WIC Awards 2025 Public Vote

Alice Tester is an extraordinary individual whose passion for construction is matched only by her dedication to inspiring others. What began as a T-Level placement quickly blossomed into a thriving apprenticeship, where Alice’s precision and enthusiasm made her an invaluable member of her team in just over a year.

Alice’s journey in a male-dominated industry showcases her remarkable resilience and commitment. Far from being deterred, she embraced the challenge, earning widespread respect through her exceptional ability and dedication. Her achievements include the prestigious T-Level Student of the Year award, a testament to her academic excellence and active engagement. She successfully completed her first year with a grade B, all while gaining comprehensive industry experience across multiple departments.

Beyond her personal success, Alice is a true advocate for construction careers. She regularly visits schools to share her experiences and inspire the next generation, especially young women, to consider opportunities in the sector. Alice is not just building a career; she’s building a brighter future for the industry.

Vote for Alice Tester – a role model, an inspiration, and the embodiment of construction’s promising future!

Lucy Sams, a former game chef, brings a refreshing, approachable perspective to construction compliance. In just 2.5 years, she’s made an incredible impact, driven by her passion to transform building control and make it more accessible.

Lucy’s journey showcases inspiring resilience. Overcoming significant challenges, she relocated to London, finding a company that empowered her growth. She’s now poised to achieve her 2A BSR registration, with ambitions for 3H classification and RICS accreditation.

What truly distinguishes Lucy is her unwavering positivity and infectious enthusiasm. She champions Building Control and the wider construction industry with a genuine light, elevating everyone around her. As one nominator perfectly stated, “She is the little light we didn’t know that we needed.”

Lucy isn’t just building a career; she’s building a community. She’s committed to training and encouraging more individuals into the Building Control sector, embodying the best of women in construction by constantly lifting others up and moving forward with a smile.

Vote for Lucy Sams – an inspiring professional, a positive force, and a true asset to construction’s future!

Bethany Moss is an inspiring example of dedication and ambition in engineering and construction. Joining AstraZeneca in 2025, she quickly excelled, earning a BEng Hons Degree in Chemical Engineering while contributing to drug substance manufacturing. Her talent led to rapid progression, now an APM-accredited Project Manager within AstraZeneca’s major capital delivery function.

With seven years of experience in API Drug Substance Development & GMP manufacturing, Beth expertly leads multidisciplinary teams on complex projects. Her impressive credentials include APM PMQ and PRINCE2 Agile qualifications, complementing her IChemE association. This blend of academic achievement and hands-on experience, alongside her decade in various AZ roles, highlights her exceptional work ethic and infectious “can-do” attitude.

Beyond project successes, Beth actively mentors junior team members and champions continuous improvement across AstraZeneca’s engineering networks. She consistently inspires those around her, becoming an exemplar for women in early careers within construction and engineering.

Vote for Bethany Moss – a passionate leader, a skilled professional, and a true inspiration shaping the future of the industry!

Nicole Harris found her passion for construction through mentorship, starting as a Commercial Administrator in January 2021. In just a few years, she’s thrived, developing new skills, taking on significant responsibilities, and gaining impressive independence.
Nicole’s dedication helped her earn credibility with trades despite limited initial experience. By listening and contributing thoughtfully, she quickly built trust and a deep understanding of the business. A proud CIOB Rising Star Award finalist, Nicole is most proud of her continuous growth, progressing through her apprenticeship, mentoring others, and making meaningful contributions to major projects.

A true champion for empowering others, Nicole has supported numerous work experience students, even inspiring one to switch to a commercial course. She guides junior staff and actively participates in the Women’s Network Committee and Trainee Network.
With plans to complete her apprenticeship and pursue further education to become a Quantity Surveyor and mentor, Nicole embodies genuine commitment to building a more supportive, skilled, and inclusive industry. Her journey reflects integrity, curiosity, and a powerful drive to make a positive impact.

Vote for Nicole Harris – a dedicated leader, an inspiring mentor, and a driving force for positive change in construction!

Olivia Callaghan’s passion for the built environment was sparked by Liverpool’s skyline, inspiring her career in urban development. Finishing her Project Management Grad Scheme, and three years into her career, she’s making a significant impact.

Despite a generalist background, Olivia has excelled by rapidly acquiring technical knowledge and seeking mentorship. Her dedication was recognised with the prestigious Association for Project Management (APM) Prize for Outstanding Performance – a testament to her consistent effort and high-quality work throughout her degree.
Olivia is also a champion for the next generation. She led the Career Ready program, organising a paid internship for disadvantaged students, and even inspired one mentored student to secure an apprenticeship with Turner & Townsend.

With her sights set on achieving RICS chartership qualification by Autumn 2027, specialising in Commercial Property Project Management, Olivia embodies continuous learning and development. She actively builds professional networks, shares experiences, and offers guidance, believing that supporting others strengthens the entire industry.

Vote for Olivia Callaghan – a committed professional, an inspiring mentor, and a future leader in shaping our cities!

Sandra Sapeta’s journey from a humble background in Madeira to an engineering leader exemplifies resilience. With over 12 years in the industry, she has risen from a trainee technician to BIM Manager and Head of the BIM Department at the London office of Barrett Mahony, a testament to her dedication. Sandra’s technical prowess shines through her efficient BIM workflows and tools. One major achievement was leading a Level 2 BIM project in Saudi Arabia across 70 buildings with limited resources, navigating tight deadlines and boosting team morale. She recognises the importance of leading not just technically but personally to help teams reach their maximum potential.

Sandra is also a certified Health Coach, Mental Health First Aider, and Yoga Teacher. She actively integrates wellbeing practices into high-pressure environments, supporting colleagues and helping manage stress. She mentors young women through Women in BIM and volunteers with mindfulness programs, sharing tools for resilience. Sandra is currently creating The Healthy Key, a company focused on mental health, resilience, and wellbeing in the AEC industry, empowering women and underrepresented groups. Her goal is to foster healthier, more balanced workplaces where success encompasses both project delivery and people’s wellbeing.

Vote for Sandra Sapeta — a resilient leader, technical innovator, and passionate advocate for a more human and sustainable future in engineering!

Six years ago, Sabrina Findlay set out to improve lives through buildings. Today, after 10 transformative months in construction, she’s realised her calling. Balancing a Master’s in Construction Management with a rapid work pace was challenging, but Sabrina has found her rhythm, thriving with support from colleagues.

Her greatest achievement lies in the strong, invaluable relationships she’s built quickly – a testament to her warmth and openness. Sabrina is a natural advocate, inspiring others; she championed the industry to her circle, even helping a friend secure an assessment day at a top real estate firm with no prior experience.

As the second youngest female in her 120-person team, Sabrina shows remarkable initiative. She’s a key panel member for the Future of London Group, presents in her company’s Future Talent Case Studies, and actively participates in the Entertainment Committee and networking events with senior female leaders.

Sabrina’s future ambition is to become a renowned mentor and advocate for women in construction, offering professional and personal development. She embodies immense potential to be a key player, driving positive change.

Vote for Sabrina Findlay – a dedicated professional, relationship builder, and passionate advocate for construction’s future!

Crystal Campbell’s journey into construction began bravely after her first child was born. Despite initial doubts about women’s place in this male-dominated field, she pursued her passion, proving self-belief is crucial.

In just three years, Crystal made a remarkable impact, achieving a First Class Honours in Quantity Surveying while working full-time as a single mum. This monumental feat, a result of countless late nights, exemplifies her “failure is not an option” mindset.

Crystal faced challenges as a mature student and, notably, as a Black woman in an industry where women are 15% of the UK construction workforce, and individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds are only around 5.4%. Yet, she found a welcoming company culture.

Beyond personal success, Crystal advocates for diversity. She inspires young people, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds, who tell her they’ve “never seen anyone that looked like me.” As an active member of Skanska’s O.N.E. and Women’s Network, she champions difficult conversations to foster understanding and change.

Vote for Crystal Campbell – a resilient achiever, dedicated mentor, and powerful force for a more inclusive and equitable construction industry!

Olivia Burland’s journey into Building Services Engineering began unconventionally, but she’s quickly excelled since joining Skanska’s apprenticeship in 2022. Fascinated by designing a building’s “heart,” she’s rapidly progressed on major projects up to £260 million.

Olivia has bravely overcome challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry, building credibility and earning respect. A highlight was being highly commended by a client for her production control work, leading to an invitation to speak at Skanska’s Summer Conference to 300 colleagues, inspiring many.

Passionate about diversity, Olivia is a Diversity and Inclusion co-lead on her project. She champions inclusive culture and actively promotes construction careers to young women through school events and work experience, committed to being a visible role model.

Olivia aims to become a Chartered Building Services Engineer (CIBSE) and lead projects from concept to completion. Her technical contributions include developing company-wide electrical safety initiatives. Praised for adaptability and professionalism, Olivia embodies resilience, leadership, and a commitment to transforming construction’s future.

Vote for Olivia Burland – an inspiring engineer, a champion for inclusion, and a driving force for innovation in construction!