Lionah Kawonza
This October, in honour of Black History Month, we’re celebrating 31 Black professionals in property. Today we’re celebrating Lionah Kawonza MRICS.
Lionah is a Committee Member for Black Women in Real Estate, Non Executive Director for Coastline Housing and a Senior Program Manager at Arcadis. With extensive experience in estate, project, and development management, Lionah has predominantly worked with government clients and has a keen interest in affordable housing, sustainability, and future-focused design.
One of Lionah's recent projects was the UK’s first Passivhaus Extra Care facility—a fully inclusive, dementia-friendly scheme that allows older residents to maintain their independence while staying connected to their local community. She has pursued a distance learning MBA and taken on a global program management role, leading a tiger team pilot to enhance the employee experience at Arcadis. Additionally, Lionah managed the Tent refugee initiative at Arcadis, providing employment, training, and mentorship opportunities for refugees—a critical milestone for building new lives in their communities.
Lionah joined the Black Women in Real Estate (BWRE) committee in 2022 to lead the South West UK branch, inspired by the group's LinkedIn content. Her background includes studying at the University of the West of England, becoming a Chartered Surveyor, and completing an MBA at University of Warwick - Warwick Business School.
Lionah Kawonza is a wife and mother to two young children. She has previously worked with various clients in both the public and private sector helping them to deliver their construction projects. Lionah believes that good and clear communication about goals, scope and responsibility is key in order to deliver projects that meet the clients’ objectives. Lionah finds fulfillment in her role as it enables her to improve the quality of life of many people including thousands of school children in the South West.
Lionah is a Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor and holds an Association of Project Management . As an advocate for women’s empowerment in the construction industry, she believes women can reshape the conversation and change the dynamic. Lionah is an active member of the Women in Property Board and a STEM ambassador.
Lionah’s dedication to her field, combined with her passion for empowering women and fostering community connections, makes her an inspiring figure in the property industry. We look forward to seeing how she continues to lead and innovate in her career.
