|
|
| Thursday, 08 Jan 2009, 11:56 GMT |
|
Yorkshire and North East Branch
It is with great pleasure that I accept the position of Chairman of the Yorkshire and North East Branch of the Women in Property Committee. I am looking forward to the year ahead.
I became involved in WiP early on in my career when I was working in Liverpool and attended the meetings as a way of getting to know new people in the industry. I later became a member when I moved to Manchester and enjoyed the experience so much that I became a member of the Northern Branch Committee. When my company looked to open a new office in Leeds, I jumped at the chance to move to the Yorkshire area.
While based in Manchester I enjoyed being part of the Northern Committee so much that I decided the best way for me to continue networking and meeting new business contacts was to attend more events, which led to my involvement in the Yorkshire and North East Committee. I am pleased to say that this has helped me both professionally and personally, as I have also made new friendships along the way and also made it easier to settle into Yorkshire more readily. A year has now passed and I have been invited to take up the position of Chairman of the Branch. I aim to continue the excellent work that Michaela Graham has carried out over the last two years and to be part of WiP's success in 2008/09, with the new larger Committee including our new Satellite Branch in the North East headed up by our new NE SATELLITE Chair Sonja McGregor, and not forgetting my new Vice Chair Germaine Peters.
The Association of Women in Property are a modern forum for professional women in property and construction that aims to bring a young, fresh approach to exchanging views, networking, sharing knowledge and creating business opportunities. WiP not only promotes the role of women in the property industry but it also aims to highlight the fact that women can use their own abilities to get where they want to be.
This year our aim is to promote WiP to both new and existing members and to increase attendance at this year’s events, which inevitably improve the opportunities to establish business contacts and networking for professional and personal use. I am personally aiming to promote WiP to all young professionals as well as companies in the industry. My employer, Drivers Jonas, is just one of many companies supporting WiP, who have recognised the benefits of WiP for their individual staff and company as a whole.
Our Committee will help to promote WiP in Yorkshire and the North East by highlighting the modern, dynamic perception of WiP. In order to achieve this we will be increasing our marketing in Yorkshire which will hopefully bring in a new, wider audience and improve our database of contacts. Our fantastic 2008/09 events will be publicised and highlighted on the website, by emails and within our Branch newsletters.
If anyone would like to get involved by either helping out at an event, visiting a school, taking part on the UKRC Mentoring Programme or would even consider making the next step and joining the Committee, please contact us on the details below.
- Sponsors -
We are delighted to announce our main Branch sponsors this year - Pinsent Masons and Shepherd Construction. There are still opportunities for companies or organisations to get involved and if anyone would like to sponsor either an event or our education/mentoring programme this year, please get in touch.
- Education -
We have a number of exciting educational projects planned for this year, including our 2nd Student Award Scheme, which has a good number of Yorkshire and North East universities on board. Judging for the best student will take place on 21st April and the winner of the regional award will go forward to the National “Best of Best” finals. The overall winner to be announced during the evening, at a black tie dinner, at Claridge’s in London on Tuesday, 23rd September.
One of our other aims this year is to promote the Education Roadshow. We will be attending as many schools and colleges as possible with the aim of making children more aware of the various property and construction careers, which are available. Talking to children, we will highlight that there are other professions out there, which they may not have considered or not even known about. If anyone is interested in taking part in this exciting and rewarding initiative, again please let us know.
- Mentoring -
Our former Chairman, Michaela Graham, will be developing the UKRC Mentoring Programme, which promotes the role of women, by encouraging young WiP members and even experienced professionals to open their minds to new fresh approaches. Michaela is an experienced Mentor and has taken on the role as WiP’s National Mentoring Co-ordinator.
- North East Satellite Branch -
The North East Satellite Branch was formed in September 2007 and is going from strength to strength. The current Chairman of the Satellite Branch sub-committee, Sonja MacGregor of titlesolv.com says: “We have held a number of very successful lunches in the North East. Following the formation of satellite branch committee, we are dedicated to spreading the word of WIP NE and are working hard on many projects. Keep an eye out for our future events and please come along to enjoy meeting new contacts in 2008”.
Sonja adds: "In 2008, we are working towards growing the number of members of Women in Property by organizing various events in different areas. Our focus is to compliment the area by providing interesting as well as socially engaging events where networking is light and easy. Events range from site visits at popular destinations to seminars which highlight both controversial as well as popular subjects such as environmental issues. By applying the guidance and experience of the Yorkshire branch as well as other regional branches along with pursuing innovation within our committee of dedicated members, we are confident the North East satellite branch can only go from strength to strength. "
- Events for 2008 -
Over the last year we have increased the number of WiP events held, which have included a variety of interesting seminars, networking lunches and site visits. These events have given us the chance to let our hair down after a busy week at work, to relax and socialise with friends at cocktail parties and to enjoy after work drinks. The extensive range of events are open to both men and women in all disciplines within the property and construction sectors.
If you would like to stay informed with new events on offer over the next few months, please visit our 'Branch Events' page (via menu top right of this page). Jenny Taylor-Smith
2008 Chairman of Yorkshire & North East branch of The Association of Women in Property
Yorkshire and North East Branch Committee
 Jenny Taylor-Smith
Chairman
Jenny is a Senior Planning Surveyor at Drivers Jonas in Leeds where she provides planning strategy advice on a wide range of projects throughout the UK, acting on behalf of both public and private sector clients, including local authorities, developers, and landowners. Jenny has experience of advising on submitting planning applications, Environmental Impact Assessments, development potential of sites and preparing work in connection with Planning Appeals. Jenny arrived at Drivers Jonas with experience in the public sector at Warrington Borough Council. She has worked within both Development Control and Planning Policy Departments. In her spare time she enjoys shopping - especially buying shoes! Tel: 0113 394 2410
E-mail: jennytaylor-smith@driversjonas.com |  Germaine Peters
Vice Chairman
Tel: 0113 244 5000
E-mail: germaine.peters@pinsentmasons.com | Elaine Woods
Branch Treasurer Tel: 0113 209 7723
E-mail: elaine.woods@addleshawgoddard.com |  Vicki Ingleby
Membership Secretary
Vicki is a planning consultant with significant experience in both the private and public sectors. She has been involved in a broad range of multi-disciplinary projects for a variety of clients across the UK including major regeneration projects. She has an excellent track record of project delivery and a sound knowledge of planning law, regulations and guidelines. Tel: 0113 386 3800
E-mail: vingleby@turleyassociates.co.uk |  Michaela Graham
Mentoring Co-Ordinator
Michaela is a Senior
Architectural Technologist working for The Harris Partnership, based in their Wakefield office. She has worked on a variety of projects from office/ business developments, large out of town retail developments, a verity of restaurants, & industrial developments to listed building refurbishments. Michaela has been a member of WiP since 2001 and a committee member since 2005, she was the Yorkshire branch chair for 2 years running, from March 2006 until March 2008, and is now the regional and National Mentoring Coordinator. Michaela says; 'I have found Women in Property beneficial on both a business and personal level, especially boosted by my years as Yorkshire Chair' Tel: 01924 291 800
E-mail: michaelagraham@harrispartnership.com | Kirsty Barsby
Branch Secretary Tel: 01904 561441
E-mail: klb@denisontill.com |  Wendy March
Events Co-Ordinator
Wendy is sole proprietor of New Image Interiors, an Interior Design, decor and furnishing company which she established in 1989. Wendy works with a team of professional tradesmen, architects and soft furnishing specialists, to complete a diverse range of projects for private clients, builders, property developers and commercial clients. Wendy has been a dedicated supporter and committee member of the Yorkshire Branch of Women in Property for over twelve years. Wendy feels that over the years she has put a lot into the organisation but it has had many rewards for her. Winning contracts through networking and meeting people who attend WiP events. She takes every opportunity to encourage ladies to venture into the world of WiP. In her limited spare time Wendy enjoys playing golf, walking, gardening and socialising. Tel: 01924 201 523
E-mail: info@newimageinteriors.co.uk |  Sonja MacGregor
North East SATELLITE Chairman
Tel: tbc
E-mail: sonjamacgregor@yahoo.com |  Maria Orlovic
Website Co-Ordinator
Maria qualified as a quantity surveyor in Sydney Australia, where she spent 14 years working on a variety of construction & asset management projects. She was the first female Fellow of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and is also a chartered surveyor. In 2001-2, Maria was seconded to London. In 2004 she moved to the UK and following two further years working in London, joined the Leeds office of Turner & Townsend Cost Management in 2006 where she has specialised in Government and Water projects. Tel: 0113 258 4400/07958 830347
E-mail: maria.orlovic@turntown.co.uk |  Angela Barnicle
Education Co-Ordinator
Angela has dealt with all aspects of property work, more recently focusing on strategic development and regeneration. Based in the Drivers Jonas Leeds office, she provides strategic development advice including land assembly, development appraisals/viability studies and delivery to both public and private sector client across the North. Tel: 0113 394 2401
E-mail: angelabarnicle@driversjonas.com |  Claire Malone (McDermott)
Events Co-Ordinator
Claire is a Commercial Property Solicitor working for Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Leeds since January 2007 after working and training in North and West Yorkshire and qualifiying as a solicitor in September 2005. She deals with a wide variety of commercial property matters locally and nationally including acquisitions and disposals, Landlord and Tenant work, property development, funding and investment. Tel: 0113 394 6793
E-mail: claire.malone@irwinmitchell.com | Kathryn Buckley (Rose)
Committee Member A senior consultant with Enviros Consulting in Leeds. Role involves the project management of numerous contaminated land investgations on a wide range of sites for both public sector and private clients including developers and private investment companies. Tel: 0113 239 5604
E-mail: kathryn.buckley@enviros.com | Cathy Heywood
Recruitment Co-Ordinator Tel: 0113 231 1880
E-mail: cathy.heywood@wates.co.uk |  Jill Dickinson
Committee Member
Jill is a solicitor within the Real Estate Group at Nabarro LLP in Sheffield. She is heavily involved in asset management of numerous properties throughout the UK and also deals with all aspects of acquisition and funding of singular and portfolio properties. Tel: 0114 279 4083
E-mail: j.dickinson@nabarro.com | Ann-Marie Casey
Committee Member Tel: 01274 848800
E-mail: acasey@lcf.co.uk | Clare Danahay
Committee Member Tel: 0113 224 5000
E-mail: clare.danahay@careyjones.com |
Web Design and Web Hosting
by MaxiMalls.com
|
|
|
|
