Governing Council view: David Sandbrook
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02 October 2019
As RICS seeks to establish itself as the leading, global profession for the built and natural environment, it is paramount that it has strong leadership to both develop the future strategy of the profession and provide the essential governance to give trust and confidence in its standards, regulations and qualifications.
To be a truly global body, fit for our world of rapid change, RICS' leadership must be truly diverse and inclusive, with different perspectives that are reflective of the markets and environments where RICS professionals are practicing now and where they will be needed in the future.
RICS has a unique diversity of skill sets, with members working within the complete lifecycle of property assets from land and resource management, planning & development, design & construction and facilities management through to the redevelopment of land and the recovery and reuse of resources. These are a broad range of skills, practiced in a broad range of environments and on a broad scale of projects, but all Members are bound by common professional and ethical standards and a commitment to maintain and promote the usefulness of the profession for the public advantage.
These skill sets - allied to a common bond - make RICS as relevant today as it was when it was formed over 150 years ago and make it even more important for our futures. The advance of smart technologies, big data, artificial intelligence and robotics present disruptive challenges as well as exciting opportunities, with the need for trusted professionals, educated and working to market relevant standards, becoming more necessary to provide confidence to all stakeholders in the built and natural environments.
RICS' Governing Council bear a responsibility to be leaders, to respect traditions, and to be open to new challenges and ways of working
Climate change, population growth, urbanisation and resource scarcity are all areas where RICS can provide trusted, informed leadership and drive collaboration between the key stakeholders to influence and deliver global standards that can make a positive difference to our world.
The election for Market Seats on the newly constituted Governing Council presents an exciting opportunity for qualifying RICS professionals to help shape the future of our profession, and influence its direction of travel. Your vote in the upcoming elections will help decide who sits on the profession's highest decision-making body.
“RICS' Governing Council members must be leaders and influencers, but also possess the essential ability to listen and determine matters without bias or prejudice. ”
David Sandbrook, FRICS
RICS' Governing Council members must be leaders and influencers, but possess the essential ability to listen and determine matters without bias or prejudice. They must be prepared to respect the traditions of our profession, but also champion diversity and inclusion and be open to address new challenges that could disrupt the way we live and work.
My own experience on Governing Council has been hugely satisfying, collaborating with a group of diverse, enthusiastic chartered surveyors, plus knowledgeable and committed RICS staff, from around the globe to set the strategy of the profession, develop a more agile and efficient Governing Council and ignite an educational review seeking to attract more diverse talent into our profession.
I encourage you to vote from 17 October – 21 November.
David Sandbrook FRICS is a current member of RICS' Governing Council
