Midlands

Kate Onions

Kate is an Associate at Gateley LLP, a top 50 national law firm. Kate specialises in preventing and resolving disputes arising in relation to building projects. Kate acts for a wide range of clients including residential developers, main contractors and specialist sub-contractors. Kate is recognised as providing both practical and commercial advice for clients. She has an approachable style and takes time to ensure that her clients fully understand the options available to them in dealing with any dispute.

Kate is regularly published in Construction Law and Construction News.

Kate started the Midlands branch in October 2010 and since then has built up her committee so that it includes representatives for all aspects of the industry. Kate is committed to ensuring that the Midlands branch goes from strength to strength and that the events held are both interesting and helpful to the NAWIC members and engage with the wider construction industry. Kate recognises the importance of NAWIC events as providing a supportive environment in which women in construction can network and build contacts with confidence. Kate intends to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach in linking up with other organisations such as Women in Property who share a similar ethos to NAWIC.

 

Lisa Beaman

 

Lisa is a well establised Business Development Manager, working for Balfour Beatty Engineering Services within

the West Midland and East Anglia regions. Lisa has a deep knowledge of the bigger picture and understands the

construction business and where our specialist fields link into the construcution and property industry as a whole.

 

Lisa is always friendly, positive and makes things happen. She is diligent and quick, creative, enthusiastic and shows

a strong drive to achieve results. 

 

Lisa joined the Midlands NAWIC  branch in 2011 and as Deputy Chair assists Kate and the team to demonstrate and provide other women in construction a forum in which to maximise networking opportunities and contacts within a supportive and friendly environment.

 

Balfour Beatty engineering Services delivers leading-edge solutions with a single and determined focus on meeting the needs of our customers, providing market-leading mechanical and electrical services across the UK building services, power and engineering construction markets. A steadfast focus on customer relationships, improving safety and a commitment to creating innovative and sustainable solutions drive us to lead our industry. From retail to industrial and process, healthcare to commercial, infrastructure to sport and leisure, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services is dedicated to providing a single focus and total services for all customers.

 

 

Rebecca Hartshorn

  

Rebecca holds a BA Hons Degree in Architecture, a Certificate in Architectrual Practice and Masters Drgree in

Architectural Practice and Masters Degree in Construction Management and is also a member of the CIOB and

Midlands CIOB Novis Committee and is also a trained assessor under BREEAM 2011 New Construction.

 

She currently holds the position of Design and Sustainability Manager with Principal Contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd.,

predominantly working in the Retail Sector but has previously worked on Leisure, Commerical, Educational, Health and Prison schemes along with a year of secondment working on Civil Engineering and waterway schemes. Rebecca is a BREEAM AP and has trained as a BREEAM Retail Assessor.

 

Rebecca is a STEM Ambassador and Construction Ambassador and has been heavily involved with both schemes over the last six years. Rebecca sits on the Board of Derby College's Professional Construction Career's Academy, and is a Partner in Business, mentoring a current student and giving Guru lectures to the staff and students at the College.

 

In 2007, Rebecca was voted one of Construction News' 30 Future Leaders of the Industry and in that same year was also a finalist in both the Inspire Awards and the Shell Business Women of the Future Awards.

 

Rebecca is passionate about promoting the industry not only to potential students but also aspiring and developing links to other women in the Industry. she is very excited to be a part of NAWIC's Midlands Committee.

 

 

 Katie Blackbird

 

Katie Blackbird is the Founder of Glaston Consulting, that Specialises in FM advice tailored to the Education and

PFI / BSF & Academies markets. Prior to founding Glaston Consulting Katie was the FM Director for Interserve

Education, responsbile for formulating and leading the FM strategy in all bid processess and for the subsequent

operational delivery of the FM services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Bowler         

 

Sara has worked for ISG for a number of years, and was promoted into the role of Business Development Manager in 2010.

 

ISG is an international construction services company delivering fit out, construction and a range of specialist services in the core sectors of education, leisure & hospitality, retail, technology and industrial, health, office, public and community.

 

Sara wanted to meet like minded females in the construction industry and came across NAWIC in Birmnigham through a

Google search.  Sara contacted the Chair, Katie Onions and was so impressed with her ideas and motivation to take the Midlands forward that she felt compelled to join the Committee and endeavour to make a contribution to the future of NAWIC.  The events are a good way to meet like minded individuals with a balanced mixture of social and educational topics and are a great way to network in an informal environment.

 

Sara is a keen horse rider and regularly takes part in local endurance rides, she loves good fun and running.

 

ISG's consistent delivery across geographies makes them the partner of choice for multi-national and local organisations building, refurbising or fitting out spaces, ISG are focued on the communities where they work - employing local people and building networks for local suppliers.

 

 

 

 

Angelique Runnalls   

 

 Angelique works at Willmott Dixon Construction as a Sales and Marketing Manager for the Midlands region and has been in construction for over 8 years.  A highly skilled Chartered Marketer, with a proven track record in business development having delivered significant growth in revenues to WDS regional business. She is a valuable team player with strong marketing and communication skills and proven ability to influence people at all levels.

 

Angelique joined NAWIC as she was impressed with the great events NAWIC holds that cover a wide range of topics, covering technical aspects, site visits and talks on topical news to the softer side of business acumen and some of the challenges women come across in the workplace. In her spare time, she likes to horse ride and is a keen cake baker, who specialises in sugarcraft modelling and multitiered cakes for all occasions. Willmott Dixon is the UK's second largest privately owned capital works, regeneration and support services company. It has a long track-record in Birmingham, employing over 1,000 people in the region.  Last year the company spent £70m on local suppliers within 25 miles, and also contributed nearly £100,000 to community projects such as the Jericho Foundation.

 

Services in the region include property development alongside building schools, health facilities, academies and new housing. It also repairs and maintains 60,000 properties for Birmnigham City council.

 

Increasingly, Willmott Dixon's regeneration business is aiming to work with local authorities to deliver complex mixed-tenure projects, often in joint venture with developers and social landlords.

 

As part of its continued investment in Birmingham, Willmott Dixon has announced plans to open a national training and development centre in the city, which will provide a range of skills training for up to 2,000 people every year.