Meet Bon Jovi Sabug: the youngest Member to become an RICS Fellow in Asia

Meet Bon Jovi Sabug, Project Director, Malaysia, Turner & Townsend and the youngest newly-elected FRICS in Asia, as he details his passion for driving positive change in the built environment, by helping to shape the future of the profession.

Learn more about Bon Jovi's path and motivations for pursuing Fellowship at RICS via our Q&A below.

Why did you apply for RICS Fellowship and what does becoming FRICS mean to you?

Being a Fellow of RICS has always been my personal goal since I became a Chartered Member in 2015. I wanted to be recognised as a leader making a difference to the industry and demonstrate how proud I am of my profession and achievements.

This is a dream come true for me and a great testament of the hard work and passion I have put into my career.

How do you think this status will help your career, your business or the team that you lead?

Joining this distinguished group of world leaders and professionals in real estate as a Fellow of RICS is a true privilege for me. It enables me to become more visible in the industry and drive positive change in my organisation and the built environment by helping to shape the future of the profession and uphold the values and standards of RICS.

How did you find the process for applying for Fellowship and the standard RICS sets to achieve this?

The application process was straightforward and only took me a few months to complete my written submission along with the supporting evidence. Meanwhile, the journey to achieving the right fellowship characteristics and high standards set by RICS was challenging but definitely worthwhile, which enabled me to push my boundaries and accelerate my career growth.

What is your message to construction graduates and young professionals who might aspire to qualify as MRICS and go on to achieve FRICS status?

There is an important quote that inspired me when I started my career, which stated that “it’s not about the years of experience you have. It’s about the quality of your years of experience.” Having achieved both RICS Membership and Fellowship within the first decade of my career proves that anything is possible for any young professional or graduate aspiring to embark on this journey. The industry needs more diversity, particularly young professionals stepping up to pursue their Fellowship as this will pave the way for the leaders of tomorrow. I have come across a lot of talented young chartered professionals but couldn’t understand why so few were FRICS.

Any final thoughts?

I am truly proud to be elected as a Fellow of RICS and the youngest in Asia. I hope my Fellowship will serve as a shining beacon to those who are embarking on their journey to become a Chartered Member or a Fellow and show them that it can be done, regardless of background.

More importantly, I am deeply thankful to my loved ones who have supported me every step of the way and Turner & Townsend for giving me the opportunity to fast-track my career progression and work with the best people and clients.