Kat is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has been working in the construction industry for more than 15 years.
She completed a Master’s degree (MEng) in Civil Engineering at the University of Southampton and has completed the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
Her latest roles focus on management and co-ordination of design teams; including team leader, project manager and design manager, and projects range from early feasibility studies, preliminary design and detailed design, with extensive collaboration with various third parties. In 2023 she was project manager for a team that travelled to Rwanda to build a 77m trail bridge.
Kat is keen to encourage others into the construction industry and is passionate about creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive industry. She promotes engineering to others through mentoring, by being a STEM Ambassador and facilitating student work placements and attending career events.
With lower-than-average numbers of women and minority groups working in the industry, Kat acknowledges that change is required to make the industry more effective at attracting and retaining talent.
Kat believes that if people have certain skills or are capable and keen to do certain roles, they should be able to do a role that utilises those skills. This shouldn’t be limited or defined by gender.
The best teams will have different skills, emotions and personalities within them, and this provides resilience and balance. Everyone within the team has the right to be their authentic self, so they can give their best and achieve their own and the project objectives.