RICS in Yorkshire & Humber

Jon Holt MRICS, Chair

Director, Turner & Townsend

I am looking to use my wide experience to support the board, from working as a client, contractor and consultant, in building surveying, project management, quantity surveying and infrastructure. From this experience, and leadership in business and major programmes, I want to support all our members to have a voice and enable the RICS to develop. Using the member network I am aiming to bring insight, balanced opinions and extensive knowledge to enable the RICS to improve as an institution in standards, inclusivity, sustainability and innovation (smart working) for all its sectors and members.

Sarah Smith FRICS

Sarah is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in Residential Investment and Development, Valuation and Consultancy. She is passionate about the industry, positively promoting the profession and supporting student members. Working as a Regional Board Member allows her to share experience and engage with the wider profession to develop, and encourage positive change, for existing and future members.

Matt Summerhil

MRICS

I recently joined the Regional Board having been a member for over 15 years. I have a passion for teamwork, nurturing talent and inclusivity to create the best environments for success. As someone who has several leadership roles both professionally and in my personal life, I believe that I can bring those skills to the Regional Board to support its short, medium and longer term ambitions. With my professional role being county wide, I believe that I can use my experience to connect with members across our geography and engage with their different needs.

Mike Ward, FRICS, FCABE, FAPM, MCIOB, MICWCI, MIoR, CEnv, CMgr FCMI

Senior Technical Quality Manager, ISG

Mike is a Chartered Building Surveyor currently employed by a Tier 1 construction contractor, ISG. Mike's journey in construction began as a joiner, where he started to develop a hands-on understanding of the built environment, transitioning into roles in quantity surveying and construction management, acquiring diverse skills along the way. Mike later joined Tesco and discovered his passion for building surveying, and since then, he has never looked back. Driven by a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, Mike is deeply invested in nurturing future talent within the industry. He actively engages with various professional bodies, leveraging his knowledge and experience to mentor and support emerging professionals, and is hoping to promote and improve member engagement throughout his time on the board.

Paul Hallam, BSc, MRICS, FHEA

Course Director - Real Estate & Property Management, Leeds Beckett University

Olayiwola Oladiran, PhD, MRICS, FHEA

Lecturer in Real Estate, University of Sheffield

Olayiwola Oladiran is currently a Lecturer in Real Estate at the University of Sheffield, Lead of Shef.AI Urban Interest Group and Co Lead of the Shef.AI Innovation and Pedagogy Interest Groups. He is also the Co Founder of Bloomshill. He holds a PhD in Real Estate Economics, an MSc in International Real Estate Investment and Finance, and a BTech in Estate Management. He is an RICS Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He won the UK PropTech Association Special Achievement Award in 2022 and won the University College of Estate Management Harold Samuel Research Prize in 2020. Olayiwola is enthusiastic about enhancing the services and operations within the real estate sector through innovation and digital technology.

Ellen Atkin, BA (Hons), PGDipSurv, MRICS

Head of Local and Devolved Government, District Valuer Service (DVS), Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

Ellen Atkin is a Chartered Surveyor with over 13 years cross sector experience, currently working as Head of Local and Devolved Government within HMRC’s District Valuer Services (DVS). The DVS is the specialist property arm of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) providing independent, impartial, valuation and professional property advice across the public sector, where she has gained invaluable knowledge and experience. Her technical expertise is in valuation, regeneration and development work and she has worked on several high-profile development schemes across Yorkshire and the North East. Ellen prides herself on her ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving operational objectives and goals. In her current role, Ellen is keen to develop the VOA’s skills in sustainability in the natural and built environment. To support this aim, last year Ellen returned to university to study a master’s degree in this area. Beyond her professional endeavours, she is committed to fostering collaboration and excellence within the industry and is keen to engage and shape the future of the surveying profession.

John Berry IRRV (Hons), MRICS

Director Property Professional Services, Valuation Office Agency

John is the Director of Property Professional Services within the Chief Valuer Group of the Valuation Office Agency. He is responsible for legal, technical, and professional policy guidance for all VOA business streams. His remit also covers Valuation Assurance, and he is currently the Head of the Surveying Profession in the Agency, which encompasses oversight of surveyor recruitment and the Agency’s surveyor pipeline covering graduates, apprentices and placement students. John joined the VOA in 1986 and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992 through the Agency’s Cadet Valuer route. He has had several leadership roles across the Agency before taking up his current role in October 2020. Born in Manchester, John lives in the Peak District, and is a lover of hiking and the outdoors.

Jonathan Cooper, MRICS

Head of Industrial, Commercial and Crown, Valuation Office Agency

Jonathan is passionate about attracting and inspiring future generations towards RICS qualification. His surveying career has provided him with many wonderful opportunities which have seen him visit, value and learn about some of the most iconic properties in the UK, whilst giving him the chance to appear as an Expert Witness at the Royal Courts of Justice. Outside of work, he is a keen cyclist who can often be found touring the mountains of southern Spain by bike, or practicing his Spanish in a bar with a calimocho (red wine and cola) in hand.

Mike Pearson MRICS

Portfolio & Partnerships Manager, Yorkshire Water

Mike has worked in land and resources related roles across the North of England since 1977 and now helps Yorkshire Water achieve its compliance and legal obligations that arise as one of the largest private landowners in England. In addition to the Company's protected sites, forestry, recreation and visitor safety activities, Mike is actively working with partners ranging from the National Trust to the Major Landowners Group delivering protected site targets for Government.