Emerging Talent

Hannah Brennen

MDA Consulting Ltd

Hannah is a Senior Quantity Surveyor at MDA Consulting’s Leicester office. She joined the company in August 2016 after previous employment in land management, land acquisition and compulsory purchase. She gained chartership of the RICS in 2019. Hannah works on a variety of projects across the East Midlands. She has experience in a variety of sectors including; student accommodation, heritage, residential, education, warehousing and elderly accommodation. Hannah has specialist knowledge of cost estimating, cost planning, procurement and contract administration.

Hannah believes that the Emerging Talent initiative helps people to develop their professional network, while also gaining an insight into the work of other professionals within the property and construction sector.

Lora Moutafova

Cemex

Lora is an in-house solicitor at CEMEX dealing with a range of commercial and construction related matters for the UK business. Lora qualified as a solicitor in 2014 and previously worked in private practice at two national law firms.

Lora has been the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Emerging Talent steering group in the past. Her hopes for the Emerging Talent group are that it will bring together junior professionals in the property and construction sector from across the region, to create better professional links and establish a permanent and active presence offering an opportunity for professionals to meet, exchange knowledge/best practice and to socialise.

Joe Reilly

Innes England

Joe is a Graduate Surveyor at commercial property consultants Innes England. He is currently integrated within the professional services team and assists with a variety of work including rent reviews and valuations for local and national clients. He is working towards becoming a chartered surveyor by completing the RICS APC process.

Growing up in Rutland, he is excited about the formation of the Emerging Talent initiative that will help provide valuable professional connections in Leicestershire and Rutland as he progresses his career in the property and construction sector.

Alfie Simons

Corporate Architecture Ltd

Alfie graduated from Southampton Solent University in 2015 attaining a First-Class Honours Degree in Architectural Technology BA (Hons), since graduating he has been developing his career as an Architectural Technologist for Corporate Architecture Limited.

Since joining he has gained experience in working on large Commercial Schemes through to bespoke one off New Build Houses and high-end Residential improvements and extensions. Alfie's has quickly expanded his knowledge base, being entrusted to deliver his first turn key project from concept to completion carrying out a complex remodelling and refurbishment of The British Parachute Association’s Head Office in Leicestershire earning him and Corporate Architecture the accolade that the 'management of the project, by Alfie Simons, was on budget and conducted with consummate professionalism'.

Being a part of the ProCon Emerging Talent initiative, Alfie is looking forward to progressing his career by networking with other professionals in the construction industry in Leicestershire and the East Midlands, sharing his own knowledge of the sector whilst gaining invaluable relationships and insights from other ProCon members.

James Spencer

Leicester City Council

James is a Highway Engineer at Leicester City Council. After graduating from the University of Birmingham, he joined the Council as a graduate.

Now working in the Council’s Major Transport Projects team, he works on strategic highway improvement schemes to in the city. This includes schemes to reduce congestion and improve transport for walkers and cyclists.

James has experience in highway design, traffic modelling, contract management, and the construction of highway projects.

He sees Emerging Talent as a fantastic way for young employees in the property and construction sectors to integrate and share their knowledge.

Nathan Allaway

Gateley Legal

Nathan is a solicitor at Gateley Legal dealing with a range of commercial property matters, including all aspects of landlord and tenant matters and development projects, principally in respect of their acquisitions, development, lettings and subsequent disposals.

Nathan qualified in 2018 and advises a wide range of businesses with their property portfolios and has experience in a number of sectors including retail, commercial, logistics and industrial warehouses.

Nathan is a member of the Emerging Talent Steering Group and hopes that the diverse and wide range of events can help young professionals in Leicestershire to develop their network across different sectors, professions and walks of life.

Alex Perobelli

Design MEP

Alex is a Mechanical Engineer at Design MEP. She joined the company in January 2018 and since has been involved in number of projects across wide range of sectors within construction industry including residential, hospitality and retail, education and commercial for both contractors as well as end user clients. She gained chartership in 2020 becoming a Member of CIBSE and is currently working towards CEng accreditation within Engineering Council.

Alex thinks that Emerging Talent provides great opportunity for young professionals across construction industry to develop their network, gather insight and support from likeminded industry members.

Diana Hawkins

Pick Everard

Diana is the Business Development Manager for Pick Everard, predominantly looking after new and existing clients and sourcing new opportunities for the Building Services Discipline.

Diana has a wide range of skills in marketing, business development, bid management, client liaison and event organisation. Her role includes raising Pick Everard profile by building new relationships and assisting in the continued growth of the company.

Diana hopes to promote the Emerging Talent Steering Group to the younger professionals and encourage more members to join, develop their network and grow their confidence in networking.

Danielle Garrity

Smallman & Son Ltd

Danielle graduated from the University of Warwick in 2011 with a degree in History and Politics (BA Hons) and worked as a primary school teacher before joining her family business commercial building contractors Smallman & Son Ltd at the start of 2017. Now, as Head of Business Development and Marketing, Danielle has gained experience of a variety of public sector and commercial building works around the UK. Danielle enjoys seeing the progress of projects, particularly historic buildings such as churches, which she finds fascinating.

Danielle believes that the Pro Con Emerging Talent group is the perfect way for individuals who are working in the Property and Construction sector, and are perhaps at the start of their career, to develop their professional network and to share their knowledge and expertise with others.