Connecting Engineers. Inspiring Leaders. Launching Our Women's Network.

The future of our industry depends on creating opportunities and making leadership pathways more visible. That's why we're delighted to have officially launched our Women’s Networking and Mentoring Programme, designed to connect aspiring female engineers with experienced leaders from across the construction, property and business sectors.

Our kick-off session with our 29 mentors and their mentees was led by Board representatives for Curtins’ approach to gender balance - Andy Roberts and Rebecca King - alongside Chief Executive, Neil Parkinson, who explained the ambitions of the programme, with participants then exploring the skills, mindsets and practical approaches that will help their mentoring relationships thrive.

The programme has been shaped by conversations with female colleagues across Curtins and aims to support more women into leadership roles by providing mentoring and shared lived experiences from senior female leaders.

During the opening workshop, we were also delighted to be joined by guest speaker and supporting mentor, Paula Sherriff, Senior Advisor to The Purpose Coalition. Paula spoke about the challenges she has faced through her career in predominantly male industries, as well as the power of mentoring and female role models.

The programme will run from January to June 2027, culminating in a celebration at Westminster on International Women in Engineering Day. Over these six months, participants will benefit from structured mentoring, practical advice and expanded professional networks.

We're so grateful to our incredible mentors for generously sharing their time, knowledge and experience to support the next generation of female engineers, and to our mentees for embracing this opportunity.

The following inspirational female leaders are supporting the programme:

Alexandra Batey - The Nichols Group, Director

Ann-Marie Smale - Powell Dobson Architects, Managing Director

Beth Revell - Blue Iris Partnership, Co-Founder and Director

Caroline Smith - 3M, Director of Strategic Planning

Catherine Norris - Turley, Associate Director

Chithra Marsh – Women in Property, Board Director

Claire Wakelin - HLM Architects, Director: Head of Education

Eleanor Alexander - Reef Origin, Partner

Emily Slupek – Savills, Director

Emma Porter - The Rebuild Site CIC, Founder & Director

Hannah Jones - Ridge & Partners, Associate Partner

Jana Bartschova – Bellrock, Associate Director

Jane Ho - HKS Architects, Regional Practice Director

Jenny Martin - Wates, Preconstruction Director

Julia Hatmaker - Place North West, Editor

Rt Hon Justine Greening - The Purpose Coalition, Chair and Founder

Karen Heigham – Wates, Public Sector Director

Karen Pickering - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Interim Head of Estates and Sustainability

Katie Wray – Deloitte, Director

Lorraine Clinton - Curtins EOT, Chair

Louise Sheridan - Ellis Williams Architects, Director

Paula Sherriff - The Purpose Coalition, Senior Advisor & Former MP for Dewsbury

Rachel Bell – Stride Treglown, Director

Rachel Groves - PROMA Consultancy, Founder & Director

Rebecca Wharry - BVN, Science and Education Director

Samantha Jevons - Bowman Riley, Associate Director - Marketing & BD

Simone Wonnacott - Leeds Arts University, Vice Chancellor

Michelle Hannah – Cast Consultancy, Owner Director