Group Director of PRP Architects, Cathy Stewart, was last night named the winner of this year’s Built Environment category at the Women in the City awards.

With the female workforce accounting for just 15% of the property and construction industry, the award seeks to help address this troubling statistic by enhancing the profile of women working at a senior level in the sector and providing them with a dynamic forum to encourage and nurture aspiring talent.

Stewart, who heads PRP's Higher Education sector, has played a significant role in promoting women in the industry and was previously the winner of the CBI First Women's Award (Property & Retail Category) 2006.

The judges felt her support and encouragement to other women working in the built environment were outstanding, as were her professional achievements. She has actively sought to develop new business in different sectors and established new products to reflect the changing economic climate, whilst also achieving an enviable level of work-life balance.

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Gwen Rhys, CEO of Networking Culture Limited and founder of the Women in the City awards said: “Cathy is a phenomenal role model for women working in the Built Environment, and more generally in the business world, and will be a great Ambassador for the Awards. Winning the built environment category at the Women in the City Awards is a great way for women to raise their profile in the sector, whilst also promoting the role of successful professional women working in London. It is an achievement for the individual, their firm and, perhaps most importantly, the reputation of women in senior positions everywhere.”

The Winners were presented with their Awards by representatives of the ICAEW, Women in Property, FMA, FSSC, CII and Women in Law. Candidates for the awards were women working in London’s main business hubs of Canary Wharf, the City and the West End. The winners of each category will now go forward to be considered for the ultimate Woman of Achievement accolade, announced at the Women in the City Annual Celebration Lunch on 26 November.

With only three women occupying CEO roles and two female chairmen in the FTSE 100 (only one of the five is currently working in the property sector) Women in the City aims to encourage talented females and support them in breaking through the ranks to find equality in the property sector and the boardroom.

(GK)