This week, we are celebrating the women in our industry as part of International Women’s Day and Women in Construction week; giving us the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the outstanding women joining us in Birmingham this May.

Maggie Grogan: Maggie joined Muse in 2020 and having launched the Midlands office in 2022, Maggie secured Muse as regeneration partner for the £3.2bn Arden Cross project – one of the Midlands most important regeneration opportunities. In less than three years Maggie has risen through the ranks, blazing a trail for women in property and becoming the first female regional Managing Director at Muse, delivering the company vision to create new places across the Midlands.

Alexandra King: Alex King is lecturer on the BA Interior Architecture and Design course at Birmingham City University. She has a MA in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh, a Part II Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the University of Westminster, and is a Fellow of the HEA. Alex has worked within architectural practice and interior design across various locations including London, New York and Birmingham. The majority of her time in practice was spent working on heritage and educational projects for international practice Hawkins\Brown, and within the hospitality sector for StudioIlse. 

Selina Mason: Selina Mason is an Architect and masterplanner who is responsible for delivering high quality design and masterplanning across Lendlease’s UK and Europe urban regeneration portfolio. Currently she is also Development Director on Smithfield Birmingham. Selina also has an Honorary Fellowship from RIBA and she is a Design Council Ambassador and was recently appointed by the Government to the Urban Centre Recovery Task Force.

Leah Jones: Leah has had an extensive career delivering transformational change in challenging environments. Change portfolios Leah has led have included digital, legislative and workplace transformation. Leah has been with the Government Property Agency since 2019, joining as the Programme Manager for the cross-government Smarter Working Programme and is now responsible for the Workplace Experience team, a collaborative, empowered and customer-focused team who are making a tangible difference to Civil Service ways of working.

Hannah Critchlow: Dr Hannah Critchlow is an internationally-acclaimed neuroscientist, broadcaster, author and Fellow at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge. Best known for demystifying the human brain, she has appeared on BBC, ABC and Korean TV and Radio, notably in the Great Minds Series, Tomorrow’s World Live and BBC Radio 4’s Destiny and the Brain. In 2022 Hannah received an Honorary Doctorate from Brunel University for her work in neuroscience and communication, and in 2019 was named by Nature as one of their ‘Rising Stars in Life Sciences’. 

Learn more and read their full biographies here.

BCO NextGen will again offer a supplementary programme for young professionals within the sector, providing activities that sit alongside the main itinerary, to add value to the conference experience and encourage greater participation from this important community within the BCO.

Want to know more? Download this year’s conference brochure. Here you will find detailed information on all aspects of the 2024 conference programme, including the party at the Luna Springs in Digbeth, one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in Birmingham, as well as the photography competition, back for the 5th year running.

“I encourage you all to join us as this is an important moment for the office, where the future of the
workplace continues to be a topic of debate”. Read more from Peter Crowther, BCO Senior Vice President and Conference Chair.