A WCCS (Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors) bursary student supported by Colliers, the global commercial property company, has been recognised at the 2025 Women in Property South East regional awards.
Mary Melindji, a Quantity Surveying student at the School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, was named one of six successful regional nominees at the event, which was hosted by Forvis Mazars and celebrates the best built environment students across the South East.
Mary has received support from Colliers through the Pathways to Property initiative and the WCCS Bursary, which is managed by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors. The programme provides both financial support and industry mentoring to help students progress in their property careers. Mary also completed work experience with Colliers as part of the course.
Nominees were assessed by a judging panel on a piece of coursework, and were scored on their personal skills, professional potential, and understanding of the industry.
Alongside Rusul Ramdhan, who is studying Architectural Engineering, Mary has been selected to advance to the national finals at the Best of the Best Dinner at Claridge’s in London on Thursday 18 September 2025, where the overall UK winner will be announced.
Mary said: “I’d like to send a big thank you to the judges for selecting me, to all my lecturers, to Colliers for its sponsorship, and to the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors for its support through the WCCS Bursary. I’d especially like to thank Vicki Palmer, my mentor at Hollis, for her guidance and encouragement. Hollis has given me so many opportunities and I’m extremely grateful.”
Dr Emmanuel Essah, interim Head of Reading University’s School of Built Environment, said: “We are extremely proud of all our students and want to congratulate all of our nominated students for representing the departments and University so well. I wish Mary and Rusul the best of luck as they go forward to the national final.”
