Educate, Inspire and Empower
Educate, Inspire and Empower
Hi, I’m Anna Oddy, a Managing Quantity Surveyor with Kier – Natural Resources, Nuclear and Networks, based in Dorset.
My role is to lead the commercial and financial management of construction projects, ensuring profitability, cost control and successful delivery from start to finish.
I started my career young, completing a two-year Extended Diploma in Business before deciding to go straight into full-time work rather than university. I joined a fast-growing construction company as an administrator and quickly progressed into a Commercial Assistant role supporting Quantity Surveyors. As the company grew and online learning became more accessible, I moved into an Assistant QS role while studying part-time, completing my HNC in Quantity Surveying.
After four years, I joined a tier-one consultancy as a QS and restarted my degree through day release. Two years later, I stepped away from the industry for a year to run my own business, gaining valuable experience in leadership, decision-making, and commercial ownership. I later returned as a freelance Senior QS with Kier, and after a year in that role, I transitioned into a Managing QS position for a specific project.
Since becoming permanent, my responsibilities have evolved further, and my role is now focused on developing as an Area Managing QS – overseeing a wider section of work, supporting teams, and driving commercial performance across multiple areas.
I enjoy the contracts and legal side of my job the most – diving into the detail, understanding the risks and making sure everything is structured clearly and correctly.
As a Managing QS, this means not only interpreting the contract but using it strategically to guide the commercial direction of my area. I take pride in identifying potential risks early, setting up robust processes for change control and payment, and ensuring that both my team and our supply chain operate with clarity and confidence. Getting the contractual foundations right keeps the project protected, supports better decision-making and ultimately allows the team to deliver efficiently without unnecessary commercial surprises.
What motivates me to stay in the industry is the blend of complexity, structure, and accountability. Construction constantly challenges you to think commercially, solve problems early, and protect the project through good contractual and financial decisions. I enjoy being in a role where the work has real impact – where the decisions I make shape outcomes for the team, the client, and the project itself.
I’m also motivated by being a young woman carving out a strong career in an industry that hasn’t always had many women in commercial positions. It’s important to me to show what’s possible and to bring others with me. I want to help more women feel confident, capable, and supported in construction – whether that’s through sharing my journey, mentoring, or simply showing that you can lead with both competence and confidence. Being part of that change, even in small ways, is a huge driver for me.
If I could bust one myth it would be that construction isn’t for women.
The industry needs different perspectives, and women bring valuable skills in leadership, problem-solving, and communication. Success in construction isn’t about fitting a stereotype – it’s about competence, confidence, and being willing to learn.
My career ambition is to progress into senior commercial leadership roles where I can drive the strategic and financial performance of major projects or portfolios. I aim to lead large teams, shape commercial strategy, and implement robust systems that optimise delivery, mitigate risk, and maximise value for clients and the business.
In parallel, I’m passionate about specialising in dispute resolution and aspire to become a recognised arbitrator for adjudication cases, using my contractual and legal expertise to resolve complex commercial challenges efficiently and fairly.
Equally, I want to champion diversity in the industry, supporting women to build confidence and progress in commercial roles. Ultimately, I see myself in positions such as Commercial Manager, Regional Commercial Lead, or Commercial Director, combining technical expertise, strategic oversight, leadership impact and dispute resolution expertise to influence the construction sector positively.
My advice would be to dive in and explore the different areas of construction – there’s so much variety, from design and project management to trades and engineering. Be hands-on, ask questions, and observe how projects come together. Understanding the full process, even at a basic level, will give you perspective and make you more confident as you progress.
People are often surprised to learn that I’ve achieved my RYA Day Skipper qualification.
I completed my qualification in Gibraltar and have enjoyed sailing across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, with the Bahamas next on my list.
Sailing is a real passion of mine, and it’s taught me resilience, strategic thinking, and confidence – qualities that I carry into my career every day.
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