Women in Property (WiP), the influencing and networking organisation for the property and construction industry, has appointed Jennifer Winyard, Senior Strategic Land and Planning Manager from Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, as its next National Chair, and April Marsden, Associate Director at Bowman Riley Architects as Regional Chair of the Yorkshire & North East Branch.
Both property professionals will take up their roles for one year from 1 March.
Women in Property uses its platform to influence Government, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women in Work. It also works to encourage girls and young women to consider a career in property and construction through school outreach projects, its mentoring programme and the National Student Awards.
In tandem with the work that Women in Property is doing to plug the skills gap in the construction sector, Barratt is taking a lead amongst housebuilders to overcome the shortage in skills in the sector – driven by an ageing workforce and Brexit – by launching an outreach initiative to 1 million young people over the next two years.
Jennifer Winyard, a dual qualified town planner and planning and development surveyor, said: “Encouraging girls to consider a career in property and construction has been a major focus for me, throughout my professional life. My lived experience of this industry highlights the fantastic scope it offers across all sectors. There is still more to do to encourage more people, particularly girls and young women, to make it their future too. I want to help change mindsets and unlock the potential they offer.”
April Marsden, said: “Supporting diversity and inclusion within the industry has been a key driver for me. Having struggled at times with imposter syndrome and trying personal challenges, I find it fantastic to see the improvements that organisations have made over the last 20 years. However, there’s still room for improvement, especially in continuing to reach out to bring in more diverse talent, and the real benefit that diversity brings not just to businesses, but also the industry as a whole.”
After joining Women in Property in 2007, Jennifer has been Yorkshire & North East branch Chair, a Mentoring Ambassador and Student Awards Ambassador, leading the organisation’s National Student Awards programme, which is now in its 18th year.
April joined the regional committee two years ago and has been Mentoring Ambassador for 12 months. A passionate architect and team leader, she is also a member of the senior leadership and management teams at Bowman Riley, where April advocates strongly for fairness and equity across the business.
In the forthcoming year, April and Jennifer will help grow the work Women in Property has been doing nationwide, addressing workplace issues, including flexible working patterns, mentoring women at all stages in their careers, and supporting women returners and mental well-being.
