The RICS Podcast

Professional standards shape the advice people rely on across the built and natural environment. As the profession works across borders and faces new challenges in areas such as conflicts of interest, sustainability and artificial intelligence, the question is not only what standards say, but how they earn trust and work in practice. In this episode of The RICS Podcast, we explore what professional standards mean for the people who rely on a surveyor’s advice, and how they build trust across markets and borders.Charles Golding is joined by Jose Covas and Pauline Wong to explore how standards guide difficult decisions, help professionals identify and manage conflicts of interest, and provide a consistent professional language for working across jurisdictions. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How professional standards support client confidence, clear advice and consistent professional judgement.Why identifying, documenting and communicating conflicts of interest early is essential to protecting trust.How international standards provide a shared professional baseline while working alongside local laws and practices.Why standards are a shared responsibility, shaped by independent oversight, practitioner experience and stakeholder input.How AI, sustainability and digitalisation are creating new challenges—and why professional responsibility remains central.RICS Regulation Hubhttps://www.rics.org/regulationRICS iConsulthttps://consultations.rics.org/Charles Goldinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-golding-23512b175/José Covashttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jos%C3%A9-covas/Pauline Wonghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinewong669903/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

Every infrastructure project requires the work of a surveyor, and when developing economies and public opportunity this role is akin to that of a ‘silent hero’.In this episode of the RICS Podcast, host Kieran Halliwell is joined by Dorothy Natukunda MRICS, Principal Government Valuer at Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. This special member profile tracks her route into the industry, landmark work on the Standard Gauge Railway project, and how she’s balancing technical demands with empathetic stakeholder engagement to bring the project to life.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Dorothy’s journey into surveying and her influential role in Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban DevelopmentThe complexities and human impact of land acquisition for major infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge RailwayThe importance of proactive stakeholder engagement and transparent communication in public sector valuation workThe influence of international standards like RICS on local practice and professional development in UgandaThe evolving opportunities for women and young professionals in the surveying and valuation professionDorothy Natukunda MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/natukunda-dorothy-mrics/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

New Zealand’s ‘Central Interceptor Tunnel’ project represents a huge step towards upgrading the territory’s infrastructure for decades to come.Central to its success is this week’s guest on The RICS Podcast, Dr Inoka Withana Gamage MRICS, Principal Contracts and Commercial Manager at Jacobs New Zealand.In this member profile, Inoka talks us through the delivery of such a major project, the importance of collaboration, and how commercial and contract management plays its role in one of New Zealand’s largest landmark projects.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The engineering and delivery complexities behind New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project, the Central Interceptor TunnelThe importance of collaborative working and stakeholder engagement in delivering major infrastructureLeadership lessons and the value of practical, adaptable management plans in large-scale projectsThe role of commercial and contract management in mitigating risk and ensuring project successProfessional growth, continuous learning, and advice for early-career professionals in the built environment sectorDr Inoka Withana Gamagehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/inoka-withana-gamage-722a4b2b/?originalSubdomain=nzRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

The Jewry Wall Museum plays a core role in Leicester’s history, and RICS member Emily Thorpe Jones MRICS has been the Project Manager on the it’s revamp since 2022. In this first member profile episode of The RICS Podcast, Emily speaks with Podcast Lead Kieran Dhunna Halliwell to share the complexities behind managing  a major heritage conservation project, and the collaborative efforts required to balance historical preservation with modern visitor experiences. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The transformation and revitalization of the Jewry Wall Museum as a significant Roman heritage site in LeicesterComplexities and rewards of managing large-scale heritage conservation projects, including overcoming contractor insolvencies and logistical challengesCollaboration among project managers, conservation officers, archaeologists, artists, and specialist contractors in delivering successful outcomesThe evolving role of technology in the surveying profession and its impact on heritage projectsThe crucial role of community engagement and public advocacy in preserving and valuing historic buildings for future generationsModus LiDAR Articlehttps://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/modus/technology-and-data/harnessing-data/lidar-preserving-historic-monuments.htmlEmily Thorpe Jones MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-thorpe-jones-a62a68154/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

One of the widest-reaching impacts that can be seen from surveyors’ work is the sustainable growth of global infrastructure.In this episode of the RICS podcast, host Kieran Halliwell is joined by Tom Haithwaite, a surveyor whose work is transforming public infrastructure in Peru. Tom shares his experiences navigating cultural differences, implementing sustainable solutions, and the lasting impact that well-executed public projects can have on society. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The complexities and challenges of developing public infrastructure, particularly healthcare facilities, in PeruThe importance of early stakeholder engagement and understanding local needs to ensure successful project outcomesBalancing cost efficiency, functionality, and user experience in public sector construction projectsIntegrating sustainable technologies and practices despite budgetary and operational constraintsThe value of international experience and transferable skills in driving impactful change in other nationsThomas Haithwaite MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-h-b4542961/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

From the very start of enrollment to the APC, your APC Diary becomes one of the most vital tools in helping you document your progression. So what should the diary look like by the time you’re ready for assessment?In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Adam Quinn speaks with APC assessors Steve Joel-Dicks FRICS, and Alicia Styring MRICS, to share what makes a good APC Diary, what shows maturity and progressions, and some common pitfalls to avoid.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The importance of maintaining a consistent and detailed APC diary to support professional development and assessment readinessBest practices for diary entries, including context and justification for competency selectionCommon mistakes candidates make, such as misclassifying experiences and neglecting to refer to the pathway guideThe value of tracking growth and progression through diary entries, and using visual tools to identify gaps in experienceThe role of ownership and responsibility in the APC processSteve Joel-Dicks FRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-joel-dicks-mapm-frics-1a65b713/?originalSubdomain=ukAlicia Styring MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-styring-mrics-494aa412a/Adam Quinnhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-quinn-395938265/?originalSubdomain=ukRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

Across the built environment, traditional centralised approaches to data management are being challenged by increasingly complex project teams, diverse data sources, and rising regulatory expectations around governance, transparency and accountability.In this episode of the RICS Podcast, Ashley Stewart‑Noble is joined by James Garner FRICS, Head of AI and Data at Gleeds, to demystify federated data and explore what it means for surveyors accessing and interrogating information across multiple systems, teams and organisations, without the need to copy or move a single file.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What federated data is, and what its use really means for surveyors Why rapidly growing project data and tighter governance is moving federated data up the agenda at this point in timeThe difference between federated analytics and federated learningWhat surveying can learn from other sectors’ use of dataWhy professional judgement, AI literacy and audit trails are essential to trustworthy use of federated dataJames Garner FRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgarner1976/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

Recorded live at UKREiiF in Leeds, this week’s special episode of The RICS podcast features Lynda Rawsthorne FRICS, UK Government Head of Property Profession and RICS Governing Council member, to explore how surveying underpins the delivery of critical public assets.Against a context of public spending scrutiny, rapid advances in AI & technology, and a growing skills gap, Lynda joins host Harry Chafer to examine the real social value created by surveyors.They touch on, the evolving competency needs of the profession, and the RICS’s pivotal role for inspiring the next generation of professionals in the built and natural environment.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How Lynda has built a varied civil service career and why purpose keeps her in the public sectorThe tangible social impact of work within the built environment What public scrutiny, gateway reviews and evolving net-zero standards mean for programmes like HS2 and other major buildsThe future of surveying: skills, AI and the talent pipelineLynda Rawsthorne FRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynda-rawsthorne-bsc-ma-frics-fapm-fciob-fiwfm-chpp-98751919/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

Surveying careers do not always follow a linear path from school to university and into chartered practice - no two pathways are the same. In this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, host Kieran Halliwell speaks with Lisa Cowie MRICS, Associate Director at FG Burnett, about her journey into commercial property via a non-traditional route. Their conversation explores how life experience, transferable skills and alternative pathways such as AssocRICS, apprenticeships and part-time study can support entry into the profession at any stage in life, contributing to a more diverse and resilient surveying workforce.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Lisa’s unconventional career journey to becoming an Associate Director and MRICS commercial surveyorTransferable skills and non-traditional routes into the industryBalancing study, work and family life while pursuing professional qualificationsTackling skills shortages and widening access across surveyingHow supportive employers, mentors and creative initiatives can raise awareness and attract more diverse talent into the built environmentLisa Cowiehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-cowie-a417b3372/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/

Despite sustained efforts to promote equality, the gender pay gap remains a persistent feature of the real estate and construction sectors, and headline figures alone rarely convey the full picture.In this episode of The RICS Podcast, host Maria Wiedner MRICS is joined by Dr. Manuela Galetto and Dr. Fuk Ying Tse, as we step behind the statistics to ask what’s really driving the differences in pay between men and women across the sector and how bonus culture, billable hours, and undervalued “glue work” all shape outcomes. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How real estate compares on gender pay vs other sectors and the national averageComplexity and limitations of gender pay gap data, and what can disproportionately swing the figuresThe fundamental differences between the gender pay gap vs unequal pay Company responses and interventions to gender pay gap reporting figuresValuing women’s work and “glue work” in the age of AIMaria Wiedner MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mariawiedner/Fuk Ying Tsehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fuk-ying-tse-133112126/Manuela Galettohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-galetto-b9bb64242/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:https://www.rics.org/uk/RICS Podcast Pagehttps://www.rics.org/podcast/