Women in PBSA.

Supporting women and advancing gender equity
in student accommodation.

Join the Movement

A Community for Women. A Commitment to Change.

Women in PBSA (WinPBSA) is a sector platform, founded in October 2024, working to advance gender equity. It exists to remove the barriers that prevent women in PBSA from progressing, being heard, being paid fairly and reaching positions of leadership and influence, and to help build a sector where gender is not a predictor of seniority, compensation or opportunity.

Through community, advocacy, leadership development and initiatives such as mentorship, leadership sessions, policy guidance and sector events, WinPBSA aims to support women at every career stage while pushing organisations toward measurable, structural change. Its role is both practical and ambitious: to connect and elevate women in the sector, generate data that makes inequity impossible to ignore, and become the authoritative voice for gender equity in PBSA.

A Welcome from Our Chair.

“
WinPBSA began with a shared belief: women across student accommodation should have the opportunity and support to fulfil their ambitions.

That means creating space for honest conversations about the challenges we face, connecting women with people who can support their development, and working with organisations to improve the policies and practices that shape our working lives.

We have already seen the value of bringing this community together through our mentorship programme, online sessions and inaugural Summit. Our focus now is to build on those connections and turn shared experience into practical action.

Whether you are starting your career, leading a business or looking for ways to support your colleagues, we invite you to be part of that work.
”

Suraiya Comunello, Chair, WinPBSA

Our Core Values.

  • image/svg+xml Brave - We name what the sector won't. Asking the questions the sector needs to hear.
  • image/svg+xml Ambitious - We are not here to manage the gap. We are here to close it.
  • image/svg+xml Elevate - Championing every woman in student accommodation - wherever she is in her career - and creating the conditions for her to go further.
  • image/svg+xml Connect - Building authentic relationships that transcend borders, roles and organisations.

Our Key Initiatives.

A WinPBSA online session

Online Sessions

Our online sessions bring colleagues together to explore the issues affecting women’s working lives and careers in student accommodation.

Through expert insights and open discussion, we share experiences, learn from one another and explore what better support looks like in practice.

Relevant across career stages, previous sessions have explored overcoming barriers and breaking glass ceilings, work-life balance and mental wellbeing, navigating parental leave, and menopause.

Join our mailing list to receive invitations to future WinPBSA sessions.

Join our mailing list

WinPBSA Summit

The WinPBSA Summit brings women across student accommodation together for candid conversations about leadership, career development and the future of the sector.

It offers time to step away from day-to-day responsibilities, learn from others’ experiences and build relationships beyond your own organisation. Our inaugural Summit in Marrakesh combined sector discussions with personal reflection and practical ideas to take back to the workplace.

2027 WinPBSA Summit · 4–5 March · Cascais, Portugal

Join us in 2027 to continue the conversation and build on the connections made in Marrakesh. Explore the dedicated Summit page for the programme and booking details.

The inaugural WinPBSA Summit in Marrakesh
WinPBSA Mentorship Programme

Mentorship Programme

The WinPBSA Mentorship Programme is open to men and women working in student accommodation who would like to take part as a mentor or mentee.

The programme connects people across the sector to offer perspective, encouragement and support with professional development. Through individual conversations, mentees have space to explore their goals, work through challenges and consider their next steps.

Mentors can share their experience, develop their mentoring skills and learn from a different perspective.

Interested in taking part as a mentor or mentee? Get in touch to hear about future opportunities.

Enquire about the Mentorship Programme

Experiences from the programme

Mentee perspective

My mentorship experience has already proven to be immensely valuable. The guidance provided by my mentor has significantly contributed to my professional development, offering clarity, perspective, and constructive support.

Rebecca Holden

Business Development Content Manager
Homes for Students

Mentor perspective

The match is perfect as I see so much of myself in my mentee. It's allowed me to take a step back from some of my own challenges and reflect on them as I'm supporting my mentee to go through career opportunities.

Laura Kurt

Managing Director
Fusion

Policy & Best Practice Guidance

Supporting women’s careers also means addressing the workplace policies and practices that affect their ability to thrive.

WinPBSA is developing practical recommendations on parental leave and menopause, drawing on sector experience to help organisations consider how they support their people.

The guidance is currently in development and will be shared once finalised. It will provide a starting point for employers reviewing their approach and looking to make meaningful improvements.

Get updates on our guidance

Meet the Committee.

WinPBSA is guided by a committee of professionals from across student accommodation, bringing different experiences and perspectives to our work.

The committee helps shape our priorities and contributes to initiatives that respond to the needs of women across the sector.

Angela Baker

FD Culture & Staff Engagement Lead
University of Leeds

Brian Welsh

Founder & CEO
OPRE Solutions

Darren Gardner

COO
Amro Partners

Jackie Hudson

Director of HR & People
NOW Student Living

Joanne Pollard

COO
Livensa Group

Kim Nisbett

Head of Revenue
Unite Students

Linsey Cullen

Operations Director
Fresh

Lydia Mensforth

Associate Director, Real Estate
GSA

Paddy Allen

Global Head of Investor Solutions
GSA

Rebecca O’Hare

Assistant Director (ResLife & Accommodation Office)
University of Leeds

Richard Fisher

European Head of Portfolio Management
GSA

Sarah Ead

Head of Insight
GSL

Scott Lewis

COO
Homes for Students

Sorrel Basher

Vice-Chair

Head of Marketing Communications
UPP

Suraiya Comunello

Chair

Founder & Strategic Advisor
Comunello Strategic Advisory

Thiago Alves

Global Chief Revenue & Growth Officer
GSL

Get Involved.

There are several ways to contribute to WinPBSA: take part in a session, become a mentor or mentee, share your expertise, or help inform our policy guidance.

We welcome conversations with individuals and organisations who want to support women’s progression and contribute to a more equitable student accommodation sector.

Contact the WinPBSA team Join our LinkedIn group