Driving positive change and fostering inclusion: An interview with Richard Golding

Meet Richard Golding, the newly appointed Matrics UK Chair at RICS. With a background in surveying and a passion for creative disruption and positive impact, Richard brings his expertise in transforming organizations and driving purpose-driven change. He shares his motivation for taking on the role, his key objectives and goals for his tenure, and his vision for the future of the Matrics community within RICS.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

If my LinkedIn bio is anything to go by, I’m a surveyor, and a brand and business leader who has been transforming ideas and organisations for more than 15 years. I use creative disruption to deliver purpose-driven change, with a mission to leave a positive impact on our world. In addition to building strong and lasting relationships, I am committed to initiatives which drive forward the digital agenda, champion diversity and inclusion, and bring cultures closer together.

Without the corporate buzzwords, I have spent most of my life around property and construction. Inspired by my parents to find ways to add value, be creative in my process, and be sure to enjoy what I do along the way. Throughout my career to date, I have been extremely fortunate to meet many amazing people and enjoy some exciting learning opportunities. I see Matrics as an invaluable platform to give everyone the opportunity to grow.

What motivated you to pursue the position of Matrics UK Chair at RICS?

Having the opportunity to work with the London Committee last year was such a rewarding experience because of the people I was collaborating with. With their talent and their passion, it was a pleasure to help support their goals as we collectively looked to re-animate Matrics after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It naturally felt like the next step, to take my efforts to a national level and I was very happy to be successful in the application process. The current members of the UK Board have been welcoming and it is great to see that our vision is already well-aligned, as we aim to bring the committees closer together and collaborate as one. This idea of connectivity must go upwards too, and I hope that Sunny-Thomas Obasuyi’s election to the Young Member Seat on the Governing Council will also help push Matrics agenda higher up the top.

What are your key objectives and goals for your tenure as Matrics UK Chair and how do you plan to achieve them?

There has been so much growth and energy invested into Matrics already over the last few years, the national board, local and regional members (past and present) should all be very proud of their achievements. I believe that my role as chair is more about creating the conditions to allow others to achieve more and to elevate their vision, but of course, there are a few things I would like to see put in place too.

Over the next 12 months, I hope that we can continue to enhance diversity and inclusion in our programme, drive forward the ongoing pursuit of professional excellence, and welcome the digital transformation that is augmenting surveying so rapidly.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential considerations in today’s professional landscape. How do you plan to promote and foster diversity and inclusivity within the Matrics community?

I feel that the Matrics community is already diverse, both in culture and in creativity. Our responsibility as the UK Board and our 28 national committees, is to continue to evolve the space which allows participation and fair treatment of all. I have seen the Matrics offer become more diverse and accessible in such a short period of time, but there is still much more progress to make.

To take this to the next level, we must listen to what our community wants, and seek guidance from peers and allies throughout the industry. Collaboration with other movements and associations will be important, and something that I would like to see embedded into the way we operate. This is a good opportunity to thank the RICS staff for the support and guidance they have given to Matrics already, and long may it continue.

I am pleased to hear that there is no longer an age restriction on Matrics. This now means, regardless of age, surveyors with less than 10 years of post-chartership experience can get more involved. Representation and advocacy are vital to our success and look forward to hearing first-hand from the Matrics communities about other ways we can push forward.

Can you share your vision for the future of the Matrics community and the role it plays within RICS?

The future of Matrics should be always moving and ever evolving. In that sense, I would hope that my current vision for Matrics will be completely off the mark in the next 5-10 years’ time.

The important thing is that whatever Matrics becomes, it shall continue to be a catalyst for positive change, allowing creative disruption and on-going improvement to the profession and the wider built environment.

It is true that the people who champion Matrics today, have the potential to become the future leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, I encourage everyone to get involved with Matrics, in any way shape or form!