Kristen Fitzgerald

With ten years’ experience delivering hospital projects of differing sizes, Kristen Fitzgerald was a natural fit for Mace’s health and social care team when she joined in 2013. From working on the Royal Free Hospital in London to chartership with the RICS over the last decade, Kristen has brought expertise and ambition to the redevelopment of the sector. Now as an operations director, Kristen is embracing the latest technology to transform how Mace delivers healthcare infrastructure.

How did your career lead you to Mace?

I left university with a degree in sociology and started working at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on a private finance initiative (PFI) project in a project support role. The experience was a real eye opener as I got to meet and work with architects, engineers, lawyers and contractors and understand how projects are designed and delivered. Before I knew it, I had found my passion and I was carving out a career as a capital project manager.

When I was ready for a new challenge, I saw Mace as one of the leaders in construction and consultancy with a dynamic approach to developing its workforce. I have been able to successfully progress my career and have had the opportunity to lead large projects and programmes of work in the healthcare sector, which has been so rewarding.

How has your career progressed since joining Mace?

After ten years’ experience in delivering hospital projects of all different sizes, it was a natural fit for me to join the health and social care team at Mace. I have worked with both public and private healthcare providers to deliver some really important projects and ultimately make a positive impact on the quality of healthcare facilities for patients and staff.

I have achieved chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and I’ve also had the opportunity to go on Mace’s Developing Success programme. It’s been a fantastic way to establish a network across the business where we learn from each other. The programme has given me the confidence to push my career and has really encouraged me to be creative and forward thinking.

What is your proudest achievement at Mace?

It’s difficult to identify a single event, there have been many achievements which I am proud of. Ultimately, as project and programme delivery partners we are here to help our clients realise their vision, and there is nothing better than successfully delivering a project that enables transformational healthcare services.

What skills do you need to be good at your job?

One of the foundations of excellent project delivery is good, clear communication. The ability to listen, understand complex information and communicate it in a way that everyone can understand is so important. I work within multi-disciplined teams so it is imperative to be a good team player and create high performing teams where individuals and teams can excel.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

Do some work experience. There’s nothing quite like rolling your sleeves up and getting into the thick of it to know if you’ll enjoy it. Don’t be put off by not having a technical background. You don’t need a qualification to be in the industry, so much of what you learn is from experience and working within a supportive team environment. Try and get a mentor – they are a great way to get guidance and support. Don’t be afraid to open up to people about what you want, they will help support you to make it a reality.

What do you see as the big trend for your specialism in the next five years?

In the health and social care sector, digital technology is increasingly becoming a big part of the projects we deliver. It’s essential to keep abreast of fresh innovation to support healthcare organisations provide outstanding care for their patients. Even during the lifespan of a project, technology will advance and change, so you always need to be prepared for that.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My family is my passion. I love spending time with my daughter and seeing the world through the eyes of a 3.5 year old!