Grace Conisbee
Innes England chartered surveyor Grace Conisbee has continued a streak of successes with her appointment as an associate board member of LionHeart, the independent charity supporting Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ professionals.
Grace was one of two candidates chosen from dozens of applicants to join the charity’s board. It is the young professional’s third achievement this year, having qualified as a chartered surveyor and also being appointed Innes England’s sustainability champion for her work to reduce carbon offsets and energy consumption in client practices.
Grace said: “When I saw the opportunity at LionHeart come up, I couldn’t help but jump at it. The charity is so worthwhile and important to the surveying profession, and the experiences that being an associate board member will open will undoubtedly be invaluable in my career development and progression. When I told Innes England of my plans to apply, they were nothing but supportive.”
She added: “It has been a busy year for me, and I couldn’t have done it without the support that Innes England has given me in pursuing and realising my goals.”
Grace joins So Sum Lee, a student currently undertaking a planning and development MRICS (Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) qualification, on the board.
Their roles will primarily involve attending and contributing to all board meetings for the next two years, as well as working closely with a ‘board buddy’ who will mentor their respective development.
Peter McCrea, chair of the LionHeart board and a key member involved in the selection process, said: “Grace and So Sum were both very strong candidates in a competitive shortlist, and we are delighted to welcome them both to the LionHeart family. We are confident that they will both bring a fresh perspective to the board, particularly as we continue to develop our services for that sector of the profession.”
LionHeart CEO Davina Goodchild said: “We’re delighted to welcome So Sum and Grace to the team and look forward to working with them in future. As a charity that serves the surveying profession no matter where they are or what stage of career they are at, it really helps us to hear from different perspectives as we look to keep developing the very best support we possibly can.
“In return, we hope we have removed the traditional barriers of experience and will enable our new associate trustees to develop the kind of board skills that will benefit them personally and professionally.”
LionHeart supports RICS professionals facing unexpected challenges in their lives, including financial, legal, and physical or mental ill health issues, and also provides a range of personal and career development support. That extends to their partners and families, and is available to surveyors at any career level, from apprentices and students to those who have retired and are no longer practising.
Gary Woodward, director at Innes England, said: “We’re very proud of Grace’s appointment as an associate board member of LionHeart and see it as a great achievement. Grace is a driven and thoughtful team member and a great asset who we are thankful to have on our team. I’m absolutely sure she will thrive in this new role.”
To read more about Innes England, visit the website at innes-england.com
