Reflecting on 12 years at LionHeart
When I first applied for the role of CEO of LionHeart, I'd been chief executive at a national youth organisation for six years. I knew nothing about chartered surveyors or the RICS, and I'd never previously heard of the charity that supported them.
At the interview I met some of the LionHeart staff team and any ambivalence I may have had was blown away by their passion for helping people and the open and warm approach they took.
I often reflect on that day as it really was, and has been, the people I've worked with and met in my role as LionHeart CEO that has kept me here for 12 years when I really only planned to stay for 3, then 5, and then 10 years!
The staff team at LionHeart really do live our values every day and every single one of us is focused on making sure LionHeart is there for RICS members at all stages of their careers.
I was recruited on a mandate for change and so we set about that as a team early on, and we've been developing the charity and its services ever since. I'm so proud of my work at LionHeart and feel honoured to have been able to work with such fabulous people to make so much progress over the years in terms of the help we offer and the way we engage with RICS professionals.
These are just some of the things I'm most proud of:
- We've really expanded our services, increasing grant provision and making it easier and quicker to access, as well as adding important new services such as our professional counselling and youth counselling services for example
- We have been at the forefront of championing mental health awareness and better wellbeing in the property industry, through our John O'Halloran mental health project, events and other initiatives
- We have developed a brilliant suite of webinars and training opportunities for members at all stages of their career - making sure we're not just there for when things go wrong in life but to help people thrive at work and at home
- We now have over 50 partners across the globe working in partnership with some of the biggest corporates in the industry as well as smaller, regional firms, all helping us to reach surveyors wherever they are
- We have a fantastic cohort of ambassadors who make our work 'real' and tangible for RICS members and who bring such valuable insight and lived experience to the LionHeart team
- Many of our services are now available globally in local languages making LionHeart more accessible across the world
My time at LionHeart has been unforgettable. I've met some amazing and inspiring people through my role; both within LionHeart as well as globally and I've worked with the team to grow the organisation significantly over the past 12 years. We now help more people, we have more people engaged in our work, and better awareness of who we are - and what we do has increased substantially over that time. I'm very happy with those simple sounding results!
On the cusp of LionHeart's 125th anniversary year in 2024, as I prepare to move on, I feel confident that I leave the team and organisation in a strong position to keep working with members, the RICS and other key partners to ensure that LionHeart keeps evolving - and is around for at least another 125 years, supporting future generations of surveyors, too.
Thank you for your support!
Davina Goodchild has been LionHeart CEO since 2011, and recently announced she would be moving on to pursue new challenges.
