In April this year, I had the privilege of undertaking a presidential visit to New Zealand and Australia.
It was a delight to experience first-hand the vibrant RICS communities thriving in both countries. I was particularly pleased to break new ground as the first sitting RICS President to visit New Zealand.
Education and attracting the next generation to the profession was a focus throughout the trip. At Victoria University of Wellington, I was proud to present an accreditation certificate for their Bachelor of Building Science programme, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing future talent. I also met property students at the University of Auckland, who shared their career ambitions with me, and another highlight was attending a networking event with members of Matrics, our early career network, which I am pleased to see is expanding globally all the time.
Alongside the importance of education, strengthening our influence is another important objective for me. So, I was pleased to meet with the deputy prime minister of New Zealand, David Seymour, to discuss how RICS professionals can support national priorities and the barriers affecting the flow of skilled professionals into the country. Conversations like these are essential in positioning RICS as a trusted voice and partner in addressing these critical challenges.
Travelling on to Sydney, I was honoured to deliver the keynote address at the RICS Australasian Commercial Management of Construction Conference. With more than 550 attendees, the event highlighted the strength and growing momentum of our regional community.
In my speech, I spoke about the importance of RICS members in responding to housing and infrastructure challenges in the country, a problem unfortunately not unique to Australia. I also launched RICS’ Addressing Skills Shortages in Australia report, which sets out practical recommendations for policymakers to address shortages of quantity surveyors, construction project managers and certifiers in the country. Taking the opportunity to meet members in the breaks of the conference, I was thrilled at the level of agreement that building confidence in our profession, our standards, and our people is fundamental to delivering solutions at scale.
Alongside confidence, collaboration is an equally important component of delivering solutions in the built environment. Something which I discussed at length when I met influential government stakeholders, including Value New South Wales (NSW), Infrastructure NSW and Board Members of the Property Institute of New Zealand. We explored opportunities to work together to build international networks for the benefit of all our members.
As a surveyor by trade, speaking to RICS members is always a high point of any visit, and while we may come from different sides of the world, I wasn’t surprised to find common ground with members of all of walks of life. Whether it was the ‘Meet the President’ event in Sydney, spending time with the Australasian Regional Board and chairs of the local Member Engagement and Matrics groups. I valued every opportunity to listen, connect and recognise the contributions of our members, including a group of senior members whose impact has been particularly significant in serving the public interest across Australasia.
On a personal note, attending the ANZAC Day commemoration in Sydney was a deeply moving experience. Taking part in the Field of Remembrance service alongside the British Consulate General and the Governor of NSW was a solemn reminder of the shared history and values that underpin our international community.
Presidential visits of this scale require significant coordination, but their importance to growing our global network cannot be overstated. This was a highly successful visit for RICS, strengthening our presence and reinforcing our commitment to the region.
I extend my sincere thanks to the Australasian Board, Member Engagement Group and Matrics Chairs, RICS staff and APAC Governing Council member Stephen Ballesty FRICS for their dedication in supporting our continued growth.
