Influencing and networking organisation Women in Property has elected Alice Brook, an associate structural engineer at Bath-headquartered consulting engineers Buro Happold, as its new South West chair.
Alice, pictured, replaces Sophie Endacott, a senior valuation surveyor in Avison Young’s Bristol office, in the year-long role.
Women in Property, which was established in 1987, is committed to encouraging girls and young women to consider a career in property and construction, with members supporting education initiatives including schools outreach projects and the National Student Awards.
It has 12 branches and satellites across the UK and typically runs more than 400 events a year.
At Buro Happold, Alice specialises in leading multi-disciplinary engineering design with a focus on projects that conserve historic structures in the creative re-use of existing buildings.
She said: “To achieve diversity in an organisation, you have first to be inclusive.
“This has been the Women in Property ethos since its inception and our work continues with this at our core.
“Now, the conversation is less about gender specifically and has a greater focus on inclusion. We must continue to break through the barriers, the preconceived ideas that still make it difficult for many people to succeed, whether because of gender, race, age, disability or social mobility.”
Buro Happold partner and Bath office director Claire Smith added: “Alice’s skills, developed as an exceptional structural engineer in the challenging world of creative building reuse, will make her a great leader and ambassador in her new role as branch chair for Women in Property.”
Alice will be supported in her role by incoming vice chair Toni Riddiford, senior associate architect and head of office and workplace at architects Stride Treglown.
Toni will succeed Alice as South West chair on 28 February next year.
Women in Property in the South West is supported by Willmott Dixon, Hydrock and Buro Happold, all of which sponsor its annual student awards.
The organisation is volunteer-led and runs both in-person and virtual events, including CPD-style sessions, panel discussions and soft skills, site visits and social networking, as well as participating in the organisation’s Outreach, Mentoring and Student Awards programmes.
Upcoming events include its International Women’s Day gathering on 8 March in support of Empire Fighting Chance, the Bristol charity that uses a combination of non-contact boxing and intensive personal support to challenge and inspire young people.
