Lerato Maris | Brand Ambassador, Political Activist & Influencer | United Nations
Lerato Maris is a United Nations Brand Ambassador, Political Influencer and Activist.
She is also a Global Peace chain Ambassador, where she broadens her diplomacy in a worldwide outreach as a Peace Ambassador by building a global attitude of acceptance and interfaith harmony. She is also an International Honor Golden Key Ambassador and Practitioner at SaferSpaces South Africa where she deals with Civic and Social rights movements and matters that pertain to issues that affect women and children.
Dr Bonnie Kwok | Business Development Manager | Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
Dr. Bonnie Kwok MBE, BA(Hons), Dip. Arch, Dip. Strategic Leadership, MA, MSc, PhD, AssocRTPI, Cmgr FCMI, FRSA Dr.
Bonnie Kwok is the Business Development Manager for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP), the combined Local Planning Authority for Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, urban design, town planning, strategic leadership, business development, and youth engagement, Bonnie plays a pivotal role in driving growth and enhancing the quality of development projects in the Greater Cambridge region. She excels in identifying growth opportunities, building strong client relationships, and ensuring the successful delivery of placemaking projects. Passionate about youth engagement, in 2017, Bonnie developed a Youth Engagement Framework as part of her PhD research, which has been well received and informs GCSP's youth engagement work. She manages the Councils' Youth Engagement Service (YES) and Design Review Panel, providing bespoke Design Workshops that enable children and young people to contribute to the design and town planning process, fostering their skills and confidence. Bonnie's contributions to young people's education, development, and well-being are widely recognized. In 2024, she was awarded an MBE for her volunteer service to education and community cohesion. She has also received the Women of Influence Award by the Planner Magazine, the CIAC Women Volunteer of the Year Award (2023), the Thornton Education Trust (TET) 'Youth Engagement Practitioner of the Year Award' (2022), and the Blossom Award (Education Category) in 2021 for her outstanding contributions to children's well-being and education.
Mai Kawashima | Vice President | Trinity Investments
As a trilingual professional fluent in Japanese, English, and German, born in Japan and raised in Germany, I've always been a global citizen My career has been driven by a desire to immerse myself in challenging, competitive, and international environments where I can learn and develop my professional skill set alongside talented and driven individuals from around the world.
This passion led me to join Trinity Investments as Vice President of Acquisitions in 2023, transitioning from the hotel investment advisory business, where I had spent the previous decade building my career. I became the second employee in Trinity's London office, working alongside my Managing Partner to establish the firm's European business. In my role, I am responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and executing European hotel transactions, with the mission of contributing to Trinity's growth as the most sophisticated hotel investment firm in the world. Before joining Trinity, I worked as a hotel broker at Savills Hotel Capital Markets and JLL's Hotel & Hospitality Group in both London and Tokyo, advising on complex cross-border hotel transactions totaling approximately €2 billion across Europe and Japan. Earlier in my career, I started as a graduate analyst in the Derivatives desk at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a mother to a three-year-old daughter, which has further fueled my ambition to empower women in the real estate industry. I actively support career development initiatives through organizations such as Women in Hospitality and Ladies in Real Estate.
Kevina Kakembo | Senior Quantity Surveyor | AECOM
Kevina is a dedicated senior chartered quantity surveyor, passionate about making a meaningful impact in the built environment.
Since entering the industry in 2018, she has worked across South Africa, East Africa, Italy, and the UK, delivering flagship projects for a variety of clients in diverse settings. She began her career as a Candidate Quantity Surveyor in South Africa, gaining hands-on experience that shaped her adaptability and global perspective. After moving to the UK, she successfully transitioned her SACQSP chartership to RICS, quickly adapting to the UK market and earning a promotion to Senior Quantity Surveyor. Kevina is currently focused on building her expertise and preparing for the next stage of her career, actively seeking opportunities to expand her skill set. Kevina has been recognised for her contributions to the construction industry, receiving a Highly Commended award as Young Professional of the Year at the CFCI Design and Construction Awards 2024. A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion (EDI), she has served in various ambassadorial roles, contributing to initiatives that support greater representation in the sector. Most recently, contributing to an important discussion on the RICS podcast about the retention of women in surveying. Mentoring and reverse mentoring have been integral parts of Kevina's career. She has supported early-career professionals while gaining valuable insights from senior leaders. Kevina is also passionate about inspiring the next generation of professionals. As a Form the Future Young Ambassador and a CFCI Next Gen, working to bridge connections between young talent and career opportunities.
Holly Gerrard | Heritage Consultant | ID Planning
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at the University of Alberta in Canada, I returned to the UK to complete my Master of Arts in Heritage Studies at the University of Manchester.
My passion for heritage extends far beyond my educational background, and my love for buildings has allowed me to work on projects throughout the country championing the sustainable and sensitive reuse of our existing building stock. I joined ID Planning in 2023, and I am the sole lead of our heritage services. In just two years I have been apart of numerous projects throughout the North which have promoted valuable social and economic prosperity through the reuse of listed buildings. My role is highly variable, and I am involved on projects that range from the earliest of feasibility studies, to the opening of buildings I have successfully campaigned for reuse. I work both client and project side, managing the composition of detailed Heritage Statements to accompany applications, while also aiding in the coordination of project teams and design details. Finally, I have recently been involved with assessing and mitigating the heritage impact of numerous housing projects which will foster growth in communities and contribute to the Labour Government's pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes across the country.
Vicky Shepherd | Surveyor | Knight Frank
Vicky worked as a paralegal, before joining Knight Frank 13 years ago as an Executive Assistant.
After returning from having her second child and a promotion to Office Manager, she embarked on a higher education journey retraining as a chartered surveyor. Vicky is a wife and mother to two children, who at the time were aged 6 and 11. She hadn't previously completed A-Levels or attended university; however, she took the courageous step of enrolling onto an access course and progressed to the degree. She successfully completed both remotely, via the University College of Estate Management, becoming the first in her family to gain a degree. This was followed by a two-year Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), before Vicky became fully qualified as a surveyor last year.
Megan Mirchandani | Surveyor, Capital Markets-Operational Long Income | Knight Frank
Megan is a surveyor in Knight Frank's fast-paced Operational Long Income (OLI) Capital Markets team which focuses on the disposal and acquisition of long-let operational assets including hotels, student accommodation, healthcare facilities and gyms, on behalf of institutional and private investors.
She joined Knight Frank in 2021, joining their graduate scheme after a successful internship while studying History at Edinburgh University. During the graduate program, she completed a Master's in Real Estate with Distinction, demonstrating a strong commitment to her professional development.
Imogen Pilkington | Senior Structural Technician | WSP
After completing my A Levels in 2018, I started at WSP as a Civil engineering apprentice in the building structures team in September 2018.
During the course of my apprenticeship I studied a BTEC Level 3 in civil engineering part time achieving a Distinction*Distinction*. I then completed my apprenticeship in 2021 by completing my end point assessment and becoming an EngTech member of the ICE. After completing my apprenticeship I then got promoted to Junior Technician in the building structures team. In September 2021 I then started a HNC in Civil Engineering part time whilst I was working at WSP to increase my knowledge and understanding of civil engineering. Upon completing this in 2023 I attained a Distinction grade and then got promoted to Structural Technician. In 2022 an apprentice joined the team and I became their mentor, as their mentor I have shown them how to produce work to standards and how to use various software's along with guiding them through their apprenticeship. In August 2024 we had another apprentice join our team and I was also made their mentor so I know mentor two apprentices and manage the work we all complete. In January 2025 I was then made Senior Technician which is my role currently.
Dr Catalina Ionita | Senior Architect | Chapman Taylor
Dr Catalina Ionita (BA(Hons) MArch ARB RIBA AFHEA) Architect, UK Catalina, an Architect at Chapman Taylor's Manchester studio since 2021, excels in residential and mixed-use projects, dedicated to crafting vibrant and successful spaces.
Her portfolio includes large-scale developments, masterplans, and restorations. As a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, she combines her practice with academia, focusing on the role of art in placemaking through her PhD research. Recognised for her contribution, Catalina was a 2023 'I Love Manchester' Awards finalist and a 2020 'RIBA Rising Stars' shortlist, highlighting her commitment to ethical and sustainable architecture. Active in Women in Property North West as an Inclusion Champion, she advocates for diversity, shaping the industry's future with her expertise and vision.
Ashleigh Foreman | Site Manager | Barratt London (Barratt Redrow)
My love for buildings and development came after a short work experience and Telfords.
I saw a gap in the industry where women should be and knew I had the skills to bring to the table. I started my career with Barratt London as a trainee site manager in 2021. Since then I have had 2 promotions - To assisted and now to Site manager. At the busiest time I was managing a program of over 100 apartments with a site of around 300 operatives a day. Since beginning my career I have sought every opportunity to upskill, develop my portfolio and broaden my experiences and cv. I have attended training of structural works and engineering insights and improved my computer skills using systems such as Asta and asite to maximise my knowledge and management style. My career - Although focused around health and safety management, mitigating risk to our program and delivering top quality homes to customers, has many more sides to it. I have put myself forwards for the junior board within the East London region, promoting engagement, leading charity events fund raisers, team building and outreach. I have also found so many positives to being a woman in this field - Putting myself forwards as a mental health first aider has been incredible. Together on site and within my company, we are combating mental health stigma and promote and open to talk environment for all directly employed staff and contractors.