Project/Programme Management
Tanaka Chakwana,
Consultant
Project/ Programme Management
Skills & Expertise
Career experience
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7+ Years
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Key Technical Competencies
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Program & Project Management
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Stakeholder Management
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Strategic Planning & Implementation
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Risk Management & Mitigation
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Commercial Management
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Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
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Sector Experience
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Technology, Industrial & Logistics
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Transportation & Infrastructure
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Sustainability & Energy Management
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Public Sector
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Public Speaking
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Panellist | CBRE: Women's Network Confidence Seminar, London (2024)
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Panellist | CBRE: REACH Network Black History Month Poetry Reading, London (2023)
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Panellist | CITB NI: Women in Construction Summit,
Belfast (2022) -
Organiser | TEDxLoughborough, Loughborough (2015)
Qualifications & Awards
​Qualifications
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Washington Ireland Program (WIP) Academy: Service and Leadership Program, 2025
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ILM3 Leadership Programme Certificate, 2025
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Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Professional Certificate, 2024
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​CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme card) Clearance, 2023
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Association for Project Management Certificate (PMQ), 2022
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NEC4: NEC3 and NEC4 Compared - Service Contracts, 2021
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Awards
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CBRE Quality Management Services (QMS) Team Award, 2024
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CBRE Internal - Client Focused Award 2022
Memberships
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Association for Project Managers (APM) :
Associate Member -
Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) : Associate Member
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Black Professionals in Construction (BPIC) Network: Member | Volunteer
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Association for Neurolinguistic Programming (ANLP): Member
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Washington Ireland Program (WIP) Academy: Alumni
Education
2017 - 2018
Heriot Watt | MSc Construction Project Management
2013 - 2017
Loughborough University | BSc Geography and Management
Loughborough University | Diploma in International Studies (2017)
Work Experience
2025-2025
Operations and Governance Consultant, Stellarity
Last-mile Delivery Services, London
Partnered with the Founder to stabilise daily operations, introduce governance and redesign the delivery workflow for scale. Engaged to create structure, improve operational control and prepare the business for scale.
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Delivered a full operational diagnostic, identifying gaps in process, performance tracking and team roles.
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Introduced governance controls, escalation logic and a Responsibility Matrix to decentralise responsibility and reduce founder dependency.
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Designed an end to end courier workflow and developed clear SOPs that improved consistency, reliability and day to day decision making.
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Established a reporting cadence, KPIs and a live risk register, giving leadership real time visibility of performance, compliance and operational exceptions.
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Implemented practical dashboards and handover guidance enabling the team to maintain stability and scale without increasing administrative load.
2024 - 2025
Programme Manager: CBRE
Last-Mile Warehouse EBMS EU Deployment, EU Locations
Leading the implementation of Enterprise Building Management Systems (EBMS) across 43 sites in the EU including Spain, Italy, UK, and Germany, targeting 35% Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy reduction. Responsible for:
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Leading the rollout of Building Management Systems across 43 sites in seven countries, improving system visibility and control across diverse building types.
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Managing concurrent workstreams covering system upgrades, installations, and issue resolution.
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Coordinating with vendors, local contractors, and regional teams to ensure alignment and technical compliance.
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Implementing governance models and reporting processes to monitor progress and risk.
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Supporting funding approvals and programme communication with senior leadership.
2022 - 2023
Project Manager: CBRE
Business Operations Continuous Improvement, PMO, London
Partnered with Global Realty Systems Engineering and Transactions teams to design and deploy strategic programs and process improvements:
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Delivered Plot Size Reduction Initiatives that improved efficiency in land selection, resulting in optimised site footprints
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Led the end-to-end delivery of the Template Performance Package Process Improvement initiatives that standardised approaches across regions
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Collaborated with the Systems Engineering team and Design Team to create Standards Implementation Cycles that ensured consistent deployment of best practices
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Facilitated cross-functional collaboration between business units to identify and implement operational efficiencies.
2022 - 2022
Project Lead (APM): CPC Project Services
Transport for London (TfL), DLR Station Enhancements,
London
Facilitated the delivery of Thames Wharf New Station (£50m) and Pontoon Dock Station Upgrades Project (£30m – NEC3 (New Engineering Contract) Option A):
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Led feasibility and concept design for multiple station enhancements, including Thames Wharf and Pontoon Dock station upgrades.
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Engaged with regulatory bodies and multi-disciplinary teams to align on funding and resource allocations, scope, design, and delivery.
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Developed and implemented risk management strategies to maintain timelines and cost control.
2021- 2022
Operations Readiness Coordinator: CPC Project Services
TfL, London Underground Crossrail Project, London
Worked with the Operations Readiness Team to deliver 5 Central Line Stations on the Elizabeth Line. Focused on providing support to facilitate the successful acceptance of the 5 central stations that are adjacent to existing London Underground stations (Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Bond Street, and Farringdon), into use for Revenue Service while reporting directly to the Senior Operations Manager:
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Successfully implemented governance and management controls within the Operations team as well as stakeholder visits increasing efficiency by 15%.
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Collaboratively engaged in project, programme, and performance management, ass well as negotiation and conflict resolution.
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Led T- readiness workshops and working closely with Operations Delivery Managers to update, review and report station progress ahead of revenue service.
2021 - 2021
Scheme Project Manager: CPC Project Services
Enfield Council, Lea Valley Rail Programme (LVRP) Phase 2, London
Scheme Project Manager on the £60m capacity increase on Network Rail's West Anglia Mainline, introducing a new passing loop on the railway to enable increased stopping of local rail services at Meridian Water station:
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Managed stakeholder relationships with national rail and government partners including Housing Infrastructure Fund, Network Rail, Greater Anglia, and Department for Transport.
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Oversaw planning and delivery integration with broader regeneration efforts.
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Managed complex interfaces between rail operations and construction activities
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Created templates for, as well as managed, and maintained the change control process resulting in a 10% efficiency in the operation of the project team.
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Leading key project workshops including managing risk, stakeholders, lessons learned, and GRIP (Governance for Railway Investment Projects) deliverables.
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Coordination of Project SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) initiatives to ensure greater collaboration between the client, the contractor, and Network Rail as well as drive out inefficiencies.
2021 - 2021
APM: CPC Project Services
HS1, London Resort Enhancement Feasibility Study, London
To support the development of a world-class, sustainable entertainment resort known as the London Resort. HS1
and London Resort Company Holdings commissioned a feasibility study of the enhancements needed to meet the
requirements of the proposed service to meet the demand of additional passengers to the network.
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Successfully managed an interdisciplinary team, while providing support to Commission Director to deliver the analysis and 'optioneering', shortlisting and refinement of options.
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Efficiently maintained programme, communication, and governance.
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Supported the development of recommendations for capacity enhancements to support increased ridership
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Collaborated with technical specialists to evaluate engineering solutions
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Identified potential risks and mitigation strategies for implementation phases
2020 – 2020
Assistant Project Manager: Lendlease
Educational Authority, Fort Hill Integrated Campus Project, Belfast
Working closely with the Senior Project Manager in the delivery of design in accordance with the RIBA Plan of
Work for the £36m Fort Hill Integrated Campus (Nursery, Primary School and College), an NEC Option A, Design
and Build project.
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Successfully managed an interdisciplinary team of subcontractors in the engagement of feasibility, business case, proposed construction works in accordance with CDM regulations, and monitoring supplier HSQE compliance.
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Drafting flow-down contracts and contract communications under NEC, managing and controlling change post contract.
2019 - 2020
Scheme Project Manager: Lendlease
Transport for London (TfL), Sandilands Safety Improvement Programme, London
Managed multiple infrastructure and safety systems modification projects following the 2016 Sandilands Incident:
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Efficiently managed safe practice on-site at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with less than 5% transmission rate between staff during engineering hours testing over a period of 4 months, subsequently maintaining programme.
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Ensured effective communication and administered bespoke contracts with suppliers in the UK and mainland Europe.
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Successfully managed and prioritised workstreams to maintain programme to combat wide-scale delivery delays experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Delivered critical safety improvements through TfL's Pathway approach to project management
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Managed document control, change control, risk management, and contract administration
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Coordinated with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with safety recommendations
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Implemented robust quality assurance processes to verify system modifications
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Facilitated technical reviews and safety assessments throughout implementation
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Developed comprehensive handover documentation for operational teams