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Governance

Management Committee

Added: 3 December 2007. Last updated: 10 January 2012.

Women and Manual Trades is run by a Management Committee which is made up of tradeswomen, people with specific skills (such as finance or human resources), and people interested in supporting women working within non-traditional areas.

Shelagh Prosser (Chair)

Shelagh joined the Management Committee of WAMT in June 2007 and, following last years AGM, took on the role of Chair. She is an established equality and diversity practitioner with over 20 years experience. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, she held senior diversity posts in the Civil Service, the BBC and the transport industry. In addition to her involvement with WAMT she is currently Chair of the Westminster Equalities Partnership and a director of Border Crossings (a cross cultural theatre arts company). She is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and an approved NCVO consultant.

Enoma Igiehon (Treasurer)

Enoma joined WAMT from a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management services. She has worked in transport infrastructure development, implementing projects with a range of clients from large public sector organisations to small property development contractors. Enoma hopes to facilitate the continuation of WAMT and provide support to the direction of the organisation over the coming years.

Adam Firbank (Trustee)

Adam is a strategic marketing and communication specialist with over 13 years experience of the construction sector. He is currently Senior Marketing Manager for Amey, a £1.2billion UK infrastructure specialist and part of global services organisation, Ferrovial. Previously holding positions with Axis Europe Plc, Mears Group Plc, Anglian Building Products, and Moore Furniture Group Ltd.
He is extremely passionate about local employment opportunities, and ensuring that all members of the community have a voice. By becoming a trustee for WAMT he hopes to help women in the trades gain equal representation and opportunities within the construction industry.

Angela Egonu (Trustee)

Angela Egonu is originally a Historian, having achieved BA Honours in History. Later in life she discovered a passion for Painting. She gained an NVQ2 in Painting and Decorating, a City & Guilds Advanced Construction Award, and a City & Guilds Certificate in Adult Teaching. She has worked, and continues to work, on sites as a Painter and Decorator. She also currently lectures in Painting and Decorating.

Angela says : I am aware of the difficulties women face in the construction industry. It is extremely hard to secure a job as a woman in such a male dominated industry. This is largely due to the fact that women are seen as not being able to do the job (there have been occasions I called companies for work and was asked, “Is this for your husband?). As a result of this, sadly, a lot of women give up and leave the industry even after gaining qualifications.Joining the board would enable me to help address these issues that affect women in construction. I hope to use my skills, experience and knowledge to support women in the industry. I would like to see a future where women can work happily, and stay working, within the construction sector; and be treated as equal to their male counterparts.

Helen Hill (Trustee)

Helen is a qualified electrician (C&G2330, 2382, 2391) and an MCS-accredited photovoltaic installer (C&G2372). She is self-employed, having started Galaxis Energy – a green electrical company – last year. She also has an interest in sustainable construction, particularly straw-bale building, and was involved in the construction of the Ecocentre at Screveton, near Nottingham. She is currently writing up her thesis for an MSc in Renewable Energy in the Built Environment, which was based at The Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Wales.

Before retraining as an electrician, Helen worked as a marine biologist, then a physiotherapist, and then a university lecturer. As a scientist, and now as a tradeswoman, she has found that working in male-dominated areas can be quite isolating. She feels that it is important to have an organisation such as WAMT to help tradeswomen through networking, mentoring, sharing experiences and offering
encouragement.

Alison Smith (Trustee)

Alison has been a self-employed Painter & Decorator since 2000, and is now NVQ level 3 qualified in her trade. She has worked on a range of domestic, commercial, new build and refurbishment sites, usually on a subcontract basis. She has also spent two years managing the Painting & Decorating department within Cambridge Regional College. Previous to this she worked as a Trainer and Assessor for Cambridge Council. By undertaking the role of trustee she hopes to bring an understanding of what it is to be a tradeswoman in the current
climate, along with enthusiastic advocacy of the construction trades as a viable career choice for women.

Niki Luscombe – Chief Executive

Niki has over 20 years managerial and leadership experience. She was appointed Chief Executive of WAMT in July 2008 and has since also become the Chair of Construction Skills London Diversity Forum in Construction and the Built Environment, a member of Summit Skills and of the 2012 Inclusion Group.