The civil servant at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office discusses Tomorrow’s Leaders and life in a government department.
Why did you choose construction for a career?
I think I was always going to end up with a career in construction. My father is a chartered structural/civil engineer and I would always look at CAD drawings with him and hear his stories and I would feel inspired.
I originally applied to study pharmacy at university but changed to quantity surveying and commercial management and I haven’t looked back.
“Having the opportunity to work on a range of domestic and international projects so early in my career is priceless.”
You are one of CIOB’s Tomorrow’s Leaders. Tell us more about that
I was approached to become a founding member in 2021, after receiving the CIOB Student of the Year Award for achieving the highest grade of my graduating class.
After working with, and being a mentor with, Coventry University’s amazing WhatNext? society in my final year (a society focused on providing mentorship and encouragement to BAME secondary school students), I absolutely knew that this is something I wanted to continue to pursue.
What is your role in a government department like?
Having the opportunity to work on a range of domestic and international projects so early in my career is priceless. I am surrounded by a great team that give me great support and responsibility.
I also recently took over the management of a customer portfolio, giving me the opportunity to engage more with our customers and other individuals and organisations I had never considered being able to connect with.
Every day we deal with tasks and crises across the globe. I’ve never experienced anything like this and having such a unique workplace makes every day exciting.
What are your career ambitions?
I definitely have my sights set on a director-level position and I really want to get chartered and complete a master’s degree in the next couple of years.
Another goal is to make higher education opportunities accessible for students of all backgrounds. I am currently working on a personal statement e-book guide to assist those taking the first step towards pursuing higher education.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to spend time with family and friends. I also love music and spend a lot of my time writing and recording.
