RICS in Yorkshire & Humber

Mike Ward FRICS, FCABE, FAPM, FICWCI, MCIOB, MIoR, CEnv, CMgr FCMI, Chair

Chartered Building Surveyor and Chartered Project Management Surveyor, Portview

Mike is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Chartered Project Management Surveyor employed by fit-out contractor, Portview. Mike's journey in construction began as a joiner, where he started to develop a hands-on understanding of the built environment, transitioning into roles in quantity surveying and construction ...   management, acquiring diverse skills along the way. Mike later joined Tesco and discovered his passion for building surveying, and since then, has never looked back. Driven by a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, Mike is deeply invested in nurturing future talent within the industry. Actively engaging with various professional bodies, leveraging his knowledge and experience to mentor and support emerging professionals. He is passionate about quality in the built environment and tries to instill a ‘right first time’ approach. Read More

Sarah Smith FRICS

Sarah is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in Residential Investment and Development, Valuation and Consultancy. She is passionate about the industry, positively promoting the profession and supporting student members. Working as a Regional Board Member allows her to share experience and engage with the wider profession ...   to develop, and encourage positive change, for existing and future members. Read More

Matt Summerhill MRICS

I joined the Regional Board having been a member for over 15 years. I have a passion for teamwork, nurturing talent and inclusivity to create the best environments for success. As someone who has several leadership roles both professionally and in my personal life, I believe that I can bring those skills to the Regional ...   Board to support its short, medium and longer term ambitions. With my professional role being county wide, I believe that I can use my experience to connect with members across our geography and engage with their different needs. Read More

Paul Hallam, BSc, MRICS, FHEA

Course Director - Real Estate & Property Management, Leeds Beckett University

Olayiwola Oladiran, PhD, MRICS, FHEA

Lecturer in Real Estate, University of Sheffield

Olayiwola Oladiran is currently a Lecturer in Real Estate at the University of Sheffield, Lead of Shef.AI Urban Interest Group and Co Lead of the Shef.AI Innovation and Pedagogy Interest Groups. He is also the Co Founder of Bloomshill. He holds a PhD in Real Estate Economics, an MSc in International Real Estate Investment ...   and Finance, and a BTech in Estate Management. He is an RICS Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He won the UK PropTech Association Special Achievement Award in 2022 and won the University College of Estate Management Harold Samuel Research Prize in 2020. Olayiwola is enthusiastic about enhancing the services and operations within the real estate sector through innovation and digital technology. Read More

Ellen Atkin, BA (Hons), PGDipSurv, MRICS

Head of Local and Devolved Government, District Valuer Service (DVS), Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

Ellen Atkin is a Chartered Surveyor with over 13 years cross sector experience, currently working as Head of Local and Devolved Government within HMRC’s District Valuer Services (DVS). The DVS is the specialist property arm of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) providing independent, impartial, valuation and professional ...   property advice across the public sector, where she has gained invaluable knowledge and experience. Her technical expertise is in valuation, regeneration and development work and she has worked on several high-profile development schemes across Yorkshire and the North East. Ellen prides herself on her ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving operational objectives and goals. In her current role, Ellen is keen to develop the VOA’s skills in sustainability in the natural and built environment. To support this aim, last year Ellen returned to university to study a master’s degree in this area. Beyond her professional endeavours, she is committed to fostering collaboration and excellence within the industry and is keen to engage and shape the future of the surveying profession. Read More

John Berry IRRV (Hons), MRICS

Director Property Professional Services, Valuation Office Agency

John is the Director of Property Professional Services within the Chief Valuer Group of the Valuation Office Agency. He is responsible for legal, technical, and professional policy guidance for all VOA business streams. His remit also covers Valuation Assurance, and he is currently the Head of the Surveying Profession ...   in the Agency, which encompasses oversight of surveyor recruitment and the Agency’s surveyor pipeline covering graduates, apprentices and placement students. John joined the VOA in 1986 and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992 through the Agency’s Cadet Valuer route. He has had several leadership roles across the Agency before taking up his current role in October 2020. Born in Manchester, John lives in the Peak District, and is a lover of hiking and the outdoors. Read More

Jonathan Cooper, MRICS

Head of Industrial, Commercial and Crown, Valuation Office Agency

Jonathan is passionate about attracting and inspiring future generations towards RICS qualification. His surveying career has provided him with many wonderful opportunities which have seen him visit, value and learn about some of the most iconic properties in the UK, whilst giving him the chance to appear as an Expert ...   Witness at the Royal Courts of Justice. Outside of work, he is a keen cyclist who can often be found touring the mountains of southern Spain by bike, or practicing his Spanish in a bar with a calimocho (red wine and cola) in hand. Read More