Asian Women of Achievement Awards: celebrating powerful women

RICS is a proud supporter of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contribution of Asian women in the built environment and to promote and amplify role models in the profession.

2019 saw the launch of the RICS category, Real Estate, Infrastructure & Construction, with Sherin Aminossehe being an inspirational winner. Sherin is currently the Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Defence with oversight for the strategy and direction for Defence’s infrastructure and a former Executive Director/Head at the Government Property Unit and Head of Property Profession for the Civil Service in Whitehall. Prior to her return to Government, she acted as the Head of Commercial Office business at Lendlease, she was responsible for a range of regeneration projects, including the £2.4bn International Quarter London in Stratford, Silvertown and Euston, with a gross development value of over £5bn.

Wearing multiple hats and inspiring a number of different audiences, Sherin is a true woman of achievement and shared with us some of her experience and her thoughts on why this is a great opportunity for Asian women to be recognised for their achievements. She also reminds us of the importance of being visible and taking every opportunity to be a role model for future generations, inspiring those who will be future talents and make new changes in the profession.

What did it mean to you to be nominated and to win Asian Women of Achievement Award in 2019 & what has it meant for your career?

A few years ago, when I was in Cabinet Office, I was invited to go to the ceremony of the ‘Women of the Future’ awards by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. I went along and was impressed at all the amazing things that these women had achieved. but with the busy pace of life, changes in career and juggling a family, I didn’t give it much thought. Then about three years later, on a cold February day, came a call from the award organisers, saying that Pinky Lilani CBE DL, the incredible founder, had suggested I might want to apply for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (sister organisation to Women of the Future). I had some reservations about entering, but I thought, if I were shortlisted, I would at the very least meet some amazing ladies both amongst other nominees and the wider network, so I thought I’d give it a go.

Amazingly, I ended up winning the Real Estate, Infrastructure and Construction category and what was remarkable about it was meeting all the previous winners whose lives have changed as a result.

There was such a cross section of women; from a paediatric cardiologist  who had performed pioneering surgery to female cricket captains who had coached young disadvantaged children. It has really broadened my horizons and my network.
This year I’ve been asked to be a judge!

Since winning the award it has strengthened a reciprocity and obligation to help others develop. I’m determined that I should be part of smoothing the path for junior talent, and since we still have such a lack of balance at the top, this is an important part of boosting a young woman’s opportunity for progression.

Why should Asian women in real estate, infrastructure and construction apply for these awards?

I think it’s really important to give talented women a platform to be seen by others as it provides such a boost to their confidence. Awards can be quite homogenous, so having an award focussing on diversity helps to redress that balance. For many winning this award had a great many benefits, in particular getting recognition from outside of their organisation, which helped add legitimacy inside it as well.