Christelle Welland

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

My role at MWHT is Project Engineer – it involves the management of subcontractors and driving the procurement strategy of the projects I am involved in.

Can you describe a typical day?

A typical day consists of site visits, and meetings with subcontractors and the client.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It is inspirational to see women celebrated for the amazing beings we are

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

The women in my family have always been my inspiration as they are brave, strong women and raised me to be the same.

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

We can accept people for who they are, embrace our differences and learn from the past.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

I recently started my role at MWHT and from the first day, Hayley Wakeford has been supportive, encouraging and an inspiration to me. In this short time, she has had a bigger impact on my development than anyone else before.

Hamira Hanif

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

Senior Subcontract Buyer – Involves negotiating terms and conditions for multiple subcontractors across the framework, alongside taking a procurement lead across several projects.

Can you describe a typical day?

A typical day is never the same! It can involve attending multiple meetings, undertaking market research for strategy, supplier negotiations, and a site visit here and there.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Celebrating women and their achievements, in the hopes that this will encourage most of us to get out there and keep going! Also reminding us of how much work we have left towards equality in society.

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

Far too many to list! So many women have inspired me throughout my life so far! The one that stands out the most is Anna (my manager many years ago) she helped shape me for the real world!

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

The industry is working hard but not hard enough. It’s not just about numbers, to me, it’s about our contributions, recognition and presence.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

Absolutely! Personally and professionally I have been privileged to have been surrounded by women who have recognised not only me but the impact of my work and the value I add.

Magdalena Pachucy-Jalocha

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

Business Process and Quality Manager – working in both central and advance-plus teams assisting the business to develop the best business processes and maintaining IMS.

Can you describe a typical day?

My typical day is packed with activities to the brim. As a mum, I often have the morning responsibility to get kids ready for school, although 5 am starts to travel to the site aren’t alien to me on the days my husband is off. At work, I meet many different people from site operational staff to the top management of our company, from Construction Delivery to Supportive Functions which makes my role multidimensional. Seeing a construction site’s morning business – the heart of our operations – fills me with a great sense of responsibility for the environment we all live in.
Afternoons are all about the family – after-school activities keep us very busy but meeting together at the dinner table is crucial in our house. I am a foodie person – so fresh home cooking is a must-have! Children often help which brings us together even more.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Women’s Day in Poland (my origin) is essentially a day for expressing your gratitude for the women in your life with flowers (typically tulips and carnations) and well-wishing. And by ‘the women in your life’ I mean all of them – from close family members to every female at the office, to shopkeepers and retail clerks and is a holiday taken fairly seriously in Poland. Since the early years of my childhood, I remember receiving flowers from my Dad, and little gifts from my school colleagues and male friends – and that’s the spirit of celebrating that my husband teaches our sons. Personally, it is an extra special day, as it’s the birthday of our only daughter Anna.

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

One of the women who have inspired me is Janina Ochojska – a Polish astronomer and award-winning social activist who currently serves as a member of the European Parliament. Born in Gdańsk, she contracted polio in early childhood. After receiving lifesaving surgery and medical treatment, she began volunteering for humanitarian organizations offering aid to children in Poland. Janina then founded Polish Humanitarian Action, an international NGO that helps people in crisis situations. Her foundation has provided assistance to nearly 10 million people in 44 countries, building 58 schools and 943 water systems to create better sanitary and living conditions. She is a peerless example of putting people’s lives in front of her own.

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

I always say to my children: “equality doesn’t mean justice”, but while it is a difficult concept to grasp for kids, it is starting to become more visible in the professional world.
With a large percentage of the industry leaders consisting of white males, there is an increased risk of unconscious bias in decision-making, and a tendency for work cultures off and on-site to be based on a majority view and behaviour.

Decision makers must develop a diverse and inclusive strategy – simply put, if someone does not feel like they belong in their workplace, it will be impossible for them to do their best work. The social pain of exclusion can affect anyone, including women, and outweigh, or even supersede, their talent and potential. An equitable workplace, instead, can create a positive and productive environment, enabling employees to perform at their best.
As a sector with a growing skills shortage, construction companies should simply consider ways to encourage more people to pursue a career in the industry.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

I consider myself extremely lucky as during my career I came across incredibly supportive male managers. I remember when I came for my first interview – for the Graduate Mechanical Designer role – I already had my heart set on quality and management systems. During this interview I asked if I could speak to the Quality Manager at that time – Peter Spence – to have a chance to put myself forward as a Quality Auditor. I was freshly out of university, and despite the fact I already had two degrees in engineering – I had no genuine experience. I also remember I came for the interview for a completely different role! Peter saw potential, he noticed my passion for quality and hunger for self-development and saw my bold attitude as a positive characteristic in a male-dominated environment.

Personally – I would not be where I am without the support of my husband Karol. He has been very understanding at the time when I had to travel a lot for my work. He was willing to move his shifts and accommodate his work around my busy schedule and look after our family.

Fiona Tremlett

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve

Proposal’s Manager working within our Advance Plus framework with United Utilities

My role involves leading the development and submission of bid proposals to win new projects within the Advance Plus Framework, delivering the best whole-life solution within the client’s budget.

Can you describe a typical day?

I work with a team of subject matter experts to gather information, assess requirements, and create a proposal that meets the client’s needs. A typical day involves me:

• Preparing and managing the proposal process, including identifying the requirements, developing a strategy, creating a proposal plan, and ensuring that deadlines are met.
• Coordinating the work of the proposal team including design, construction, environmental, geotechnical and estimating.
• Developing and managing the proposal budget, including estimating costs, risks and opportunities, and ensuring that the proposal is within budget.
• Analysing and interpreting the proposal requirements, including the client’s needs, preferences, and evaluation criteria.
• Writing proposal content
• Reviewing and editing the proposal to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with the client’s requirements.
• Coordinating the delivery of the proposal to the client, including company and framework governance
• Formulation of contract documents
• Conducting post-proposal handover and debriefing on contract documents to the construction and design team.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

On International Women’s Day, I recognise and appreciate the remarkable contributions that women have made throughout history. As my contribution towards this cause, I aspire to be more selfless and commit to empowering and supporting other women in any way that I can.

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

My sisters continue to inspire and support me throughout my life. We share common experiences, challenges, and values that can create strong bonds and a sense of solidarity. They all have different qualities or achievements that I admire, such as their resilience, creativity, intelligence, and compassion. They have faced challenges and adversity and have overcome them with grace and determination. They continue to pursue their dreams and goals with passion and dedication, inspiring me to do the same.

It is wonderful to have three sisters who continue to strengthen our bond by expressing appreciation and admiration, and by being there for each other when needed.

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

Embracing equity in the industry requires an effort from everyone, individuals, companies and stakeholders. We need to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, ensuring equal opportunities, providing mentorship and sponsorship programs, and creating safe and respectful workplaces free from discrimination and harassment.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

Over the past few years, both being a mentee and a mentor have played significant roles in my personal and professional development. Having allies provides a support system that helps both mentors and mentees succeed.

A former mentor made a significant impact on my career and self-development by recognising my potential and encouraging me to pursue opportunities that aligned with my interests and strengths. They provided guidance, support, and constructive feedback throughout the transition, and helped me develop new skills and perspectives that were crucial to my success.

They also served as a role model, demonstrating leadership qualities that I aspired to emulate. Mentorship helped me gain confidence and overcome self-doubt, and gave me the tools to become a more effective leader and team player. Overall, the support and encouragement were instrumental in my personal and professional growth, and I am grateful for the impact they had on my development.

Jeanette Hennerley

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

I am a Quantity Surveyor on the Advance Plus Framework for United Utilities AMP 7 capital delivery scheme.  My role involves cost management across a number of sites within the Framework, Procurement and Subcontractor engagement, and preparation of monthly cost reports to Senior Management.

Can you describe a typical day?

A typical day varies from week to week depending on where we are in the monthly reporting period.  Tasks can range from raising subcontract orders to attending team meetings with the Project Delivery Team, preparing monthly forecasts and Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) reports, and even processing payments to the supply chain! There is never one week which is the same as the previous one!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, International Women’s Day is a symbol that women are equally as valued and capable of successful careers, not just in Construction but in employment as a whole.  It is exciting to see more and more women coming into the Construction industry each year!

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

My two daughters inspire me every day to set a good example and to show them that it is possible to manage a career and a family by working hard and having the belief that you can do anything if you put the work in!

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

I think it is important to understand that a degree of flexibility is required in the workplace, particularly as a lot of women in the industry are also juggling hectic home lives and families as well as trying to progress in their careers, the support of the employer is vital in ensuring that this can be achieved and a good work/life balance can be upheld.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

For me, it was the action of a previous female colleague which set me off on my career path as a Quantity Surveyor, she recognised qualities which I possessed that she felt would stand me in good stead and championed me within the business to be put under her mentorship and onto a full training and development scheme (including day release at university to obtain formal qualification) to become a Quantity Surveyor – without this I could well be on a very different path to the one which I now walk!

Clare Kovacs

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

National Rehearsal Lead at MWH Treatment, embedding 4D, digital rehearsals and digital operational tools, across six water frameworks across the UK. Delivering impactful change and adoption of digitally innovative tools across 300 live operational projects nationwide

Can you describe a typical day?

There is absolutely no typical day for me, I am the master of juggling many things but do so because I am passionate about what I do.

My diary varies considerably, I can be building 4D models and facilitating Digital Rehearsals on live projects hosting Water Sector events for BIM4Water on key topics like data ontologies and interoperability,  digital skills and resource shortages, or supporting cross organisational operational activities, drafting award submission and writing publications for media to presenting on international webinars or industry events like Digital Construction Week.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I don’t believe we require a day of recognition, what we need is to create frameworks that are more tailored to the insights of females. And we need to elevate and support other females in the construction sector to promote a diverse workforce. And stand strong in developing an inclusive considerate culture and diversity mindset in the organisation.

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

I come from a family of strong-minded women who I have always looked up to; my Aunties’ roles have varied from Chemists, Mid Wives, and Solicitors.  My cousin and I followed in those steps being a Lawyer and even the friends I keep whether they are Planners, in Navigation Law, or Global BIM managers,  are all women who have not accepted the traditional job roles and are pushing the norm.

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

Stop seeing any gender, it’s the right person for the role.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

They saw me as a person that was competent and capable of doing what needed doing.

Gbemisola Shittu

What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

Project Manager, managing and delivering projects

Can you describe a typical day?

A typical day starts with me going for a 30-minute morning walk or a jog, then I have breakfast and get ready for work. The workday starts with me checking my calendar for the meetings I have ahead and planning my day from the emails I have received and my weekly to-do list

The majority of my meetings are site progress meetings for projects that are in construction, we are able to check where we are on-site in comparison to the programme, raise any issues relating to procurement, design & construction

For projects that are not in construction, I have design progress meetings with the technical managers, and we assess road blockers and put mitigation in place necessary to achieve the next milestones.

The rest of my day is then filled with liaising with key suppliers & dealing with the issues that have been raised in the meeting.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, it means the celebration of women regardless of their occupation or status. It is a day to celebrate how far we’ve come in just a few generations and acknowledge how far we still have to go.

What women inspire or have inspired you in your life?

A specific person doesn’t come to mind, but the collective strives of the women in my life and watching how hard they have worked to be where they are today inspire me.

How can we work toward embracing equity in our industry?

Empathy and the understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

What action has an ally taken that has made an impact on your development (personally or professionally)?

I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people that have been allies, they have encouraged me, motivated me and pushed me at times when I doubted myself and my ability.