Pricing:
Member: £15 +VAT
Non-member: £25 + VAT
Contact:
Samantha Jevons | samantha.jevons@bowmanriley.com
Event details:
An honest conversation about careers, progression and the future of women in the property and construction industry.
Join the fbe Leeds team for afternoon tea and a glass of bubbles and an insightful session exploring one of the biggest challenges facing our industry: how do we retain talented women and help them progress into leadership?
While attracting the next generation into property and construction remains important, retention and progression are where we need to do more. What makes women stay, what causes them to leave, and what can employers do differently to create workplaces where women feel valued, supported and able to thrive?
Bringing together six accomplished women from across the sector, this honest conversation will explore career progression, workplace culture, leadership opportunities and the changes needed to help women build lasting, rewarding careers.
MEET OUR PANEL
Victoria Denman | V&A Homes
Co-founder and Director of V&A Homes, Victoria brings global sales and marketing experience with brands including Burberry, Google, Microsoft and Motorola, alongside her experience establishing a property development business in Yorkshire.
Rachel Groves | PROMA
With 25 years’ experience across consultancy and client-side roles, including Project Director at Moda, Rachel has delivered major projects such as the £35 million Hepworth Wakefield. A passionate mentorof early career professionals. She founded PROMA, a Leeds-based project and development management consultancy, in 2026, demonstrating the confidence to forge her own path.
Pip Hunsworth | Buro Happold
An Associate Director leading Buro Happold’s Leeds ground engineering team, Pip has 18 years’ experience in the UK and internationally. She also supports women through mentoring with Women in Property.
Katharine Ingham | Costain
A managing consultant with over 16 years’ experience, Katharine specialises in building trusted client relationships, commercial growth and collaboration across complex programmes. Her experience includes securing significant contract extensions and further consultancy work with Bradford Council.
Laura Jevons | AECOM
A cost consultant by profession, Laura is a director at AECOM, leading the Culture & Sport sectors across Europe and India. She specialises in complex cultural, media and heritage projects, providing strategic advice on investment, procurement and programme delivery. Passionate about creating lasting social, cultural and economic impact, Laura brings valuable leadership and commercial insight to the discussion.
April Marsden | Bowman Riley
An architect and director at Bowman Riley, April leads the practice’s specialist housing and care sector. A former Regional Chair of Women in Property, she is a passionate advocate for women in the built environment and their progression into leadership.
Chaired by Samantha Jevons | fbe Leeds Chair
Samantha is Associate Director at Bowman Riley, with more than 25 years’ experience in the property industry. Passionate about developing relationships, supporting others and creating opportunities, she chairs fbe Leeds and is committed to encouraging positive change across the built environment.
Why attend?
Hear honest experiences from women at different stages of their careers.
Explore why talented women leave and what helps them progress.
Discover practical ways employers can improve retention and workplace culture.
Share perspectives, make connections and help shape a more inclusive industry.
Everyone is welcome, whatever your gender or career stage. Retaining talent and developing future leaders is a shared responsibility, and meaningful change happens when we bring different perspectives to the conversation.
Join us for an open, engaging discussion about what needs to change - and how we can make it happen.
Book your place and be part of the conversation.
This event is kindly sponsored by Bowman Riley and Buro Happold
