As part of the RICS Women in Construction Scholarship, Iona Morrison has now successfully completed the RICS Diploma in Adjudication, a significant achievement that reflects both her professional growth and her passion for strengthening dispute resolution practices within the construction sector.
Balancing her role as a project manager with the demands of a rigorous programme, Iona used the diploma as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of contract law, develop a disciplined analytical approach, and gain insight into the practical realities of decision‑making in adjudication.
Here, she shares how the experience has shaped her thinking, influenced her work, and reinforced the importance of diverse perspectives in construction dispute resolution.
Now that you've completed the Diploma in Adjudication, what aspect of the learning journey had the biggest impact on you professionally or personally?
The part of the learning journey that had the biggest impact on me came from Unit 4, where the syllabus covered producing an enforceable adjudicators decision. This was the part of the course where I had to shift my mindset from theory to real world application, applying the knowledge covered within the earlier units. To produce this decision, I had to establish the issues, applicable law and contract provisions, evaluate the evidence objectively and provide clear justification in accordance with my jurisdiction and the principles of natural justice. Developing these analytical skills has helped me change how I approach changes, claims and my day-to-day communication within my role as a project manager.
From a personal perspective, the course also made me appreciate how complex and challenging the development of law can be, especially when applied to the construction industry, and how differently things can be interpreted!
How has completing the diploma changed the way you approach disputes or contractual challenges in your current role? Or how will it change your approach in the future?
The biggest impact will be adopting a more disciplined, evidence-led way of thinking. Throughout the diploma we were taught to clearly assess the validity of the claim, identifying the key issues and sub-issues, breaking them down into specific answerable questions that address the root cause of the dispute and then testing these against the rules of law, contract and evidence. Therefore, I will use this approach within future project claims, even outside of formal adjudications.
What does completing this programme through the Women in Construction Scholarship mean to you in the context of representation and diversity within the industry?
Completing the diploma through the Women in Construction Scholarship wasn't just an opportunity to gain the technical skills to become an adjudicator but also to demonstrate that the industry is changing. From a personal perspective, I feel proud to have been recognised by the RICS and to have been chosen to undertake the diploma. The scholarship represents an opportunity in a sector where women are still largely underrepresented and often have to work harder to be seen.
The diploma programme trains candidates to operate with fairness, impartiality and with a deep understanding of law, evidence and procedure and by completing this course, hopefully it encourages others to follow their interests in stepping into a specialist, decision-making role. If we continue to showcase diversity across the dispute resolution sector, the industry can benefit from a border range of knowledge, expertise and perspectives.
With the diploma now behind you, what are your next goals within dispute resolution or wider career development?
My goal would be to continue to develop my legal and contractual knowledge to improve my approach to disputes and contract administration within my day-to-day role. These skills will help me become more proactive in reducing project disputes, ensuring a clear and fair analysis is undertaken at the outset to avoid further escalations.
Within Turner & Townsend, we have a very strong and experienced advisory team. Therefore, my goal would be to connect further with this team, undertake specialist CPD and expand my 'real world' experience of construction adjudications with the hope of one day undertaking a formal pupillage.
If you are considering your own next steps in dispute resolution, you can learn more about the RICS Women in Construction Scholarship here.