From Academia to the History Books: Isabella Wachira Makes History as Kenya’s First Female Quantity Surveying Professor
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Professor Isabella Wachira-Towey has made history as the first female Professor in Quantity Surveying in Kenya.
The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) described her accomplishment as a major milestone of excellence and inspiration for the profession and future generations.
“History has been made. The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) congratulates Prof. Isabella Njeri Wachira Towey, M.A.A.K (QS), on her historic achievement as the first female Professor in Quantity Surveying in Kenya. A true milestone of excellence and inspiration for the profession and future generations,” AAK stated.
In addition, her achievement also received recognition from the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), which congratulated her for breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field.
“The Board, management, and staff of BORAQS congratulates you on the new achievement as the first lady professor in Quantity Surveying Profession in Kenya.”
Isabella Wachira-Towey Becomes First Woman Professor in Quantity Surveying in Kenya
Professor Wachira-Towey has an extensive academic background in construction and project management.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Construction Management from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and a Master of Engineering in Project Management from Concordia University, Canada.
Additionally, her strong academic foundation has shaped her career in teaching, research, and professional practice within the construction industry.
Beyond academia, Prof. Wachira-Towey is a highly qualified and registered professional in the built environment sector.
She is a registered Quantity Surveyor with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), Kenya.
She also serves as a Lead Quality Auditor with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and is a Fellow Arbitrator at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Kenya/UK
Her Role at the University of Nairobi as a Professor
She currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Faculty of the Built Environment and Design, Department of Real Estate, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.
Also Read: National Construction Authority Announces 60 Paid Apprenticeships
At the University of Nairobi, she contributes to training future professionals in Kenya’s construction and real estate sectors while advancing research in the field.
Her research interests focus on key issues affecting the construction industry, including:
- Labour management in construction projects
- Health and safety in the built environment
- Training and capacity building
- Gender issues in construction
- Application of new and emerging technologies
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Isabella Wachira Makes History as Kenya’s First Female QS Professor. Photo/ AAK
