RICS in London

Meet the Board

Richard J Garland BSc (Hons), MBA, FRICS, DipBldgCons, MIC

Co-founder, Gradient Consultants

Richard is the current regional board chair . A UK based professional with a Global outlook and insight, Richard served on RICS World Governing Council between 2013 and 2017, including the global nominations committee and strategy advisory board. Richard continues to serve in the role of Chair of London Regional Board and board member of the South East board. Richard was honoured as a Fellow of RICS for his on-going commitment and contribution to the surveying profession. Richard’s focus is collaboration, with a passion for leading effective project meetings, delivering value for clients and promoting sustainability (social, environmental and governance) values and recently completed the University of Cambridge, Sustainability Leadership course. Richard currently leads a team managing the delivery of circa £20m in construction projects. These include a recently completed fishing quay development on the Sussex coast, Costa drive thru and retail park improvements. On-going projects include a Ferry Port Terminal upgrade, affordable housing schemes and the development of a Pure Gym outlet. Prime residential projects have included the renovation of a listed Knightsbridge home and new build high end residential throughout Surrey and Sussex, as well as on-going renovation projects in Holland Park, Kensington, Maida Vale, and London Bridge. Past projects have included a pharmaceutical factory, flagship retail store and project consultancy on Shangri-La in the Shard. Richard is a chartered building and chartered management consultancy surveyor. Richard’s career started in DLO management and economic development before working as a surveyor and project manager at Lincoln Cathedral and then Grosvenor Estates to assist in managing the London Estates of Mayfair and Belgravia. Richard’s other appointments also include director & president of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce.

Giles Heather MRICS

Director , Linesight (UK & Europe)

Giles joined the London Regional Board in 2019, bringing with him more than fifteen years’ experience. He is a Director at Linesight for the UK & Europe and has a proven track record in selecting, structuring, managing and leading teams in delivering professional services for complex multi-faceted projects and programmes across Linesight’s Global Key Accounts in the Life Sciences, Real Estate and Critical Infrastructure sectors. He is highly skilled in Cost & Project Management, Project Controls and Intelligent Procurement. He is passionate about innovation to drive continuous improvement through the integration of technology to support collaboration with project teams, clients and industry. At the end of 2020, he was awarded the ‘UK Surveyor of the Year’, as well as topping the Quantity Surveying and Construction category at the RICS Matrics Surveyor of the Year Awards.

James Paul MRICS

Director, EK Reinstatement Cost Assessment Ltd

James Paul is a Chartered Building Surveyor, a London Regional Board Member for RICS and Director of EK Reinstatement Cost Assessment Ltd, part of Earl Kendrick. He set up Proper Talk in 2023 with fellow industry peers to provide engaging live panel discussion on topical insurance issues in a travelling roadshow format with a live audience. He was very active in RICS Matrics around 10-15 years ago and supports and encourages younger APC level surveyors to fulfil their ambitions of becoming full professional members of the RICS.

Philip Atkinson MRICS

Estates Director, Grundon Waste Management Ltd

Philip is a Chartered Minerals & Waste Surveyor. He is a Board Director of Grundon, an environmental services firm, where he leads the Estates, Planning and Engineering teams as well as Grundon Sand & Gravel, an associated quarrying business. Philip studied Land Economy at Aberdeen University, going on to work as a researcher in the Scottish and Westminster parliaments. He worked for Lidl foodstores, becoming a Property Director, before joining a regional waste management firm as Operations Director. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, a Chartered Company Director and a Chartered Resource & Waste Manager.

Rosemary Silver FRICS

Associate Director, Avison Young

Rosemary Silver studied history at UCL, and then a post graduate qualification in surveying to become a chartered surveyor. She has worked as a building surveyor since then and currently works in the City of London office of Avison Young, (formerly GVA). Rosemary carries out pre acquisition surveys, inspections of buildings for dilapidations and administers building contracts. Recent projects include monitoring a two year external renovation project at Liberty’s department store, administering central London building contracts for external works and decorations to blocks of flats, making planning applications for listed buildings and a large roofing project in Exeter. in March 2023 Rosemary joined Marion Ellis FRICS to publicise Women In Surveying (WIS), a networking group for female chartered surveyors and women undertaking surveying studies and APC training. On 7 December 2023 Rosemary organised an event for WIS with Marion Ellis, on ‘Sustainable Construction and Sustainable Fashion’ with a fashion show using designer pre worn clothing from PopUp 38 charity shop. The event sold out with 130 attending and around £1,000 was raised for Lapis Lazuli Schools, who educate girls and boys in Kabul. Funds to build the schools and run them are raised by sales of sustainable fashion from PopUp 38. A fashion show with DJ first, for the RICS HQ! Rosemary is Deputy Chair of the London Branch of the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC), and in 2019 she organised a conference at the RICS HQ for 200 women with NAWIC. The recent changes to the RICS now encourage members to join and lead the organisation, so in July 2023 Rosemary applied to join the RICS London Board. She is now a member of the London Board and Building Surveying and Building Control PGP. It is her aim to increase collaboration and knowledge sharing, by networking with other RICS panels, lawyers, engineers and architects and inviting them into the RICS London HQ, which she believes should be the second home for chartered surveyors. As a member of the Building Surveying and Building Control Panel, her interests are in sustainable construction and improvements and knowledge sharing in fire safety, following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower.

Sherriden Rastegar MRICS

Senior Sustainability Manager, JLL

Sherriden works as a Senior Sustainability Manager within JLL Sustainable Operations. She is both a Chartered Surveyor and Environmentalist with over 5 years’ experience across both the built environment and sustainability. She has worked for a range of clients developing and implementing sustainability strategies at both asset and portfolio level from a commercial perspective. Sherriden is also a member of the RICS London Matrics committee and leads on Sustainability initiatives for the committee.

Tim (Grierson) Rickford MRICS

Director, Turner & Townsend

Tim Rickford is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) presently working as a Director at Turner & Townsend in their Central and Local Government Project Management team. He has worked in construction consultancy positions for over 15 years. Tim joined the London Regional Board in 2019 following a number of years supporting and counselling staff to achieve membership of the Institution. During his career to date, Tim has successfully managed a number of commercial, residential, education and heritage projects as either Project Manager, Contract Administrator, or Employer’s Agent using various forms of contract. He has worked both for high-profile private sector clients, as well as public sector organisations including secondments to Local Authority and Government offices.

Other board members:

Joanne Fisher
Tatenda Metzger

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Connect with members

The myRICS Community has been designed to create fantastic networking opportunities and to be the main hub for all built environment professionals. Find links to standards and guidance, consultations and insight papers, as well as discussion forums to connect with other professionals working in your field.