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‘It’s proof you can build a career around your values and still be taken seriously’
Construction professionals celebrate achieving fellowship status
Paloma Hermoso, Adam Crichton and Nicki Collas at the graduation ceremony. Image: Collas
Three members of the CIOB Exeter Hub Committee celebrated achieving fellowship recently, all graduating at the Drapers Hall ceremony in London.
Nicki Collas, deputy director of the Future Hospital Programme at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said achieving the post nominals has been “a career defining moment”.
“There is, of course, a sense of responsibility in using my influence to contribute to the industry and wider society but that, in turn, is a source of huge motivation for me,” she told CM. “I am at the stage in my working life where I want to encourage and support others to find their place in our amazing sector, and promote the importance of becoming professionally qualified to others.”
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Adam Crichton, construction director with Whitebox Construction Management also achieved fellowship, something he said was a long-standing aspiration. Talking about the achievement, he said: “It recognises my contribution to the construction sector and allows me to showcase my commitment to industry and professional standards. The designation sets me apart from peers within the industry and will lead to new opportunities for me and the company.”
Crichton and Collas’s fellow committee member Paloma Hermoso, head of sustainability at Ward Williams Group, also graduated with FCIOB. She said: “Becoming a fellow of the CIOB honestly feels a bit overwhelming… in the best way. When I moved to the UK and made a complete career change, I never dreamed I’d come this far. My path into construction wasn’t straightforward; it’s been full of twists, leaps of faith and moments of doubt. That’s why this recognition feels so personal, it’s a reminder that the risks, the long hours, the times I felt out of place, have all added up to something meaningful.
“For me, it’s not just about career milestones, but more about the people I’ve met, the teams I’ve led, the students I’ve taught and the small ways I’ve tried to make the industry fairer, greener and kinder. It’s proof that you can build a career around your values and still be taken seriously.
“Mostly, I feel proud, but also humbled and grateful; proud of how far I’ve come, grateful for everyone who’s walked beside me, nudged me forward and believed I could do more.”
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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