Julian Rose

Meet Julian Rose

What is your role at Avison Young?

I am a Senior Building Surveyor, meaning I undertake all forms of instruction as a building surveyor including dilapidations cases, TDD surveys, and project management works.

How did you get into commercial real estate?

I used to represent Great Britain at fencing and worked in the NHS as an administrator and IT project manager to support this. When my fencing career finished, I wanted a job that would engage my brain and challenge me intellectually whilst not being in an office every day. Building surveying seemed to offer me this mix as going out to visit a site or inspect a building meant that you would not be in the office, with the added bonus of being a detective (defect analysis) or an important part of a project team (project manager).

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

From the day I met my wife at university she has pushed me to better than I was the day before, and I would not be the person I am today without her influence. She has been there through both tough times (thankfully not many) and the good.

What advice would you give women starting out in real estate?

Don't be afraid of the statement that "you can do anything that you want." The implication is that we should be doing everything, but I don't think it means that. In my opinion, it means follow your dreams, find the things you are good at and enjoy doing, and then keep doing them as well as you can.

This year's IWD theme is Choose to Challenge. What do you choose to challenge or celebrate to help create more inclusion in your community?

I choose to celebrate the advances that have been made on the representation of women at the highest levels of British industry. Whilst there is still a long way to go for there to be equality, I choose to celebrate that things are moving in the right direction. I also hope that this will translate into other areas of inclusivity more quickly than has been the case for the representation of women.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

That I have been the referee for a Junior European Championship Final for fencing.