twice a year, current topics and development opportunities are discussed with the involvement of female experts at a FACC Wings for Women Summit. At the same time, the participants of the initiative also act as ambassadors for more diversity in companies and thus set an impulse that goes far beyond FACC. Sabine Lenzbauer, FACC Vice President Procurement, is the president of the organization, which was founded on the initiative of female employees.

About StrongWomen.StrongCountry

On behalf of the Women's Department of the Province of Upper Austria, KOMPASS - Competence Center for Parental Leave and Career awards the Upper Austrian State Prize StrongWomen.StrongCountry. On the initiative of Christine Haberlander, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria, and in cooperation with the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the prize is awarded to companies that stand out for their outstanding activities and special commitment to equal opportunities for women in Upper Austria. Projects, measures or activities that sustainably promote equal opportunities for women in Upper Austria can be submitted. The award makes outstanding initiatives visible, recognizes their commitment and provides impetus for social change. The award winners serve as role models and inspire others to also work towards equality.