Women in Property has announced its National Chairman for 2018/19. Jo Williams, Chartered Building Surveyor Partner at Sanderson Weatherall LLP, Bristol, takes on the role from 1st March, for one year.
Jo heads the Building Surveying practice at Sanderson Weatherall’s Bristol office, building on a career that includes previously working with Ridge, DTZ and Gleeds. Jo started her career as a Concrete Technician and then as an Assistant Setting-Out Engineer. She gained an HND in Building Construction before studying to become a Building Surveyor, achieving Chartered status in 1999. This was followed by a diploma in project management, giving her the edge particularly where bigger projects are concerned.
Jo became a member of Women in Property in 2007 and has been a long-term South West committee member, including Chairman of the South West branch in 2011/12. Women in Property introduced her to the power of networking and to its respected cross-discipline Mentoring program. She is an active Mentor, RICS APC Assessor, a CITB Construction Ambassador and an External Examiner for the University of Greenwich.
She believes that attracting talent into the industry is critical to meet our skills shortage but nurturing their ongoing development is equally essential to sustain a happy, diverse and high performing workforce.
Jo Williams said, “I’m honoured to take on this role and at a particularly important time. The revelations of the past few months have put into sharp focus the work the industry still has to do, to address not just diversity but inclusivity. I have always believed that honesty and respect are critical to great team work and a supportive working environment, so we are all as good as we can be. And like my predecessors, I want to help ensure the industry is in better shape, to attract and retain the next generation.”
David Rastrick, partner from Sanderson Weatherall said, “We’re incredibly proud of Jo and would like to congratulate her on this appointment as national chairman. Her commitment to diversity and inclusivity makes her a fantastic ambassador for Women in Property, as well as for our firm. As a business, we are encouraged by the efforts going towards creating a fairer and more equal industry, and look forward to supporting Jo during the year ahead and seeing the impact she will make.”