FACILITIES MANAGEMENT JOURNAL JOBS
FM CAREERS - CAREER LADDER
FMJ chats to a facilities professional about
how they got into the sector and takes a look
at their career path. This month we talk to
Kellie Lord-Thomas, UK Workplace Manager
at Amnesty International.
Name:
Kellie Lord-Thomas
Current role:
UK Workplace Manager
Employer:
Amnesty International
How did you progress in FM to
your current role?
I stumbled into the world of
Facilities when I started working as
Receptionist in a multi-tenanted
building, a mix of commercial and
o ice space. I quickly realised I
wanted to pursue a career in it and I
worked my up to Premises Manager.
My next role, my longest, was for
a charity who advise business on
corporate responsibility. It was here
where I learnt of the pivotal role
Facilities plays in helping to shape
the culture. I used my role to initiate
various employee engagement
activities to boost morale. Over the
years, the role grew from managing
the Head O ice to all of their UK
o ices. Once this challenge had been
met, I knew it was time to move on. I
joined Amnesty three years ago.
What has changed about your
job role since the COVID-19 crisis?
E.g. home working, furloughed,
redeployed?
We closed the o ice to all sta a
week before lockdown and we are
all currently working from home.
Most sta had already adopted
agile working practices but for core
services such as Workplace, it is the
first time we’ve all worked from home
collectively.
What have you found most
challenging about your job in FM
since the lockdown?
Whilst the technology available has
proved to be a game changer in how
we stay connected, back-to-back
team meetings can be draining. The
combination of listening intently,
concentration and actively looking
at changes in body language can be
quite draining. I miss the ability to
meet face-to-face. It’s a small price
to pay for not having to commute
though. I don’t miss the rush to get
out of the house each morning to get
to work on time. I’m also enjoying
attending webinars and trying to
understand what impact this will
have for the sector going forward.
What qualities do you think
are most needed for a successful
career in FM?
You need to be organised, an
e ective communicator and a natural
problem solver. You need to have a
passion for what you do and to not
be easily defeated. You encounter
many di erent situations, some
bizarre, and you need to be flexible
and be able to respond and lead
during these situations. It can be
unpredictable at times but that’s
what keeps it exciting. It helps to
have a good sense of humor and to
not take things to heart when dealing
with complaints.
What is your organisation
doing to ensure the safe return of
sta to the workplace?
The first few weeks were focused
on identifying who needed better
D.S.E and procuring for sta . Now my
focus is reopening the building. We
are conscious that some sta are in
di icult circumstances and we want
to provide an alternative space for
people to work if they need to. It has
been extremely busy, and I can’t see
that changing anytime soon.
Are you a member of any FM
association or body and if so
what benefits do you think they
provide?
I am a member of IWFM and became
a committee member of WIFM
(Women in FM) in January this
year. The membership has been
invaluable throughout my career, I’ve
attended many networking events
and met many people I admire within
the industry along the way. All have
helped shaped my understanding
and knowledge of the sector.
Do you believe the pandemic
has highlighted the important
role of the FM sector and the part
its people play in keeping workers
safe and buildings clean and
maintained?
Absolutely. It’s highlighted the
expertise within the sector and the
vital role it plays within society and
the economy. COVID has highlighted
many inequalities and I’m keen the
sector actively seeks to ensure key
workers are paid adequately and
fairly.
What advice would you give
to someone coming into the
profession now?
Go for it! There are so many
interesting opportunities out there.
Find learnings in every situation you
encounter and don’t be shy to ask
questions. Attend networking events
and meet other likeminded people
who share your passion.
What do you predict could
be the main changes to the FM
sector due to the impact of the
CoronaVirus pandemic?
I see more people being given a
choice of where they want to work.
The o ice will still be a vital hub
for collaboration and interaction,
but it will be less desk based than
before. Lots of organsiations will be
rethinking their workplace strategies
and reviewing lease options.
FIGHTING FIRES
Mazin Daoud - a Fire Engineer for Sodexo UK
& Ireland has been supporting NHS Property
Services with fire risk assessments for
numerous COVID-19 field hospitals and wards
across England and Wales.
Daoud explains: “Initially I was approached
to write a standard operating procedure for
fire safety risk assessments in COVID-19 field
hospitals, but due to my knowledge of the
risks posed by the oxygen supplied to all the
ventilators, I was asked to assist with the
hospital at the ExCeL, London.
“A er completing this I o ered my services
to the lead for healthcare fire safety in Wales
and was asked to prepare the fire strategies
for two new Nightingale field hospitals and
two new COVID-19 wards (within an existing
hospital) for the Swansea and Vale University
Health Board.”
While each field hospital and ward had
similarities, Daoud had to provide di erent
solutions to ensure patients had the
maximum time to escape if a fire did develop.
“The main di erence for each assessment
was the level of dependency for the patient.
Those recovering are more able to evacuate
themselves, while with patients on ventilators
just the process of moving them in the event
of a fire is potentially life threatening.
“Low ceiling buildings required using fire
engineering to provide solutions such as
automatic vents to exhaust the smoke and
heat from a fire, while high ceiling buildings
provide plenty of space for smoke and fire
to travel vertically which reduces the risk of
horizontal spread.”
Once his fire risk assessments were
completed they were provided to the
authorities, the NHS and to the local fire
service so that each body has a thorough
understanding of the systems provided and
the emergency procedures and plan.
He adds: “Everyone working on these
projects has worked ceaselessly, sometimes
under very di icult conditions and to
amazing time frames, to complete them to a
high standard. This really has made me feel
very humble.”
Would you, or someone you know, like to be featured in our career ladder column? If you’re an operational
FM with more than 10 years’ experience in the sector, then email sara.bean@kpmmedia.co.uk
54 JUNE 2020
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