GABRIELLE FIRESTONE - Project Manager

Growing up in North West London, Gabrielle attended a grammar school for girls and then University of Birmingham. Her career journey began in financial administration for an internal audit team at a big accountancy firm. Although it provided valuable insight into the workings of a large organisation, Gabrielle soon realised that accountancy and audit wasn’t the path for her.

Gabrielle spent the next  decade in generalist roles within the civil service, then decided  to specialise and focus her skills. Project management was a natural fit and she moved into a role within the programme management office within Cabinet Office, where she gained valuable experience whilst also earning a Prince2 qualification. From there, Gabrielle pursued project management roles in the charity sector and later moved into local government.

In her current position as a Project Manager at Camden Council specialising in Retrofit, Gabrielle works to deliver warmer, more energy efficient homes for residents — an area that is growing rapidly within local government. She finds this work rewarding because it directly improves people’s lives. This role was a significant career shift, with greater responsibility over projects and budgets. It has stretched her skills in exciting ways and she is still learning every day.

Day to day, Gabrielle work closely with multi-skilled teams to deliver projects on time, within scope, and on budget. This involves frequent communication with internal teams, consultants, contractors, and residents, as well as solving problems, reporting progress, ensuring compliance with funding requirements and adhering to health and safety legislation and policy..

Gabrielle hasn’t had a conventional career path to project management but views it as self-driven and rooted in continuous learning. She’s volunteered for roles outside her job description, such as managing another team on an interim basis and mentoring staff members. While formal training budgets for external courses have been tight, Gabrielle has made the most of free learning opportunities and the expertise of her colleagues.

Gabrielle said ‘If you're considering a move into energy efficiency retrofit, my advice is simple: go for it. It’s a sector full of opportunity across both the public and private sector. Taking career risks—such as changing roles and industries—has been crucial for my growth. The most valuable lesson I've learned is not to fear major changes: confidence and belief in yourself are key.

To those starting out in project management, I recommend gaining a project management qualification, staying flexible about the roles and organisations you work in, and embracing a learning mindset—there’s something to learn from everyone, and no question is too small to ask.

Looking ahead, I hope to be involved in project managing other projects to deliver a diverse range of energy efficiency measures, including new and emerging solutions. The retrofit sector is set to grow further as the increased focus on energy efficiency is driven by government policy, the rising importance of tackling fuel poverty, and a global focus on sustainable living conditions. It’s an exciting time to be part of a sector that makes a real difference.’