Hi, I’m Wilna!
Here are a few facts about me and also why I’m so passionate about inspiring and empowering people just like you to explore opportunities in STEM…
My career specialism:
Maths.
My current role:
Cost Consultant and Quantity Surveyor.
When not STEM-ing you can find me…
Outside of work, I love nothing more than curling up with a good book, heading out for walks with my two mischievous dachshunds, or teaming up with friends across the globe for an online gaming session.
Fun fact about my industry:
The thing I love most about the construction industry is that it’s a dynamic, future-driven field that continues to evolve, embracing innovation and new technologies to shape the way we build.
My career path:
When I was younger, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve always been mathematically strong, but also highly creative, which made it hard to choose a single path. I’ve also had a deep love of architecture from an early age. I was fortunate to have a very handy dad, and when I was fifteen, we bought a fixer-upper home. Over the next three years, my dad and I renovated every part of the house ourselves. That hands-on experience sparked an innate love for the building industry and a desire to get involved in the practical side of creating and improving spaces. I reached out to a career counsellor, and Quantity Surveying was one of the professions she recommended. A little research showed me that it perfectly combined my skills and interests, so I went on to complete my Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Quantity Surveying at the University of the Free State in South Africa. I then spent five years working across South Africa as a construction Quantity Surveyor on site, gaining experience across civils, industrial, commercial, and residential projects. I truly enjoyed being involved in the day-to-day work, getting my boots stuck in the mud, and being deeply engaged with the technical details of each build. I loved understanding the engineering elements behind every project and seeing how design and construction came together in practice. Each project I worked on was absolutely unique and I learned something new from every experience. In 2018, I immigrated to the Isle of Man, where I’ve been fortunate to work as a Consulting Quantity Surveyor with fantastic project teams and clients such as the Isle of Man Government and Manx Utilities. Every project continues to be a unique challenge, blending creativity, technical understanding, and collaboration to deliver successful outcomes.
