Michelle Brightly is passionate about the workplace and facilities management industry and the people that work within it. Michelle’s network is vast and over the years she has connected extensively with those across the UK and learnt so much about culture, infrastructure, investment, onboarding, retention and attraction of staff, seeing first-hand how these factors impact a successful process for both Employer and Employees. Facilities Management for Michelle has so much to offer as an Industry and her role as Rising FMs SIG Chair is to work closely with the Special Interest Group, to support the next generation of Facilities Managers in the way of supply chain advice and guidance, best practice across property services, education, innovations, networking and most importantly, creating a community. Ultimately, helping our Industry become one of choice and not of chance.

George Carter began working in leisure centres after leaving college with a BTEC in Sport Science. George initially started as a receptionist and lifeguard before progressing to a Duty Manager’s position. After working in several different leisure centres he decided to pursue an apprenticeship as a way to kick start his career. George began his IWFM Level 3 apprenticeship with Nomura in 2017 and after successfully completing that, he progressed onto the IWFM Level 4 Apprenticeship in 2019 which he is scheduled to complete within the next couple of months.

Ed Fletcher graduated from Brunel University with a degree in Industrial Design, a career in Facilities Management (FM) was not on Ed’s horizon when he launched himself into the world of work. Intent on seeing the world and needing to pay off his student debts, he moved in with his parents in Canterbury and found a job in a charming French café in the cathedral city. Ed loved the atmosphere in this café, and it shaped his view of the type of work he would like to do. He loved crafting the perfect cappuccino, preparing the regulars’ orders to their exact liking, shooting the breeze with tourists and, eventually, running the entire operation as the owner’s right hand. Returning after his year traveling, Ed was drawn once again to the aroma of ground espresso and the clink of cutlery on china, securing a position running a café in London, where he now lived.

This café was operated by Compass Group for a law firm in the heart of the City and, whilst the expectation was of a more corporate standard than the café in Canterbury, Ed soon struck up a rapport with his customers and created a warm and inviting atmosphere for regulars, occasionals and visitors alike. Soon sales soared, and Ed was offered the opportunity to take over as Manager of the whole unit, which also involved a busy hospitality and events business. Ed jumped at the chance of growing his skills and experience and was able to learn a whole range of new skills, from the various computer applications used for bookwork and payroll, to food safety and health & safety, to how to motivate and lead a team. Having acquired these skills, the door was opened to a rich vein of opportunity and Ed went on to hold management positions in London’s top blue chip foodservice contracts, including KPMG, the London Stock Exchange and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

It was at this point that Ed decided a change of direction was called for and applied to Compass’ Sales Academy to train in a new career in Sales. He was successful with his application and went on to sell catering contracts both large and small for the various divisions in Compass. In the last year, Ed has moved into a cleaning sales role to expand his Soft FM skill base, and is still as enthusiastic about great service as he was when he learned his barista skills 20 years ago!

Becoming CEO in late 2016, Linda embarked on a programme to develop the Institute into a modern professional body and re-position workplace and facilities management as a value-creating profession. She joined the predecessor British Institute of Facilities Management in April 2007 where her education strategy enabled the Institute to become a regulated Awarding Organisation. Working with the sector, she subsequently led the Institute’s work to develop professional vocational qualifications in facilities management, which are now accredited and delivered internationally. She spearheaded the development of Professional Standards for facilities management which are now embedded by employers in the recruitment, development and management of professionals in the UK and beyond. IWFM provides value to a membership community of thousands and to the sector more widely. Its vision is to be the trusted voice of a distinct profession recognised, beyond the built environment, for its ability to enable people to transform organisations and their performance.

Elliot started his FM career working for a top 15 international law firm as an office services assistant and currently works for The Bedford Estates, Bloomsbury as health safety facilities manager. Elliot has developed wealth of FM experience having worked across a range of industry sectors including, PFI schools, NHS, blue-chip telecoms, energy networks, insurance, legal, retail, leisure and commercial and residential property management. As an IWFM Rising FMs SIG committee member, Elliot has attended their events for years and encourages fellow members to get involved with their local specialist interest groups.

Mark Whittaker, CIWFM, was appointed the role of IWFM Chair on 1 October 2021. Mark has worked in our profession for 18 years, and has a leading role in consultancy at Thomson FM Ltd. His journey with the Institute started a decade ago, when he answered a LinkedIn post asking for volunteers to help with the then BIFM Lancashire Group. In the years that followed, he became Deputy Chair and then Chair of IWFM North Region. Under his leadership, the team was named ‘Region of the Year’ three years running. Mark was awarded "BIFM Regional Volunteer of the Year" in 2015 and has since been an ambassador for IWFM’s Career of Choice school’s programme. He joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in 2019 and also serves on the Audit & Risk Committee. His new role begins on 1 October.