Global real estate firm, Avison Young, has announced the appointment of Joanne de la Porte as principal and head of public sector and health.

de la Porte brings 25 years’ experience in senior consultancy and delivery, spanning healthcare, the public sector, digital, and data management roles across the construction sector.

She joins the firm from property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, where she was senior director and head of the South UK healthcare unit and a member of the London senior leadership Team.

Specialising in governance, project management, estates strategies, and capital controls, in her new role she will focus on developing and implementing a national strategy to build and grow Avison Young’s advisory service lines in public and health sectors.

And she will spearhead investment and add significant expertise to the national team operating across the country, helping develop the existing client base and forge new opportunities.

As a consultant, de la Porte has worked with clients including St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospital Trust, Croydon University Hospital, and Kent County Council.

In previous staff roles, she spent 10 years at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust as capital programme manager, and three years at Dartford Borough Council.

James Porter, principal chief client officer at Avison Young, said: “Joanne is a significant addition to our growing team in the healthcare and public sectors.

“She brings an exceptional breadth and depth of expertise in directing projects and programmes that positively impact people and communities.

“This appointment underlines our commitment to appointing high-quality talent across the sectors we operate in.

“Joanne will be a key part of our growth in London for 2025 and beyond, adding leadership to our team.”

de la Porte adds: “I am excited to be joining Avison Young’s team of experts and to lead the public and health sector team.

“Together, we will build on a national strategy that supports growth across all service lines in these impactful sectors.”