| Our people |
The NAWIC Committee
Katrina is Business Development Director for Skanska Utilities in the UK. Katrina originally trained as a Quantity Surveyor and has led commercial teams on a variety of high profile contracts including an award winning car park, some of the largest PFI contracts delivered to date in the UK, the new build and refurbishment of hospitals, defence works with high levels of mechanical and electrical installations, new-build offices and retail units, retail refurbishment and fitting out offices, in addition to working operationally taking on a Project Management role in the sucessful delivery of several construction projects. Working now for the Utilities Business, Katrina is involved in the strategic review process and has responsibility for helping deliver the growth plans across the business. "Given the current economic climate, the work of NAWIC is more important than ever. The importance of support both professionally and personally for women, in addition to access to key networking events and professional advice can help give our members a real advantage in an economy where business and employment opportunities are highly competitive. Government and Industry are realising the importance of our demographic, this provides us with a real platform to be heard. I believe that with NAWIC's professional and diverse membership we are the best positioned to be delivering the message. We also need to ensure we are serving ourselves as an organisation, with more women joining the industry I want to see us grow and flourish, but this can only be done if we continue to strive to support events, encourage new speakers and professional associations and encourage others to take up membership."
Paula is a senior construction and projects lawyer with Trowers & Hamlins. She acts on behalf of commercial clients, developers, investors, consultants, contractors and sub-contractors alike from both a contentious and non-contentious perspective. Her project experience ranges from hospitals, schools and prisons to expansive mixed-use residential and iconic commercial developments. Her works involves both domestic UK and international projects. "What is good about NAWIC is that everyone within the construction community is welcome; from those encouraging our children at grassroots level to move towards a career in the construction industry, to those involved in manual trades and on site, to the administrative and support functions carried on throughout the industry by way of marketing and sales etc. and on to the diverse range of construction professionals. We are a unique organisation in that respect. Construction is an exciting industry; always evolving and reacting to change; global commercial, environmental and professional or best practice. It is always diverse, always changing and always different. I'm proud to play a part in it."  Wendy Lintin - National treasurer
Wendy Lintin is the Managing Director of Paratus Health Consulting, a specialist consultancy service focusing on the facilities and services required to deliver high quality healthcare. She has a wealth of experience of healthcare as a nursing practitioner, healthcare planner and capital project manager and has worked in the NHS and South Africa. She is also a registered Office of Government Commerce Gateway reviewer and is a member of the Department of Health Design Review Panel. She has been responsible for strategic and capital developments in the acute sector and has led successful service reconfiguration, change management projects and construction projects. Most recently she has been a specialist adviser to a number of LIFT bids in England, Procure 21, modular build healthcare facilities as well as undertaking OGC and Design Panel reviews. She works closely with healthcare clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East in support of financing, project management, design, construction and commissioning of capital projects. Currently she is retained as a specialist project manager for the delivery of a new undergraduate medical school in Shropshire.
Rachel Kelly is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has worked for Bovis Lend Lease for 13 years on a variety of construction projects around the UK - ranging from bridge & tunnel reconstruction contracts, to new PFI hospitals to the award winning and prestigious Peter Jones renovation in Sloane Square, London. More recently Rachel has been involved with the Bankside 123 development in Southwark and has been project manager for buildings constructed on the super-green Stanhope development that is Chiswick Park. After returning to work from maternity leave in March 2008 Rachel internally transferred to the procurement department, taking up the position of Head of Central Purchasing. Currently Rachel is rolling out a host of projects intended to rationalise and streamline the central purchasing function ithin the business. "I wouldn't swap my job for anything in the world - it is a very rewarding career. I always knew that I was never going to be a '9 to 5' type and construction seemed an obvious choice - no two days of my career have ever been the same. I'm disappointed that more women are still not choosing careers in construction, but NAWIC is in a position to assist in changing attitudes and enlightening women to the vast range of career opportunities available. I am a living, breathing example of the merits of a flexible working environment and also the value of transferable skills. My most recent crusade is to ensure that employers do more than pay lip service to the term 'transferable skills' and act on them."
Erin is currently the EMEA Technical Sustainability Consultant for Jones Lang LaSalle with over 11 years of construction industry experience. She has been working for JLL since November 2005, her previous role was as a Senior Programme / Project Manager on the Bank of America account first in New York and then in London. Erin was relocated to London in March 2007 and has been active in the UK construction and real estate industry since arriving. Previously, Erin was an active member of the Professional Women in Construction (new York City branch) from 2004 and 2007. She is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers and a member of the British Council of Offices. "Working in the construction industry has been great fun - I couldn't imagine working in another field. Everyday is a challenge where there is an opportunity to learn something new and exciting - of course, depends on your definition of exciting, but - that's why I love it. Working for JLL allows me to work with clients and colleagues from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa, from a variety of areas of the business; from investors to corporate occupiers from transaction managers to facilities managers, architects and engineers from all cultures and backgrounds which is immensely interesting and satisfying. Not surprisingly most of my experience over the years has been working alongside men in the industry, however with organisations like NAWIC; we can continue to even the scales as more and more women become leaders and decision-makers in this historically male-dominated industry. Sharing the strength and experiences of other women in the industry is a powerful tool for career success and one of the many reasons I enjoy being actively involved in NAWIC and why I encourage other women in the industry to join me. Tara Walsh - London & South East deputy representative Rhona Harper - Scotland representative
Sara is a Project Manager with over 12 years experience in the construction industry. She started her career with Arup in London as a Building Services Engineer and worked on a wide variety of challenging and rewarding projects, the highlight being City Hall – home to the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. Sara moved back to Edinburgh with Arup in 2003, before joining the growing Mace team in Scotland three years ago. She is currently managing projects for RBS, WRAP and Spire Healthcare.
Maria Greener is an Associate at Burges Salmon LLP in Bristol having originally trained at Wedlake Bell in London. She specialises in non-contentious construction and engineering law and has provided legal advice and support to a broad base of clients on a wide range of construction projects including high-value wind farms in the UK and Mongolia, a national retail fit-out project, a local eco-village development, the relocation of a central bus station and one of the tallest residential towers in the UK. She is also experienced in PFI contracts. Hannah Jones - South West & Wales deputy representative Janet Crabtree - North West representative
Susan is a partner in Mason Hayes + Curran Solicitors in Dublin specializing in construction law. Susan advises clients all issues, both contentious and non-contentious, arising on construction and engineering projects throughout the lifetime of the project. Susan’s particular expertise lies in dispute resolution. She has acted in a wide range of construction and engineering related claims. Susan strongly promotes early resolution of claims where appropriate and has assisted many clients in the successful early determination of disputes. Where such early determination has not been possible Susan has acted in a wide variety of disputes arising from the various forms of construction contracts by arbitration and conciliation and also where necessary through the traditional litigation means of the High court and Commercial court. Susan has a keen interest in construction in general and enjoys the diverse range of issues which arise on construction disputes “I find myself an expert on concrete floor screed one moment and load bearing the next.” Susan places a heavy emphasis on attempting to resolve disputes as early as possible “It is a real challenge to come into a project which seems destined for the courtroom with the parties having entrenched themselves in opposite camps and find a resolution which satisfies all parties. It is particularly rewarding to look back at the parties, having resolved their differences, now doing business together again as if the lawyers had never been called upon.” Rachel Kenny - Ireland deputy representative |
Katrina Dowding - 
Paula Boast 
Erin Karsten - 
Sara McGowan - Scotland deputy representative
Maria Greener - 
Susan Bryson -