Women in property and FM have raised £400 for a cancer charity and heard from top female speakers at a networking event organised by recruiter Investigo Property and facilities management provider Servest Group.

Around 80 female property and FM professionals attended the event at RICS’ headquarters in London on 13th November. The evening was arranged and coordinated by Stuart Bonner, Director of Investigo Property, and Norma Bresciani, Managing Director of Hotel Services at Servest, and sponsored by the international service company Serco, which manages the Grade II listed building.

A raffle and a champagne reception raised £400 for Isabel Hospice, founded in 1982 to provide palliative care for people with cancer in eastern Hertfordshire.

Delegates were treated to an inspiring talk by Jane Hamilton, a member of the board of trustees at The Institute of Cancer Research and owner of Hamilton Corporate Real Estate Advisory. Hamilton discussed her former role as European Head of Corporate Real Estate at HSBC from the perspective of being a senior executive in a man’s world, and gave lots of great tips on fulfilling your potential and being successful. Professional image consultant Jodi Goldman also gave a funny and engaging talk on body language and Emma Parker, MD and founder of London tour provider Coutours, gave some wonderful historical insights into London and its mysteries.

This is the second Women in Property and FM networking event, following on from the hugely successful inaugural event in June at the BBC’s headquarters.

Norma Bresciani, Managing Director of Hotel Services at Servest, said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to continue to organise the Women in Property and FM events alongside Stuart, and for the second event to be even more eagerly attended. It’s so inspiring to have so many young, ambitious ladies in business in attendance and to be able to support great charitable causes.”

Stuart Bonner, Director of Property at Investigo, said: “We had another fantastic evening at the second Women in Property and FM networking event. Our guest speakers were incredibly inspiring, we raised money for charity and the champagne flowed, creating a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere for the first-time networkers. It was a perfect evening and thank you RICS for the great venue. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, which is scheduled for May 2015.”