RICS in South East

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.

Dr. Tina Papadopoulou FRICS FCIOB MAPM MInstLM

Associate Professor, Kingston University London

As an Associate Professor at Kingston University London who teaches on RICS accredited surveying courses and degree apprenticeships, I have a passion for transforming the lives of young individuals and guiding their journey to an exciting career in surveying. In addition to supporting the RICS community as an APC assessor and counsellor, my role at the board enables me to be the voice of students aspiring to be members and work collaboratively with colleagues on the board to increase member engagement whilst promoting the leading role of the RICS.

James Roberts FRICS

James is a Commercial Property Surveyor who runs his surveying practice based in Canterbury, Kent. He is a staunch advocate of the RICS, and it’s broader public interest mandate. He is particularly keen on increasing communication with and participation from the micro and SME sectors, which make up the overwhelming majority of RICS membership. He is also passionate about supporting and encouraging the next generation of surveyors, tackling the diversity gap and pushing for the modernisation of the RICS to benefit its members, the organisation and the public.

Alexandra Chinn BSc (Hons) MRICS

Associate Director Real Estate Development (Cost & Control), Kings College London

Chartered Quantity Surveyor with experience in both Public and Private sector . Currently working at Kings College London leading on the Cost Control and Project Management process and procedures for the delivery of Capital projects. I support the APC assessments in addition to being a board member. Being a board member gives me an opportunity to network influence the direction of the RICS and promote the profession especially for the next generation of surveyors.

Pelham Walker

Head of Property & Masterplanning, HS1 Limited

Pelham has been a Chartered Surveyor since qualifying in 1991. He is currently High Speed 1’s Head of Property & Master Planning. Prior to that he worked on HS2 and has held senior positions within the private and public sectors. He joined the South East Board in August 2021.

Jonathan Davies, FRICS

Chartered Quantity Surveyor

Jonathan is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, who has experience in working with the public, private, commercial and heritage sectors of the construction industry in both the UK and Europe. Jonathan has been lucky enough to have been involved in a number of high profile and prestigious projects. He is a staunch advocate of the RICS, and is an APC assessor, acting as chair at final interview stage.Jonathan has been involved in the development of young surveyors and works closely with the University of Reading college of Estates Management team, on the development of their courses. Jonathan is keen to make sure and help the RICS support all its junior members, to develop and become successful members of the organisation.

Professor Samer Bagaeen FRICS

Arcadis

Professor Samer Bagaeen’s breadth of experience lies across local government, academia, and urban planning. He identifies interdisciplinary problems and solutions in the context of climate resilience in roles across multiple sectors. He is a Technical Director with the Environmental Planning team at Arcadis, a Professor of Planning & Resilient Systems, and a Councillor since 2019. Samer set up the Brighton Planning School in 2008 and secured RICS accreditation for it shortly after that. Samer is a Chartered Town Planner, a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Design Council Expert, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Trustee of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is Chair of the RTPI’s International Committee in 2023. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the BAME Planners Network and a member of the Academic Advisory Group at the Real Estate Data Foundation. He previously worked with the Rockefeller Foundation’s global resilience programme as an Associate Director. In Kent, Samer currently manages Cultural Co-location, a Creative Estuary project funded by the Cultural Development Fund and his team has developed a planning for culture toolkit. He served on the Policy Council at the Town and Country Planning Association from 2010-2020 where he also served as a Trustee for five years. Samer has also worked for the RICS as an officer looking after thought leadership relationships.

Marie Leaphard, FRICS

Partner, Rider Levett Bucknall

Marie is a Partner at Rider Levett Bucknall and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Her primary role as Partner, Project Management is supported by her extensive practical knowledge with a background as a Project Quantity Surveyor working for a major contractor and being a qualified Joiner by trade. Marie has public and private sector experience, but now focuses on her passion for adding and delivering best value to the public sector. Being a member of the board allows me to utilise the fresh perspective that my route to membership brings, including my passion for inspiring the next generation and embracing recruitment initiatives that introduce diversity into the industry

Laura Richold, FRICS

Training Director, Connells

Laura is Training Director at a national firm of Chartered Surveyors and has been in her current role since May 2022 following 3 years as Area Director for the London South team. Her passion has always been training and the development and promotion of the next generation of surveyors. Since 2008 Laura has been an APC Assessor and then in 2012 commenced assessing VRS submissions. Laura believes promotion of the profession to a more diverse and extensive range of individuals is paramount to the growth of the RICS, its members, the organisation and public.