I joined Linc in 2017 initially as a Commercial Surveyor. The role was split between new construction projects and Linc’s commercial property portfolio.

Because Linc has an active development programme, construction projects became my main priority. The role involved me taking sites from acquisition stage and into planning. After 18 months, I was promoted to Project Manager within the Development team, now taking sites from purchase and planning right the way through to handover of units.

When I started my career in 1999, commercial property was a very male dominated environment and there weren’t many women working in surveying at that time. I was fortunate as there was an established network of female surveyors and contacts who I met quite early on. Over the last 10-15 years, you can see there has been a step change. The culture within a housing association supports gender equality and there are more opportunities for women to excel within our area of development.

I’ve always been interested in the built form and the built environment. I once saw a careers advisor in university and told them I didn’t want to do a job where I’m behind a desk 100% of the time. I wanted to be out and about, meeting different people and doing something that’s varied. They suggested surveying! So, on completion of my degree in Geography I was fortunate to find a placement with a local private practice in Newport. I then completed a second degree part time in Property Management and Valuation.

You need determination if you want to advance within any career. You need to work hard, you need to be true to yourself and I was told, never give up, keep pushing and you will be successful if you make that commitment to yourself.