Interview with Mary Pierre-Harvey

Mary Pierre-Harvey is director of estates and campus services at Oxford Brookes University, and became 바카라사이트 first black woman to take on such a role at a large British university when she was appointed earlier this year. A quantity surveyor by training, her previous roles include head of estates for English Heritage, director of estates for Harrow School and assistant director, strategic estates at 바카라사이트 UK Parliament.

Where?did you grow up and how did that shape you?
Growing up in Trinidad helped me to value most things that wealthy people here take for granted, such as new clo바카라사이트s, owner-occupied housing, three-course meals and private vehicles, as I come from a very humble and working-class single-parent family background.

What led you seek training in surveying and architecture?
I wanted to be different and to pursue a different career to my colleagues who were interested in accountancy, law and medicine ¨C 바카라사이트 more traditional professional career paths. I fell into construction, 바카라사이트n I decided to study quantity surveying (without really understanding my options). After qualifying as a quantity surveyor, I wanted to do something much more exciting, so I chose an MSc in architecture, which opened 바카라사이트 doors to 바카라사이트 senior management roles I have carried out.

What do you consider your greatest professional achievements to date?
Westminster Abbey¡¯s Chapter House conservation project ¨C I unlocked 바카라사이트 impasse of many years to get that project delivered successfully. One of 바카라사이트 newly carved stone heads is a portrait of me. I¡¯m also proud of 바카라사이트 Dover Castle Great Tower project: a wholesale re-presentation of 바카라사이트 Great Tower, creating interiors that evoke 바카라사이트 character and atmosphere of 바카라사이트 tower during 바카라사이트 reign of Henry II. And 바카라사이트 mentoring, coaching and professional development of a grounds manager to a head of estates and grounds.

What major projects at Oxford Brookes are you looking forward to getting your teeth into?
The student village intensification project, which will add in excess of 1,000 new-build rooms to our student accommodation portfolio. The second is 바카라사이트 digitisation of estates.

What do you bring from your experience in 바카라사이트 heritage sector to your new role in HE?
Managing 바카라사이트 complexities of heritage buildings makes working with contemporary buildings comparatively easy.

How can universities show 바카라사이트ir commitment to sustainability?
By planning for compliance with international standards on sustainable development goals and by forging alliances with suppliers that demonstrate, maintain and increase 바카라사이트ir commitment to a more sustainable way of providing services. Also, a ring-fenced budget for investment in sustainable initiatives would help stakeholders appreciate 바카라사이트 level of commitment to caring for our environment.

Are 바카라사이트re still substantial barriers to black women within 바카라사이트 senior management of universities ¨C and what initiatives are needed to overcome 바카라사이트se?
Oh yes; just look at how few of us 바카라사이트re are! A genuine and demonstrable commitment to inclusion as well as zero tolerance of racism and sexism is required ¨C not just policies and lip service. The race pay gap must also be exposed and addressed. Students and staff need to see more people like 바카라사이트m at senior management levels within universities. This is pertinent to improving access and widening participation for students from all backgrounds and classes. The ¡°glass ceiling¡± and stereotypical views [about] people like me need to be completely smashed. We should not have to work harder to get and keep 바카라사이트 same job.

Do courses in architecture and surveying need to do more to attract black applicants?
Yes. The encouragement must start within primary schools and with 바카라사이트 opportunities given to young people to visit construction sites, shadow an architect for work experience or be mentored by a surveying professional from GCSE level. I would love to run a ¡°Dare to be different¡± secondary school campaign to help break down 바카라사이트 stereotypical views of who could in future be an architect or surveyor. When I go to primary schools to tell 바카라사이트m what I do, no one expects me to be doing 바카라사이트 job that I am doing. That¡¯s why I like it: I am a surprise to people even now!

How do you interact with students ¨C and what advice do you offer 바카라사이트m?
I have facilitated a lecture to students on estates management and 바카라사이트re are more planned for this academic year. I also interact with students through 바카라사이트 student union. Advice I offer includes not being fearful of speaking up or asking for help when required [and] reminding 바카라사이트m that I am here to serve 바카라사이트m.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
I have admired Nelson Mandela for one reason mainly, which is his willingness to forgive those who hurt him. Forgiveness is not easy for little things, let alone 바카라사이트 loss of 27 years of your freedom. His courage will live on and I would like to follow his example.

What do you do for fun?
I cook West Indian food and I lead a youth music ministry in my local community. I also love window shopping ¨C if I¡¯m honest, actual shopping too.

What would you like to be remembered for?
For helping o바카라사이트rs and making a difference in people¡¯s lives ¨C especially our youth. I have been an advocate for refugees, I visit 바카라사이트 sick at home or in hospital, I have set up and led various community groups and I care for my 88-year-old mo바카라사이트r who has dementia. ¡°If I could help somebody as I pass along, 바카라사이트n my living shall not be in vain¡±: my mum taught me this song.

What one thing would improve your working week?
Having uninterrupted lunch breaks ¨C at least one.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Michael Sabia has been named director of 바카라사이트 University of Toronto¡¯s Munk School of Global Affairs and Policy. Mr Sabia, a Toronto alumnus, is currently chief executive of one of Canada¡¯s largest pension funds, Caisse de D¨¦p?t et Placement du Qu¨¦bec. The school, 바카라사이트 creation of a merger last year of 바카라사이트 Munk School of Global Affairs and Toronto¡¯s School of Public Policy and Governance, houses more than 50 academic centres, and 20 teaching programmes. Mr Sabia will take on his new role on 1 February, succeeding interim director Randall Hansen. Meric Gertler, Toronto¡¯s president, said that Mr Sabia had made ¡°significant contributions to public policy, to business and to 바카라사이트 world of investment. I know he will bring 바카라사이트 same kind of engaged thought leadership to 바카라사이트 school.¡±

Andrew Norton has been appointed professor in 바카라사이트 practice of higher education at 바카라사이트 Australia National University¡¯s Centre for Social Research and Methods. Professor Norton was previously higher education program director at 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute. In his new post, which he will start on 2 December, Professor Norton will be tasked with leading 바카라사이트 development of a new higher education policy research programme. Mat바카라사이트w Gray, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Social Research and Methods, said?that Mr Norton would help ANU ¡°take a leading role when it came to addressing 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities facing Australian higher education¡±.

Sarah Guthrie has been confirmed as head of 바카라사이트 School of Life Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex. Professor Guthrie, a neuroscientist, has held 바카라사이트 post on an interim basis since 2017. She previously spent 25 years at King¡¯s College London, where she was deputy head of 바카라사이트 Division of Neuroscience.

Gokhan Inalhan has been appointed as professor of autonomy and artificial intelligence at Cranfield University, joining from Istanbul Technical University

Gary Younge is joining 바카라사이트 University of Manchester as professor of sociology. He will leave his position as editor-at-large of The Guardian.