Susanna Morales, a Development Manager in Barnet Homes’ Development and New Build Team, has been shortlisted from over 200 entries for the 2014 Housing Heroes Awards.

Shortlisted in the Career Development Star of the Year category, Susanna project managed the development of the first new council homes to be built in Barnet for over 20 years on behalf of Barnet Homes.

Susanna first of all started as a Project Assistant in 2007 in the Major Works division, before becoming a graduate trainee (funded by Barnet Homes) and completing a Masters in Construction Project Management last summer.

Barnet Homes’ Head of Development, Tony Piggott, now manages Susanna as part of his Development and New Build team. Tony said of Susanna’s nomination:

“Susanna’s enthusiasm, can-do attitude and solution oriented approach to her work has resulted in rapid promotion from a non-technical role to trainee project manager, project manager and now Development Manager. She is truly inspirational. Susanna encourages others to want to work with her – a rare quality.”

The new homes on Alexandra Road in North London’s Muswell Hill are part of a wider programme to create around 40 new family sized houses and flats in the borough by 2015.

Susanna is now one of five other candidates left in the running for the Career Development Star of the Year category.

Martin Hilditch, Acting Editor of Inside Housing, said: “All the finalists have done incredibly well in getting this far because the standard of entries this year was stronger than ever. Congratulations to Susanna for being shortlisted. This is a real achievement in itself given there were hundreds of entries in some categories.”

The event is organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the awards ceremony will take place inManchester on 23 June 2014.