From Climate Curiosity to Retrofit Leadership

For Alice, Sustainability Director at Equans, a career in retrofit wasn’t part of the original plan. Like many women now working in the sector, she says she “fell into” the industry almost by accident.

Although she studied science and maths at A-level, careers in construction or engineering were never suggested to her. Instead, she pursued science at university, where she began to develop a deeper interest in climate change and its wider impacts.

“I was still scratching my head about exactly what I wanted to do for a career,” she recalls. That uncertainty eventually led her to a Master’s degree in the Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment, where her interest in climate issues evolved further. Her dissertation explored the co-benefits of climate mitigation, particularly the health improvements linked to policies designed to reduce carbon emissions.

“That’s what opened my eyes to retrofit as a tool for improving people’s lives, not just reducing emissions,” she says.

Alice’s first practical experience came through a role in the Warm Homes team at Axis, where she gained insight into delivering retrofit at scale in social housing. She later moved to Equans (previously Keepmoat Regen), where she focused on developing strong technical expertise in building assessment. During this time, she gained qualifications and delivery experience in thermography, energy assessment for existing and new builds, and energy modelling.

As her experience grew, so did her responsibilities. Alice went on to lead and develop an in-house technical team, and during the pandemic she upskilled as a Level 5 Retrofit Coordinator — a turning point that soon saw her delivering Retrofit Coordination for Equans’ Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund demonstrator projects.

In 2024, Alice joined the senior leadership team in the South as Sustainability Director, leading all decarbonisation and retrofit activity for London and the South.

“I genuinely love what I do,” she says. “Especially working with clients and our wider Equans teams to improve energy efficiency and enhance residents’ lives at an ever-growing pace.”

Building credibility through technical foundations

When asked what skills helped her reach senior leadership, Alice highlights the importance of building strong technical expertise early in her career.

Spending time on the ground assessing buildings and understanding how they behave gave her both credibility and confidence when making decisions. In a sector where professionals often need to explain complex technical requirements to people with broader construction backgrounds, that depth of knowledge is essential.

Alongside technical understanding, she emphasises the importance of translating expertise into strategy.

“Developing the ability to communicate clearly and bring other leaders, clients and wider teams with me has been a key challenge — and an essential part of growing into senior leadership,” she explains.

A leadership style built on trust

For Alice, leadership is fundamentally about creating an environment where people feel motivated, supported and able to do their best work.

She focuses on building teams with the right mix of skills and experience, while ensuring individuals have clear development pathways that allow them to grow and specialise.

“I’ve always believed in progressing people internally and ‘growing our own’ where it makes sense,” she says.

Listening is another cornerstone of her leadership style. Alice believes people perform best when they feel their contributions genuinely matter.

At the same time, she admits that learning to step back has been one of her own leadership challenges.

“People need to feel trusted, empowered and supported — not micromanaged,” she says. “When you get that balance right, it’s incredibly rewarding to see people grow in confidence and really master their roles.”

Learning from others

Rather than pointing to a single defining mentor, Alice says her leadership approach has been shaped by the many people she has worked with throughout her career.

“I’m influenced by the people around me every single day,” she explains. “I’m always picking up something — whether it’s how someone handles pressure, communicates clearly, or brings people together.”

Those collective experiences, she says, have helped shape her own leadership style.

“You really can learn something from everyone.”

Opportunities created by the Warm Homes Plan

Looking ahead, Alice is optimistic about the potential impact of the government’s Warm Homes Plan.

Although details are still emerging, she believes the scale of opportunity it represents could be transformative for the sector — not only in reducing carbon emissions, but also in improving the quality of people’s homes.

“It signals a commitment to energy efficiency and decarbonising homes,” she says. “When the industry can see that level of commitment, it gives us the stability we need to plan ahead, strengthen supply chains and build sustainable careers.”

The growing importance of retrofit quality

Alice believes the next phase of growth in the sector will focus heavily on ensuring retrofit work is delivered correctly and evidenced properly.

While PAS 2035 roles are already expanding, she expects to see a rise in specialists focused on installation compliance and verification.

She compares this to the “Golden Thread” concept emerging in building safety — a mindset where clear records and accountability are central.

“I expect to see a big increase in roles centred on installation compliance and digitally capturing and verifying what’s been done,” she says. “Those skills will become absolutely central in the years ahead.”

Encouraging more women into the sector

Alice is passionate about encouraging more women into retrofit and the wider built environment.

For her, building assessment provided the entry point into construction and allowed her to develop a practical understanding of how buildings behave — something she considers fundamental to effective retrofit.

“It’s a brilliant route for women who enjoy being out and about and want a practical grounding in how buildings actually work,” she says.

But the opportunities go far beyond technical roles. Across the retrofit process there are careers in project management, compliance, bid writing, quantity surveying, site management and resident liaison.

“There’s a place for women in every part of the delivery chain,” she says.

Creating more accessible green careers

Alice believes employers, government and the wider industry all have a role to play in making green careers more inclusive and accessible.

For employers, that means creating clear entry routes and trainee pathways that give people practical exposure to retrofit without requiring a traditional construction background. Structured development, mentoring and internal progression opportunities can also make a significant difference.

At a policy level, long-term stability is critical.

“When funding and expectations are consistent, organisations have the confidence to plan, train and build proper career pathways,” she explains.

The sector must also challenge outdated perceptions about construction careers and better showcase the breadth of opportunities available.

“People can’t aspire to jobs they don’t know exist, and this sector has far more to offer than most people realise,” she says.

Alice believes highlighting the wide range of roles — from technical and analytical work to community-focused and project-based careers — will be key to attracting a broader and more diverse talent pool into the retrofit sector.

A message for the next generation

Alice’s message to the next generation of women entering the sector is simple: believe in the impact you can have.

“This sector is changing fast,” she says. “The next generation of women will shape not just buildings, but the health, comfort and resilience of whole communities.”

There is no single route into the industry, she emphasises, and that diversity of backgrounds is one of its strengths.

“Bring your curiosity, your voice and your perspective,” she says. “They’re needed more than ever.”

And above all, she encourages women to believe in their own potential.

“Ask questions, take up space, and don’t be afraid to step into roles where women haven’t traditionally been visible,” she says.

“The work we do genuinely improves people’s lives — and you deserve to be part of shaping that future.”