Name: Karen Dunn
Job title: Head of development, Barratt David Wilson Home Kent
What I do: As head of development I oversee the land, planning and design team for Barratt David Wilson Homes’ Kent division. No day is the same in this role. As a team, our primary focus is on identifying and acquiring new land opportunities, achieving planning permissions and delivering affordable housing. However, the role entails so much more than that – in any one week it can involve stakeholder engagement, speaking with agents and LPAs to supporting the wider division across a multitude of queries. Working as part of the development team, we are at the forefront of the business and the varied nature of the role is why I love it. There is always an opportunity to learn something new both within the division but also from the wide range of people we liaise with daily.
Why I got into the property industry: In all honesty, my path into this industry wasn’t a direct one. It wasn’t really until I had finished my master’s degree in urban and regional planning and started at Barratt David Wilson Kent as a planning assistant that I even realised the opportunities within the development sector for me. Whilst I hate to say starting my professional life in planning with a housebuilder was an accident, it is certainly one I am thankful for and now not an industry I ever see leaving.
How I did it: I initially completed a degree in geography and then went on to complete an accredited master’s. I had naively assumed I would take a role as a junior planner at an LPA, but opportunities were scarce for someone with no experience at that time. Fortunately, the head of planning for Barratt David Wilson Kent at the time was happy to take a chance and offered me my first opportunity. A large part of the role involves liaising with a wide variety of people and having had a number of years’ work experience behind me, I had skills that were transferable. Not having had a role in the industry you are hoping to break into isn’t necessarily a barrier.
My first proper job: My first proper job was as a hotel telephonist. I took the role at 16 and worked there on weekends and free time around school and university. It was a brilliant first job and in hindsight really helped me develop skills that I use today.
My first big break: As mentioned, my first big break was really meeting the head of planning and the risk that he took hiring someone with no relevant experience.
My inspiration(s): That’s a really difficult question to answer. From a professional perspective I would say my parents and the work ethic that they had. Neither had the opportunity to go to university, but they worked incredibly hard to give my sister and I that chance.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: I have come from a planning background so taking on my current role and incorporating the land aspect is definitely a challenge, but one that I am excited about and one that is giving me the opportunity to learn more about the development industry.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: It sounds simple, but it really was getting my first decision notice with my name on. I started in this career later than most and that milestone meant such a lot.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: Coming from a housebuilder I think that a lot of people view the property industry as a boy’s club. You can often be the only woman in a room, but I can see that changing and have seen that change over the past few years.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: My biggest bugbear is probably the perception of the industry and the people within it from the outside. I’m looking at this from my experience within housebuilding. There is a misconception that we will try and somehow wriggle out of our responsibilities or obligations and that is simply not true. Everyone from the acquisition of the land to the planning and design right the way through to the delivery on the ground and sales take considerable pride in their role and what is delivered.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Development director.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Hannah Waddingham. She’d be so much fun.
What I do in my downtime: Nothing terribly exciting – listen to music, go to dinner. I do love a spin class now and again.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: It would need to be something that involved interaction with others and ideally creative. Perhaps events or interior design – not that I would be any good at either of those.
My advice for someone just starting out: My career path hasn’t been linear, and I doubt many others have been. Be open to opportunities. Skills are transferable.
My motto/mantra: Everything is an opportunity to learn, even your perceived failures.
