The RICS Podcast

Irene Barclay is a trailblazer in surveying, being the first woman to qualify in Britain as a Chartered Surveyor, and her path is as important and inspiring now as it ever has been.Patricia Moore MRICS (UK Managing Director, Turner & Townsend) is joined this week by Carrie de Silva (Visiting Professor, Harper Adams University) and Rebecca Preston (Historian, English Heritage) to discuss the pioneering life story of Irene Barclay, and why it should inspire the direction that the surveying profession takes today.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Irene Barclay’s family storyThe significance of celebrating her achievements with a plaqueHow preserving heritage supports the present professionThe importance of seeing women’s names in the profession, and understanding the pastRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Patricia Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia1moore/Carrie de Silva: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-de-silva-61017916/

The strides towards net zero emissions are essential in urban and rural areas alike, and it’s vital to consider what can be done within natural capital as well as the built environment to encourage climate-positive change.Discussing these key issues in this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, Francesca Fowler-Walsh MRICS (Chair, RICS Matrics Lancashire) is this week joined by Maddi Naish MICS (Estate Manager, National Trust) and Carolien Samson (Head of Sustainable Banking, Oxbury Bank).They share their perspectives on the demand for financing resilience projects, pressures on farmers to reduce their carbon footprint, and the importance of attracting young people into the profession to have a tangible impact on the environment.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The growing influence of natural capitalSurveyors’ roles with the National TrustHow farming and agriculture poses a very tangible industry in which to make impactIncreasing focus and pressure on farmers to reduce their carbon footprintHow we can better attract the next generation of surveyors through their potential impactRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Maddi Naish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddi-naish-95471169/Carolien Samson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolien-samson-04242125/Francesca Fowler-Walsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-fowler-walsh/

The role of an expert witness is key to any court and tribunal, and this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast is essential preparation for those considering the span of their expertise.Joining Rajbinder Sohal are Leonora Riesenburg, a Chartered Arbitrator/Mediator Trainer in ADR, and Faye Allen FRICS, Director at J.S. Held LLC - they discuss the importance of advising only within your area of expertise, and the need for open communication between experts and stakeholders.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Potential consequences of surveyors straying outside of their area of expertiseHow to identify the areas to which you should stickEthical considerations that experts should think about when accepting instructionsHow expert witnesses should mitigate inbuilt biasesRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Leonora Riesenburg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonora-riesenburg-61182846/Faye Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayeallen/

Neurodiverse professionals in the built environment face unique challenges in the journey to becoming chartered, but with more awareness comes an increasing level of support for such APC candidates.Dan Knowles FRICS hosts this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, where Morwenna Slade MRICS and Jennifer Hobart MRICS share their experiences with the assessment process as neurodivergent professionals.They discuss the complexities of the process, support that should be available, and why neurodivergence can be a superpower in the industry.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Considerations that assessors can make for neurodiverse candidates in the final assessmentHow neurodiverse assessors can support those with particular requirementsFinding different learning styles to better suit your APC journeyHow employers can support neurodiverse peopleThe benefits to teams of hiring professionals with varied specialisms and traitsRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Dan Knowles FRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-knowles-frics-821bbb22/Jennifer Hobart MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-hobart-mrics-b6954552/Morwenna Slade MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morwenna-slade-9130b470/

With sustainability becoming a growing area of focus among the residential property industry, this week’s RICS Podcast focuses on how green practices are reflected for consumers, banks and surveyors alike.Emma Fletcher MRICS (RICS/Octopus Energy) is joined by Timothy Bannister (Rightmove) and Maria Dutton (Green Finance Institute) to discuss the overlap in understanding of sustainability between stakeholders, surveyors’ role in promoting sustainable residential development, and how the sector is likely to evolve going forward.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How consumers and banks define sustainable housing, and whether there’s common groundWays for surveyors to help convey the message of the industry’s growing sustainabilityThe intrinsic value of a happy, healthy home, and how it’ll feed into the financial values reflected in the marketRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Emma Fletcher MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmafletchercambridge/Maria Dutton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-g-dutton/Timothy Bannister: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-bannister-1b00316/

While the need for carbon reduction is clear, the route to creating a built environment that better serves this need is constantly being refined.Through their work at Introba UK and Related Argent respectively, Clara Bagenal George and David Partridge are contributing to the RICS whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) standard and the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.Clara and David join RICS’ Charlotte Neal on the podcast this week to discuss the formation of these standards, and personal journeys implementing positive steps to reduce carbon in their own activities.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How BECD and the Whole Life Carbon Assessment methodology work together in tandemWhy the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard is so essential for the industryDavid and Clara’s personal pursuits for more carbon conscious lifestylesTrying to overcome reliance on third parties to make your own positive changesRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment: https://www.rics.org/profession-standards/rics-standards-and-guidance/sector-standards/construction-standards/whole-life-carbon-assessmentBECD: https://www.becd.co.uk/UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard: https://www.nzcbuildings.co.uk/Clara Bagenal George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-bagenal-george-5929bba2/Introba UK: https://www.linkedin.com/company/introba/David Partridge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-partridge-38b3b512/Related Argent: https://www.linkedin.com/company/relatedargentlimited/

The APC process leads surveyors to chartership, but for those yet to embark on the process, professionals like Girija Deshmukh, Sam Nicholson MRICS and Matthew Tallis FRICS are promoting its purpose globally.Girija (RICS Campus Ambassador, Cardiff University) and Sam (Partner, Wakefields Chartered Building Surveyors) join Matthew (Global Cost & Commercial Management Service Director, Arcadis) on The RICS Podcast this week to share their journeys, the impact they’re making on international opportunities, how to attract the next generation, and the benefits of an increasingly diverse industry.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What chartership is and what motivates people to do itGirija, Matthew and Sam’s activities in the industryGlobal impact achieved through innovative initiativesHow to engage and attract a more diverse next generationRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Girija Deshmukh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/girijadeshmukh98/Sam Nicholson MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-nicholson-mrics-4148a1a8/

The next generation of built environment professionals are driving a great deal of positive change in the industry, with fresh vision and awareness of the impact we can have as a sector.This week’s RICS Podcast features the expertise of Jessie Leung MRICS, Estates Surveyor at South Gloucestershire Council and a 2024 MIPIM Challenger,  Joshua Hurst MRICS, Chartered Building Surveyor at JLL and co-chair of their race network, and Katy Robinson, Senior Project Manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and founding chair of NAWIC Yorkshire.We learn how these early career professionals are striving towards a brighter vision of the industry’s future and gain insight around what motivates them to do so.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What prompted Jessie, Joshua and Katy to strive for positive change in the built environmentHow leaders and organisations can support professionals to catalyse positive impactVisions of an ideal world in the built environment sectorThe importance and inspiration of relevant, relatable role models Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Jessie Leung MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiecsleung/Joshua Hurst MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuahurst98/Katy Robinson MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-robinson-710619189/

One of the fantastic elements to surveying is the number of routes into the profession. This week The RICS Podcast showcases three members who began their paths in other regulated professions before becoming surveyors themselves.Demi Yianni is joined this week by Kirsten Hald and Maria Wiedner to discuss their vastly different backgrounds, transferable skills, how they explain their roles to friends and family, and the most important personality traits in surveying.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Kirsten’s teaching career before her entry to surveyingTransferable skills from Maria’s past, including work in finance and the UNWhy surveying stuck out compared to previous vocationsThe challenge of explaining surveying roles to loved onesThe top personality traits for those looking to become a surveyorRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/Demi Yianni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demi-yianni/Kirsten Hald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-marie-hald/Maria Wiedner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariawiedner/

George Clarke is an architect, television presenter, campaigner and educator whose position allows him to bridge gaps between the built environment and those less acquainted with the construction industry.In a special episode of The RICS Podcast, George joins RICS members Arcadis’ Emma Martin and WT Partnership’s Ayo Ajayi as they discuss his passion for construction, the industry’s image, the value of work experience and how to make progress with diversity in construction.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:George’s influences to get involved with constructionThe impact of media on public perception of construction and the built environmentWhat it means to work in the public interestGeorge’s passionate campaigning for social housingHow evolving technology impacts the work of  built environment professionalsRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/George Clarke https://georgeclarke.com/Ayo Ajayi https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayo-ajayi-7356376a/Emma Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-martin-arcadis/