8 min read

Built to lead

Dr Victoria Hills, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

When Dr Victoria Hills returned to the University of Wolverhampton in 2024 to receive her Honorary Doctor of Technology, it marked both a celebration and a full-circle moment. More than three decades earlier, she had arrived as a young undergraduate – full of potential, but unsure of where her path might lead.

Today, as chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Victoria leads a global organisation of more than 50,000 members. Her career spans public policy, planning, regeneration and leadership at the highest level – yet she is quick to point to Wolverhampton as the place where it all began.

A defining start

Victoria joined the university in 1992, the very year it gained university status, studying BA Geography and Business Studies. It was not a straightforward journey to get there.

“I came through Clearing,” she reflects. “At the time, that felt difficult. There was a stigma around it, and I didn’t get the grades I needed for other universities. But looking back, I can say with absolute certainty: I was exactly where I needed to be.”

That sense of perspective is hard-earned. Victoria admits that life could easily have taken a different direction, but Wolverhampton proved transformative.

“It was a nurturing environment,” she says. “It enabled me to really push myself and, importantly, to succeed. I got a 2:1, which opened doors to everything that followed. If I’d gone somewhere else, I might not have had the same outcome.”

Her degree – an unusual combination of geography and business – proved to be a powerful foundation. “The business side of the course has stayed with me ever since,” she explains. “And the geography gave me a lens to understand people, places and systems. I use both every day in my role now.”

“Looking back, I can say with absolute certainty: I was exactly where I needed to be.”

Finding direction

Beyond lectures and coursework, it was real-world experience that helped shape Victoria’s future. A 12-week placement with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council during her final year became a turning point.

“That placement was a game changer,” she recalls. “It helped me realise what I could do with my degree. I didn’t want to be a teacher – I wanted to apply geography in a practical way. That’s when I discovered town planning.”

This hands-on opportunity, alongside part-time work in the Students’ Union bar and involvement in university life, built both her confidence and skill set. “All of it mattered,” she says. “People skills, responsibility, teamwork – it all went onto my CV and into my experience.

In those days everything was paid for by cash, so the trust and responsibility, as well as the maths skills I built up really stood me in good stead. I can understand how much more difficult it is for students now to gain – and prove – those sorts of skills.”

Just as important were the friendships and the sense of independence. Moving from Horsham in Sussex to the Midlands was, she says, “a real life-defining moment.”

“You’re suddenly responsible for yourself,” she says. “No one is knocking on your door telling you to go to lectures. That’s when you really discover who you are.”

A career built step by step

After graduating in 1995, Victoria continued her studies with a Master’s in Town Planning at Newcastle University – something she believes may not have been possible without the strong grounding she received at Wolverhampton.

From there, her career progressed rapidly. She entered local government as a transport planner before moving into consultancy in London, and then into the Greater London Authority (GLA), where she spent 16 years working across a range of major projects.

“Get involved, build your network, and make the most of your time,” she says. “You never know where those connections might lead.”

“I had eight different roles at the GLA,” she says. “It was an extraordinary place to work – everything from the Olympics to infrastructure projects like HS2. There were constant opportunities to grow.”

One of her proudest achievements came in 2015, when she became the founding chief executive of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation.

“It brought together everything I’d learned – from geography and planning to regeneration and programme management,” she explains. “It was a huge responsibility, but incredibly rewarding.”

After three years, Victoria stepped into a new challenge as chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), where she spent eight years influencing national policy and leading a professional body through a period of significant change.

In January 2026, she took up her current role at CIOB – broadening her leadership into the construction sector.

“It’s a natural progression,” she says. “Planning and construction are two sides of the same coin. Now, I’m working in a sector that delivers the built environment.”

Victoria with Paul Gandy, President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
for the 2025–2026 term.

Staying connected

Victoria’s relationship with the University of Wolverhampton has only grown stronger over time. After reconnecting with academic staff, she has returned to speak with students, sharing insights from her career and inspiring the next generation.

“To stand in front of students and say, ‘I was once sitting where you are,’ is incredibly powerful,” she says. “It makes those ambitions feel real.”

Her honorary doctorate and Alumni Award further deepened that connection. “It’s a huge honour,” she reflects. “To be recognised by the university in that way means a great deal – especially somewhere that played such a formative role in my life.”

Now, through her role at CIOB, she is actively involved in accrediting Wolverhampton’s construction programmes – creating a direct link between her professional work and her alma mater.

“It’s a wonderful circle,” she says. “I’m now in a position to give back.”

Women in a changing industry

As a leader in both planning and construction, Victoria has worked in sectors that have traditionally been male-dominated. While progress has been made, she is clear that challenges remain.

“At the RTPI, around 40% of our members were women,” she notes. “At the CIOB, it’s closer to 10%. That’s a big difference.”

Encouragingly, she sees positive change emerging. “There are more women coming into courses and into the industry,” she says. “But the real challenge is retention – keeping them in those careers.”

Barriers range from working patterns that can make additional responsibilities like care impossible, to practical issues that still persist. “It can be as basic as personal protective equipment not fitting properly,” she says. “Or site facilities not being designed with women in mind. These things matter.”

Victoria is determined to address these issues collaboratively. “This isn’t about criticising – it’s about working together to improve the industry,” she explains. “We need to create an environment where everyone can thrive.”

Her own experience has taught her resilience. “You have to hold your own and back yourself,” she says. “There will always be moments where you feel tested, but that’s part of leadership.”

She also highlights a broader concern: the risk of women becoming “invisible” in the workplace as careers progress.

“We’ve made huge strides over the years,” she says. “We need to make sure we don’t lose that momentum.”

Victoria speaking at the 2026 CIOB graduation ceremony.

The future of construction

Looking ahead, Victoria believes the construction industry is entering a period of significant transformation.

“There’s enormous opportunity,” she says. “We need to build homes, infrastructure, energy systems – everything.”

Technology will play a key role. “AI and robotics have the potential to revolutionise how we build,” she explains. “We can improve productivity, safety and inclusivity.”

Off-site manufacturing, for example, could open the industry to a broader workforce. “It could mean more flexible working patterns and greater accessibility,” she says. “That’s incredibly exciting.”

At the same time, she acknowledges that progress has not always been fast enough – particularly in sustainability.

“We need to accelerate,” she says. “There’s a lot more to do, but also huge potential to do it better.”

For Victoria, the future is clear: innovation, collaboration and diversity will define the next era of construction.

A message to future students

For those considering their own journey – whether through Clearing or otherwise – Victoria offers a powerful reminder:

“You’re always where you’re meant to be. Wolverhampton may not have been my original choice, but I have no regrets. The opportunities I’ve had have been incredible.”

She is equally passionate about encouraging students to seize every experience available to them.

“Get involved, build your network, and make the most of your time,” she says. “You never know where those connections might lead.”

And for those looking to enter the built environment:

“The door is wide open. There are so many ways in: whether through a degree, a conversion course or professional training. It’s a global industry with huge opportunity.”

Her own journey stands as proof of that potential.

From Clearing applicant to industry leader, Victoria Hills has built a career defined not by where she started – but by how she embraced every opportunity along the way.