Thankyou & Farewell from Milica Kitson

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I cannot go without a final thank you to you all.  I have had so many messages, cards and gifts from you it has been overwhelming, thank you.

I said in my speech at last year’s Awards Ceremony – remember that, 580 people in a room together, eating and drinking, hugging, shaking hands – that I thanked you for giving me the best 18 years of my very long career.

That was true then and true now: it has been an amazing 18 years and all because of you.  You got behind the whole Rethinking Construction/Constructing Excellence movement right from the very beginning.  You were – and still are – so keen to let us in, to share with us who you are, what you do and how you do it.

You are rightly proud of what you do in the Welsh built environment and who you are.  Yes, you want some things to improve because you know it will enable you to do an even better job and that is why you work with us. 

Your commitment to our Awards Programme is unrelenting – even through COVID 19.  I hope you show the same level of commitment to the new Exemplar programme which is about to go live with Transport for Wales under the leadership of Mark Adams.  I look forward to reading about your projects all over again, but in my retirement this time!

We have had a lot of ups and downs over the past 18 years.  We have had a couple of recessions, which a lot of you have come through and have gone onto even bigger and better things. We have endured the loss of Welsh Government funding, your response to which was mind blowing in that many of you came straight out and said you would pay to join – and you did, immediately! 

I have had two bouts of breast cancer during my time with you and you were an amazing support for me.  I have also known many of you who have gone through your own health battles too.
I will never stop talking about this industry of ours with the passion and pride I have had since the very beginning.   My only target now is to work on nine grandchildren to get them to see that this is the industry they want to be a part of.

My final thank you is to Susan and our Board.  Susan, you have been and will continue to be a great friend.  In your 13 years with us you have learnt how to run a small business and you do it brilliantly, thank you.  The Board, you have brought your expertise and time to the table and have helped steer us to where we are now.  You have always been a great support to both me and Susan, thank you.

I know you will embrace Catherine Griffith-Williams – Cat – because that is who you are.  She has a lot of people to get to know so look out for her call.  She is chomping at the bit to get going.

You are the nicest, kindest, funniest, hardworking people I have ever met.  Take care, stay well, thank you.

Milica