Name: Marxileni Lapuz
Job title: Senior sustainability engineer, Black & White (B&W) Engineering
What I do: I lead a team of engineers for LEED certification. I am also involved in business development which includes preparing technical and commercial bid proposals.
Why I got into the built environment industry: After finishing my mechanical engineering degree, I was unsure what field I wanted to specialise in. So, I applied for jobs that I felt would challenge me and would further develop my skills. Three years after university, I found my niche, and that is the construction industry.
How I did it: I got into property industry when an electrical design engineer recruited me to join their firm and be part of the growing mechanical team.
My first proper job: Assistant engineer for an electrical contractor.
My first big break: I joined a multi-national engineering firm and I was given a very specialised task – Part L modeller using computational software called IES-VE.
My inspiration(s): My papa.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: ASHRAE 90.1-2016 compliance to meet the LEED v4.1 energy performance
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Winner, Top 50 Women in Engineering UK.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That it’s very expensive to design, construct and operate a green building.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: I would change the mindset that green buildings are expensive. I would also shift the focus from profit to planet and people.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: Because making people from various backgrounds feel welcome and supporting them fully will bring their fullest potential which will then benefit the firms that they work for and the industry.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: As responsible professionals, we must measure the impact our business has on society and the environment and we must be accountable for our actions. It is always important to be transparent to our stakeholders about how we do business.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I would like to be in the position where I can make a real difference in terms of how buildings are designed following a stricter framework in terms of sustainability, health and wellbeing and community connections.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Dame Jo Da Silva, Rachel Parsons and Karl Marx.
What I do in my downtime: Read and crochet.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Dentist or philosophy professor.
My advice for someone just starting out: Take advantage of all the tools available to you and use them well. You can’t rely on anyone to succeed. You have got to decide that on your own.
My motto/mantra: The moment we tell ourselves that we cannot do anything anymore for our planet is the exact same moment we are no longer fit to call ourselves engineers.
23 June was International Women in Engineering Day
