The Chartered Institute of Building has selected Rebecca Thompson as its 114th President.

With an extensive background in heritage and conservation, Ms Thompson is only the second female to hold the position of President.

She currently works as a lecturer in Building Studies at York College, helping young people get a foot on the career ladder.

Ms Thompson began her construction career as a quantity surveyor at Shepherd Construction and recently included seven years at York Minister, first as Superintendent of Works and then as Chapter Steward, a chief executive role.

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As well as running her own business (Thompson Heritage Consultancy Ltd), she has been a Trustee since 2015 and has held positions with numerous contractors and consultants, including EC Harris, Yorkon Limited, NHBC, and Shepherd Construction.

Speaking at her inaugural address, Ms Thompson said: "At the heart of diversity is inclusion. It's an attitude of 'How can I make the work environment more conducive to people doing a good job', regardless of their gender, ethnic background, or any disability.

"The better we make our industry – the more professional we are – the more we will attract young people. We have a tremendous offer: a career in which one can go back to a building years later and say, 'I helped build that'."

(LM)