Christina Riley, Head of Planning at Quinn London and co-founder of Building Equality, has built her career quite literally on foundations that serve communities and save lives.
With over 30 years in construction, she’s helped deliver landmark healthcare projects like Great Ormond Street and Homerton Hospitals.
But in a surreal and deeply personal moment, she recently found herself back in one of the very buildings she helped construct, this time as a patient.
A full circle surgery experience
Two years ago, a fall during her London commute left Christina with a broken left hand. After living with the aftermath, she was scheduled for corrective carpal tunnel surgery in a hospital she had helped build.
“I have worked in construction for over 30 years, and sometimes you have the privilege to build a building that serves your community, changes lives and even saves lives,” she reflects. “Knowing that you have built a hospital is so rewarding, as you know that the building, resources and end user will serve that community for years to come… but you don’t always expect it to come full circle and be providing surgery back to you.”
What made the moment even more striking was its timing. “Just a week before my surgery, I was planning the work schedule for an operating theatre only to find myself in one,” she shares. “It really was a surreal moment, but one that felt I had completed full circle.”
I have worked in construction for over 30 years, and sometimes you have the privilege to build a building that serves your community, changes lives and even saves lives
During the operation, which she remained awake for, Christina found herself discussing hospital design with the surgical team.
“The conversation really was quite bizarre as I was awake throughout the surgery, talking to the surgeons about the design of the theatre, the quality of installation,” she recalls.
“I remember looking at the ceiling and then the air conditioning grilles and medical gases. For the first time, I appreciated how design was met with functionality and end user use not just by the doctor but by the patient.”
The experience left a lasting impression. “It felt truly humbling and inspiring and grateful for our progress in the same moment. The experience gave me a sense of wanting to do more… this is the part of construction that opened up my eyes that without engineers we wouldn’t have the healthcare we all rely on.”
Pride, visibility, and progress in construction
As one of the most visible transgender women in UK construction, Christina has also been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the industry, particularly during Pride Month.
“For me, Pride Month is about visibility, that being transgender in construction is not a barrier to career success but one that adds value,” she says. “Pride Month enables us all to put our heads above the parapet and say this is me… I’m proud to be me and who I am.”
When Christina began her career, the industry’s culture was far less inclusive. “In the 1980s and 90s and 2010s there was no visibility of LGBT inclusion. I would be terrified if someone found out that I was transgender. I feared for my safety and my career,” she explains.
It wasn’t until 2014, when Balfour Beatty launched its LGBT network, that Christina felt she could transition. “It gave me the confidence to come out to my colleagues and my friends and family.”
As one of the most visible transgender women in UK construction, Christina has also been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the industry
Although progress has been made, she acknowledges recent challenges: “Attitudes have become more progressive, but just recently it feels we have gone backwards 10 years with the Supreme Court ruling. Trans people feel their hard-earned human rights are under attack. Networks like Building Equality and Freehold help to provide a safety net, should the industry take a step backwards.”
Christina sees representation in leadership as vital for long-term change.
“Traditionally LGBTQIA representation in leadership roles and advocacy was hidden beyond the boardroom and on the shop floor and job site. Today there is more representation and advocacy as everyone is likely to know someone who is LGBTQIA. Allyship is critical to a sense of belonging, creating safe spaces and safe cultures, reducing staff turnover and helping to keep people in the industry from all backgrounds.”
When Christina began her career, the industry’s culture was far less inclusive
Her advice for LGBTQ+ professionals entering construction?
“Find your people. Networking is a great way to find your tribe. The more you surround yourself with people like you, the greater you will be supported and given advice and mentoring on how to navigate the workplace as a LGBTQIA person.”
And for allies: “The best thing you can do is to educate yourself, ask an LGBTQIA person what pronouns they would prefer, attend a Pride event or stand up and be vocal about your support for the community.”
A career built on community and advocacy
Christina’s professional highlights are steeped in community impact. “I was proud to be involved with my own local community hospital in Bicester. I use it today, and I always tell the doctors and nurses that I built this hospital. I feel very proud using it,” she says. “Homerton Hospital is also a project to be proud of as it involved taking the roof off, raising the plant deck and connecting the operating theatres to the new services.”
Culture change needs to work bottom up and top down
Alongside her construction career, Christina helped found Building Equality, a now-decade-old network driving LGBTQIA inclusion across the industry. “In 2014 there was virtually nothing for grassroots LGBT people so a group of people from Balfour Beatty, Arup and Lend Lease got together and marched in London Pride together in 2015,” she explains. “It has since grown from an alliance of 3 companies to over 70, with chapters in London, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and Cardiff.”
If she could change one thing about the construction industry today? “Culture change needs to work bottom up and top down. I feel the culture is still very much a bullying culture and so I would like to see this stamped out and people encouraged to support and mentor others more. Creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA people to be themselves. Creating ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) is one way change can happen.”
The importance of visibility
For Christina, being open about her journey as a transgender woman in construction wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
“I had no role models to help navigate the industry. And so I had to step up,” she says. “For me I had to create my own support through advocacy and through Building Equality. This gave me the protection of having a voice at industry level.”
The obstacles she faced included familiar challenges women face every day in male-dominated industries. “Being passed for promotion after being told it would happen did damage my self-confidence.”
Don’t be afraid, you can do this! Just be true to yourself and you will make your own path to success. Don’t give up!
Yet she knows why visibility matters. “Visibility matters to show that whatever your gender identity or sexuality, it doesn’t stop you from excelling and succeeding. When you see role models in positions you don’t expect, it empowers you to drive change across the sector through that greater visibility.”
Looking back, she offers this advice to her younger self and to those navigating their identity in the workplace today: “Don’t be afraid, you can do this! Just be true to yourself and you will make your own path to success. Don’t give up!”
Top image: Christina Riley Image Credit: Christina Riley