Celebrating Leadership at PMP
International Women’s Day
As we approach International Women’s Day (March 8), we turn the spotlight on a growing number of our female leaders at PMP.
In an industry historically known for its gender imbalance, meaningful progress is being made with notable advances across the profession but there is more still to do.
At PMP, we promote and recruit based solely on talent, and among our notable female leaders are Lorraine Martin, Head of our Glasgow operation; Laura Banks, Director in Edinburgh; and Michelle Richardson, Projects Director in Manchester. We also have a growing number of future leaders in our offices in Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
They are writing their own chapters at PMP and building a career in the construction industry.
Lorraine Martin is Director and Head of PMP Glasgow. A Chartered Building Surveyor who leads operations in Glasgow. In a career spanning two decades, she has seen first-hand the role and impact women bring to the property sector.
She said: “True leadership inspires teams to challenge, innovate and deliver, and diversity is what gives them the strength to do it. In property, bringing different perspectives to the table isn’t just the right thing to do, it drives better decisions, stronger projects, and a more resilient industry.”
Laura Banks, Director in Edinburgh, is another leader and former Chair of Women in Property (WiP) Central Scotland. As an experienced Quantity Surveyor, Laura has worked across public and private sectors including within the Scape and CCS frameworks and Marks & Spencer in the private sector. She has lent her expertise to young minds through her volunteering as part of the WiP committee as the Schools Outreach Co-ordinator.
She said: “This industry can challenge and inspire on a daily basis. Working in a diverse environment allows us to draw on a wide range of perspectives and approaches. It adds depth to our work and makes each day that much more engaging and rewarding.”
Michelle Richardson joined PMP in 2025 as a Director in the Manchester operation. With more than 20 years’ experience in the property sector, Michelle set up the Project Management team in Manchester and has been spearheading growth plans. She has already made a significant impact on our projects and bringing in other female practitioners with the appointment of Freya Corkhill as a Project Manager.
“The North West property market is booming, meaning there are so many opportunities for project management firms to excel and opportunities for women to lead this. We work to recruit on talent alone, and we know that this comes through having more representations in the boardroom, on sites, and being reflective of society.”
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8. This year’s campaign is to imagine a ‘gender equal world’ — something that PMP not only supports but demonstrated through the leaders who represent us.
