Name: Vanessa Lee
Job title: Head of property and major transactions – Broadmoor redevelopment team, West London NHS Trust
What I do: I am currently part of the senior management team involved in the redevelopment of Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne. This encompasses the creation of the new state-of-the-art high secure hospital completed in 2019 and the disposal of the former hospital site, which is currently on the market as a rare development opportunity to create a thriving new working village to suit 21st century needs.
Why I got into the property industry: I had quite an unusual entrance, having done an art foundation course at Chelsea College of Art and then a brand management degree. By chance, I took a temp role after university at BBG Surveyors (now part of Countrywide) which sparked the fire so to speak.
How I did it: I did a post-graduate (RICS-accredited) MSc course at Liverpool John Moores University before applying to various graduate schemes.
My first big break: Getting accepted onto the graduate scheme at CBRE in 2004. It was the place to be, full of some wonderfully talented people and big, industry-defining characters. The “golden ticket” so to speak.
My inspiration(s): I am fascinated by architecture and listed buildings. Each has an interesting story to tell, a history, an ethos and also a future which provides inspiration for the work I do.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Transitioning from the polished marble environment of Mayfair to the NHS and Broadmoor Hospital. As you can imagine, there are a wealth of challenges and nuances that come with a complex redevelopment project in a high secure environment. Property is only part of the gig.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: The new Broadmoor Hospital opening in 2019 and finally bringing the former historic site to market was a huge moment; marking the culmination of a decade’s worth of intensive and collaborative work. I am incredibly proud of what the team has achieved here.
My biggest screw-up: I once theoretically lost a rather large amount of loan for a circa £90m Birmingham development project. Thankfully, I later found it somewhere in the spreadsheet.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That everybody working in it are residential building surveyors or estate agents. There is an incredible breadth of interesting roles to suit different skillsets and personalities.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: For the most part, the industry is still rather old school, protracted and lacking in genuine diversity. We can do better – educating girls from school age about the opportunities is a good starting point.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I would love to be involved with another large complex redevelopment project. There are so many unique aspects to these types of sites, which make them very stimulating and rewarding. It is certainly not the easiest road but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like the “too difficult” pile. If you aren’t challenged by something new, you aren’t learning.
My main career goals right now: I am focused on concluding a successful sale of the old Broadmoor Hospital site.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Miriam Margolyes as she is hilarious and Richard E Grant, who I could listen to all day.
What I do in my downtime:We cook, entertain and look after a very excitable two-year-old Beardie called Digby. Then there are the never ending house renovations.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: The UK’s version of Judge Judy. Pragmatism and common sense are my thing.
My advice for someone just starting out: Understand how best you work and find an environment that accommodates this. There is nothing worse than having to leave your personality at the door every day.
My motto/mantra: The devil is in the detail.
