Building the future: ‘remember why we became surveyors’

RICS President Ann Gray FRICS discusses the challenges and highlights of 2023, creating the structure for change and growing the global membership

Author:

Mark Williams

28 November 2023

Commercial property

Corporate real estate

Learning and development

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RICS standards and guidance

Residential

Ann Gray FRICS took up her one-year term as RICS president in January 2023 and has overseen a significant 12 months for the Institution.

In the latest episode of the Modus podcast, Building the Future, Simon Rawlinson MRICS discusses the highlights and the challenges of 2023 with Gray. He also outlines what he’s been doing so far in his new role as chair of the RICS Knowledge and Practice Committee.

Reflecting on the year’s achievements, Gray describes how RICS has “created an organisational infrastructure that allowed change to occur … what it allowed us to do was create a really solid foundation for implementing the changes and reforms that we were expected to do.”

She also touches upon the job satisfaction that surveying can offer: “One of my overarching goals for the year was that we all remember why we became surveyors – it’s a really fun occupation and we all do it in such a different way. There’s such a broad range of ways to pursue the profession. And when I meet people that are having fun and are engaged, it’s really satisfying for me.”

In addition, they talk about increasing female representation in surveying, what RICS is doing to address the environmental challenges facing the built environment and how it is growing the membership worldwide.

Listen and subscribe to the podcast using the links below.

Ann Gray FRICS

Ann became RICS President in January 2023. She acts as a key ambassador, helping to achieve RICS’ goal of creating positive social impact in the built environment.

Alongside her RICS role, Ann is a real estate broker and licensed architect in Los Angeles, California. In her capacity as a real estate advisor, she brings more than 25 years’ experience of professional leadership to her role.

Simon Rawlinson MRICS

Simon leads the Arcadis UK Strategic Research and Insight Team, providing sector-focused research, as well as market and commercial intelligence for clients and the business.

In July 2023 he was appointed chair of the RICS Knowledge and Practice Committee and member of the RICS Board.