Preena Mistry, Project Manager

Posted on 30 Jun 2025

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Bradford, which, like Rochdale, is a historic town with a beautiful town hall at its heart. Both places have undergone significant regeneration over the past couple of decades, and that was one of the first things I noticed when I came to Rochdale, those parallels. They both have strong foundations, a rich cultural mix, and a lot of exciting changes happening.

I’ve worked in the construction industry for nearly seven years now, but I actually started out in architecture before moving into project management. I joined the RDA through Public Practice, an organisation that encourages people from private-sector placemaking roles, whether that’s urban design, architecture, or similar, to bring their skills into the public sector. That’s how I made the transition, and I’m still here!

What is your role within the RDA?
I’m a Project Manager, and I’d say the best way to describe my role is that I’m the glue between the Council, stakeholders, the public, and external consultants and contractors. I sit in the middle, making sure projects align with the brief, meet people’s needs, and get delivered on time and within budget. I particularly enjoy the process of engaging with people, understanding what they want and making sure that’s reflected in the projects we deliver.

Why did you choose to work with the RDA?
I think, in terms of place, Rochdale mirrors where I grew up, and I’m a massive advocate for bringing positive change to the North. Having lived in London for four years, I could see first-hand where the North was lagging behind due to a lack of investment, so being part of a team that’s pushing regeneration forward really appealed to me.

The RDA stood out because it’s an organisation where the fundamental goal is to improve things for residents and the public. That sense of purpose is really fulfilling. I don’t feel like I’m working for a single client or private company, it’s about making things better for the people of Rochdale, and that’s a great motivation.

What projects do you work on?
I work on town centre projects in both Heywood and Middleton. One of my main projects is the refurbishment of Heywood Civic Centre, which is really exciting because it’s currently on-site and due for completion by the end of the year. I joined when it was in its early stages, so seeing it all come together has been really rewarding. The aim is to create a more inclusive, accessible, and well-used space that integrates better into the town centre. Instead of being empty several days a week, it will be active every day, offering a mix of performances, community events, and flexible uses.

I also work on plans to improve a council and leisure centre in Middleton. The building is relatively new, but over time, its use has evolved. For example, there’s now a need for a bigger gym and a more welcoming bar area. The idea is to reconfigure the space to make it more efficient, improve the public offer, and encourage more regular use.

What do you really enjoy about your profession?
If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I’d say it’s about making things better than they were before. That sense of progress is really fulfilling.

Having worked in the private sector, where the focus is often on maximising profit for developers, it’s refreshing to be in a role where the priority is improving spaces for the community. Of course, financial viability is still important, but the core aim is about enhancing people’s lives rather than just the bottom line.

What makes you get up in the morning?
Apart from my alarm?

I went into architecture because I love problem-solving, and this job is full of challenges. It can be easy to get bogged down in the difficulties, but I actually find it quite motivating. Every day is different, and there are always new things to figure out, sometimes even my manager or their manager hasn’t come across a particular issue before! That variety keeps things interesting.

Collaboration is another big factor. Working in an organisation where people come from such different backgrounds, whether that’s culturally, geographically, or professionally, means you’re constantly learning. I’d never have worked closely with marketing in my previous roles, for example, but here, everything interlinks. It’s great to see how all the pieces come together.

Tell me something people don’t know about you.
At the end of my master’s degree, before I moved to London, I spent two months volunteering and living in Nepal, helping to build schools. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

The schools we worked on had been completely destroyed in an earthquake, so we were rebuilding them from scratch using earthquake-resistant designs, structures that could dismantle safely if another earthquake occurred and be easily rebuilt again. It was a remote village with no electricity or internet, which made it all the more humbling and eye-opening. The best part was the mix of people from all over the world, all working together for the same purpose. It really shaped my perspective on community and resilience.