Global Principal and Lead Assessors

Fiona Stoddard

Pg Dip MA (Hons) FCII MRICS FHEA - Valuation

Following an early career in Insurance and Risk Management, Fiona pivoted and became a member of the RICS in 2003. For the past 20 years, she has supported the APC process as a panel member and auditor alongside mentoring graduates and staff. Fiona worked for 15 years in professional practice before switching to an academic role at the University of Aberdeen. Fiona is passionate about the surveying profession, with a strong belief that a career in it needs to start at school level, to this end she has run workshops for 16–18-year-olds studying Geography. In her role in the university, she introduced active learning through case study assessments and worked with a colleague to deliver PG level work placements. She has strong links with professional practice and is always keen to work with employers to learn what they are looking for in new employees setting out on their career and develop her teaching to incorporate these aspects alongside the RICS core principles. Over the last 2 years, she has worked alongside RICS staff to deliver training sessions for new assessors, chairpersons, and auditors in both online and face-to-face formats. The sessions address all aspects of assessment, giving guidance on preparation, the use of RICS pathway guidance and development of questioning technique and structure in a series of supportive but challenging sessions. Fiona encourages discussion through questions to ensure that new assessors fully understand the importance of their role in delivering fair but robust assessment.

Sarah Beckwith

MSc MRICS - Property & Asset Management

Sarah has been a Chartered Surveyor since 2006. During her time at BNPPRE she specialised in Landlord and Tenant, mainly in the retail and leisure sectors. More recently Sarah has worked for Historic Royal Palaces and Clearbell Capital, undertaking strategic asset management on portfolios comprising historic buildings, residential, land, retail, industrial and offices. Her roles on various boards and committees in private, not-for-profit and charity organisations have enabled Sarah to work with people from many different nationalities, backgrounds, and professions. This has given her an appreciation of the importance of diversity in creating effective teams and learning from people with different perspectives. Sarah became an RICS APC Assessor in 2014 and a Chairperson and Preliminary Reviewer in 2021. Her experience has allowed her to gain an insight into the challenges faced by candidates, assessors and RICS staff. In previous roles, she has supported the APC training process, delivering seminars for colleagues and clients, as well as acting as a supervisor and counsellor. She regularly reviewed candidate submissions and ran mock interviews, providing key feedback to support candidates to pass their APC assessment.

Dele Oyekanmi

Built Environment

Dele is a versatile, multi-talented leader with over 35 years of experience as a Commercial, Contracts, and Procurement Professional in the Construction Industry in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Currently, Dele is engaged with one of the world’s most innovative and impacting Giga projects in Saudi Arabia. Dele became an #RICS Chartered Member in 2002 and a Fellow in 2014. As a vital, motivated RICS member, Dele has been a member of the International Conduct and Competence Global Advisory Group and Non-Executive Director of the Standards and Regulations Board. For the last sixteen years, Dele has been an Assessor, Counsellor and Mentor for potential Chartered Surveyors worldwide and has seen many become successful Chartered Quantity and Project Management Surveyors respectively. In the last ten years, Dele has been acting as a Chairperson for the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) for the RICS Chartered qualification in the Middle East. In recognition of his efforts to see RICS develop and grow in Africa, Dele was recently appointed the Patron of Rwanda Institute of Quantity Surveyors (RIQS) and looks forward to the significant initiatives and impact of RICS in East Africa. Dele also has extensive voluntary work experience. He is a Global Ambassador for RICS Lionheart, which helps members through difficult times. He is the Director of Destiny Builders a non-profit organization founded in 1996, working predominately in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dele has served and impacted the practical lives of hundreds of victims of genocide, orphans and young adults for the last 25 years, helping others help themselves by achieving their potential through Sponsored Education, Lifelong Skills and Small Business Initiatives. As a result, Dele has seen many individuals evolve into successful independent nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs who are doing great things, whether through sponsorship for the younger generation, community development or raising funds to finance independent social entrepreneurial projects in Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria.

Jose Covas MRICS

Valuation

Jose is the founder and CEO of José Covas Real Estate Group, which advises clients on the portfolio valuation of commercial, residential, and touristic properties across Portugal and Spain. He has extensive experience in advice and support including due diligence, investment support and development strategies. Jose has a strong passion for teaching, he is a professor in four real estate masters programmes and runs classes on ethics and rules of conduct. A RICS member since 2007, Jose is currently the Chair of the Portuguese Advisory Board and is a member of the Standards Review Board of the International Valuation Standards Council. In the same year that he joined the Advisory Board, Jose established the Valuation Professional Group in Portugal organising with other members a group to promote the role of RICS professionals and valuers in the Portuguese market. This group has been able to establish key connections with important stakeholders, such as the Portuguese government and local regulators. Furthermore. Jose was the author of the Red Book Portuguese chapter and organised the revision of the Red Book in Portuguese. Jose has been involved in the APC assessment as both an assessor and chairperson across Portugal, Spain, Greece and the UK.

Chris Barker

B.Sc (Hons), MRICS - Built Environment

Chris has over 21 years of building consultancy experience in both Australia and the UK providing a range of Technical advisory services including Technical Due diligence, Dilapidations and Make Good advice, Condition reports, long term asset management strategies, Insurance Assessments, Building Defects advice and expert witness engagements, Chris founded his own consultancy firm in 2009 where he undertook a variety of building consultancy and cost advisory roles. Following this, Chris joined the Knight Frank Project Management and Building Consultancy team as Director in 2012, promoted to Partner in 2018 and became National Head of Building Consultancy in 2020. Chris has been a member of the RICS since 2003 and has been involved with the RICS in Australia since 2008. He was a board member of RICS for 4 years and is currently an active assessor and chairperson since 2009, as well as acting as a supervisor/councillor for candidates.

Andrew Sharp

B.S.c (Hons), M.Sc. MAPM, MRICS- Built Environment

Andrew is an experienced International Programme and Project Management Professional with 25 years’ experience. He is currently engaged as an Executive Director with Arcadis Consultancy Hong Kong, a role he has held for 15 years, having been based in Hong Kong since 2019. Andrew brings with him strong built environment credentials, international employment experience and a deep understanding of governance and assurance within both corporate and property environments. Andrew has been an APC Assessor and Chairperson both in the UK and Hong Kong over the last 10 years, for which has received commendations in recognition of his work. As part of this, he is passionate and committed to improving candidate / sector outcomes in the APAC region by hosting workshops and designing content for Hong Kong based APC candidate surgeries, whilst engaging councillors and assessors to become more involved in supporting candidates.

Ms Du Juan

MRICS Built Environment - Quantity Surveying & Construction

Du (Jane) Juan is a Quantity Surveyor with vast experience in project management and real estate appraisal in the People’s Republic of China. She brings a deep experience of working with and within international organisations as well as key understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese market. Du gained MRICS membership in 2009 and has been an active APC assessor in China for almost 10 years. She is an experienced APC assessor and chair with knowledge spanning over multiple RICS pathways. Du’s work as an assessor won them the award for Devoted Assessors in Eastern China from 2017 to 2019. She has been active in the translation of the Quantity Surveying, Project Management and Evaluation pathway guides and is currently helping to coordinate with other volunteers to maintain consistency in the translated documents.

Howard Spurgin BSc FRICS

Built Environment – Quantity Surveying & Construction

Howard qualified as a Chartered Member of the RICS in 1987 via the Quantity Surveying & Construction pathway and was elected as a Fellow in 2008. His career has been primarily within the UK construction industry, where he has built extensive experience as a Quantity Surveying professional, alongside roles in Project Management and Client Representation. He is currently a Partner at Core Five Consulting Limited, having previously worked at AECOM (formerly Davis Langdon). Howard has been actively involved with the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) model since its inception in the 1990s. Over the years, he has served in multiple capacities including Counsellor, Assessor, Chairperson, Auditor, Mentor, and Appeals Reviewer. His contributions have supported numerous graduates and apprentices in achieving MRICS status. At Core Five, Howard established the firm’s Structured Training Plan and developed a programme of regular seminars to support candidates throughout their training journey. He is passionate about professional development both before and after Chartership. Howard is committed to ensuring that the APC remains a globally respected route to membership—one that evolves to meet continued professionalism, supports candidate needs, and promotes diversity and inclusion across the profession.

Dr Ada Tsang

Lecturer, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Dr Ada Tsang is an experienced quantity surveyor with extensive research experience. She has substantive experience of RICS assessments as she has been an assessor since 2016 and as a chairperson from 2021 onwards. In addition to this, she supports RICS with preliminary reviews and Chartered Alternative Designation (CAD) assessments on a regular basis. Dr Ada Tsang currently works for Hong Kong Metropolitan University as a Lecturer. Before joining the University, she was an Assistant Quantity Surveying Manager of Chinachem Group and was responsible for construction cost management, contract administration and managing consultant QS’s performance. She has participated in wide variety of projects such as major building and civil works from both the client and contractor sides. Dr Ada Tsang brings in-depth knowledge of health and safety with her research investigating safety violations of the construction workers in Hong Kong having won two awards from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Council.

Alex Byrne MRICS

BCS Consultancy, Team Leader - Senior MEP , Cost Consultant

· Member since 2018 · APC mentor within employer organisations and as an external consultant at Property Elite · At Arcadis and CBRE they actively participated in bi-weekly seminar sessions to support candidates develop the requisite knowledge, Q&A and presentation skills to aid them in successful achievement of MRICS status. · Joined BCS Consultancy to support with the development of the APC programme, completing a full review and restructure to help increase the pass rates · Property Elite- supported candidates across AMEA & APAC · APC Assessor, Chair & Counsellor · RICS podcast to discuss the importance of the candidate-counsellor relationship and the importance of an empathetic * proactive approach from both parties in order to achieve a positive APC result. · Passion for DEIB initiatives, have been actively involved in affinity groups and corporate initiatives to review existing processes & policies, and advise management on how these could be improved upon in order to support our people to achieve their personal and professional goals. Alex Byrne has over 10 years of experience as a surveyor with a recent focus on the Data Centre sector across EMEA. Alex has been a member of RICS since 2018 and qualified through the Quantity Surveying and Construction pathway. Difficulties experienced during this process inspired Alex to support candidates throughout their own journeys. As such, she has become an experienced APC mentor across a range of organisations and routes. Alongside Alex’s work, she is passionate about DEIB initiatives and has been actively involved in affinity groups and corporate initiatives to review existing policies and processes to help support people achieve their personal and professional goals.

Caroline Cavill FRICS

Caroline brings a vast array of experience across both the public and private rural sectors. A member of RICS since 2008, Caroline has become an experienced APC assessor and chair as well as providing her expertise to deliver outsourced assessment support. Throughout their career, they have been involved in the design and delivery of professional qualifications; further and higher education, apprenticeships and internal development programmes. She also currently coaches, mentors and supports individuals and firms across the UK.

Chris Kenton FRICS

Product Innovation Surveyor, e.surv Chartered Surveyors

Chris works as a Product Innovation Surveyor with e.surv Chartered Surveyors with responsibility for Home Surveys. In addition to this work, Chris is also involved in the development of professional valuation and sustainability products. Chris’s work therefore covers a multitude of areas. Having worked in private practice in both England and Northern Ireland over the last 30 years, Chris has a considerable wealth of experience ranging across both residential and commercial valuation and the survey of residential property, with particular emphasis on historic and significant buildings. A Fellow of the RICS and a Valuation Member of the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal, Chris has also served as an occasional Guest Lecturer for Ulster University on Level 2 Survey Reports and Building Pathology. In addition to this, Chris sits as an APC Assessor and Chair and is currently working with the RICS to improve the APC Assessment process for Northern Ireland. Chris also chairs the RICS NI Housing & Residential Insight Group. In his limited spare time, Chris likes to play guitar and indulge his passion for landscape photography.

Dorica Muchengwa

Dorica is a Quantity Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry. The last 10 years has been in private practice providing financial contract management services for both building and civil engineering projects. She contributes to higher education as a part-time Engagement Tutor in Real Estate Finance with 2U, an institution partnering with the London School of Economics and Political Science, and as a part-time lecturer for executive Real Estate courses at the University of the Witwatersrand's School of Construction Economics and Management. Dorica's expertise is recognized by both international and local bodies. Alongside her professional work, she is an RICS assessor, chairing APC interview panels and conducting preliminary assessments in Quantity Surveying and Real Estate, and she also serves as an assessor for the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP). She is currently the Lead Assessor for the Middle East and Africa for the Quantity Surveying and construction discipline.

David Street MRICS

Director, Rawlinsons Limited

David is a Rawlinsons Director based in Auckland, having previously held the position of Associate Director at a larger Quantity Surveying practice and Director at DTZ and Jones Lang LaSalle. He is a Quantity Surveyor with extensive project management skills and capabilities and an extensive and accomplished track record of delivering fast track education, commercial, residential, retail and airport projects in both the UK and New Zealand. Furthermore, David is a highly experienced assessor and chairperson with over 20 years of experience. He has collaborated closely with RICS Oceana and has provided his experience and technical expertise in the case of appeals, referral reports and preliminary submissions. David is passionate and committed to assisting RICS within Oceana to continue the growth of the profession and the membership through inclusion, feedback and an in-depth understanding of the industry’s modern needs..

Femi Alofe

Femi has been a Quantity Surveyor for 33 years in both private and public organisations with over 14 years of experience in Claims and Dispute management. He has overseen claims management processes for multi-billion Canadian dollar projects including the Advanced Tunnel Scarborough Subway Extension (ATSSE) Project and before that he spent 12 years leading a team of professionals at the Public Works Authority (PWA) in Qatar. Femi is an active assessor and chairperson for the last ten years whilst also being a mentor and heavily involved in RICS based activities in his home region. Femi is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion with his experience working across four continents enabling him to work with individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, faiths and cultures. Through training and experience as a team leader, he strives to ensure that all team members, irrespective of colour, gender or gender acknowledgement, race and faith are always given equal opportunities to participate, express and register their voices in all matters.

Mandy Spenceley

Mandy is an experienced surveyor across several specialisms as well as being an experienced Board member and Chair with governance experience in the public sector. She is a strategic leader with a focus on building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders and developing effective and resilient teams. She has recent and substantive experience as an RICS Chair, Assessor and Counsellor in the delivery of Associate, APC and SPA assessments over a number of years on a range of land and property pathways and has been recently appointed as an auditor for RICS apprenticeship end point assessments. Mandy is a strong DEI supporter with a keen interest in improving accessibility in assessments and into the profession. They have supported Women in Surveying for a few years including participating in an RICS International Women’s Day panel discussing progression to Fellowship.

Phil Weller

Phil is an experienced real estate professional and Partner at Newmark. He is responsible for delivering multi-service consultancy contracts and advising clients on lease exit matters including; portfolio rationalisation, liability provisioning, the negotiation of surrenders, acquisitions/disposals, re-gears, and break clauses. He has provided expert witness evidence for Court on dilapidations and Section 18 valuations and service charge disputes in Europe. Phil has been involved in graduate recruitment for RICS regulated firms for +10 years. During this time, he has been a strong advocate of blind CV filtering to promote diversity and inclusion. He is an APC Counsellor and an active Chair/Assessor.

Philippe Alexis FRICS

Philippe Alexis, FRICS, 63, qualified as Chartered Surveyor in 2001. He has more than 35 years’ experience in the property sector. Having started his career in the European property finance, he joined CLS Holdings plc in 1997 as Head of the French Operations position in which he is still active.

Shirley Pingxian MRICS

Shirley brings over 27 years of experience in Project Management cost and contract management and has worked separately as a contractor, consultant and as a foreign developer. She has worked on various building projects and has conducted work in land acquisition and construction and asset management. A year after becoming a RICS member in 2009, Shirley became an RICS assessor and has gone onto assess hundreds of assessments in the China region. For her work, Shirley has been awarded the title of Outstanding RICS Assessor multiple times.

Sobha Rani FRICS

Founder Managing Director, Veadik Consulting Solutions, Esttareal Solutions Pvt Ltd

Sobha is one of the first lady members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor in India. With MBA in Construction and Real Estate from University College of Estate Management UK, Sobha’s expertise includes effective business strategies, launching successful start-ups, and spearheading the digital transformation of cost management practices along with sustainability in construction projects. She further lends her expertise as an APC Auditor and Assessor, embodying her commitment to nurturing the growth of fellow professionals. As the Founder and Managing Director of both Esttareal Solutions Pvt Ltd and Veadik Consulting Solutions, she has cemented her legacy as a visionary entrepreneur. The pursuit of a Doctorate in Business Administration further exemplifies Sobha's commitment to continuous learning and leadership in the ever-evolving landscape of her field. Additionally, her role as an Arbitrator on the RICS Panel of Dispute Resolvers & Expert Witnesses showcases her dedication to promoting fairness and integrity within the industry.

Tim Jones FRICS

CEO, Atherstone St. James Ltd

Tim is CEO of Atherstone St. James Ltd, a building surveying and residential valuation practice. Tim specialises in historic building surveys, residential and commercial building surveys, residential valuations and expert witness work in all building surveying disciplines. Tim has been an assessor and chairperson with over 24 years of experience across several pathways. As well as being an auditor, he regularly coaches and trains surveyors in Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Built Infrastructure, Project Management, Facilities Management, Management Consultancy, Planning & Development, Commercial Practice, Rural and Residential pathways. Tim has worked closely with RICS for a number of years, aiding in the delivery and development of training and assessments for various modules and subject areas.

Tim Lee MRICS

ICIOB, B.Sc. (Hons), LLM

LLM Construction Law & Arbitration, BSc (hons) Quantity Surveying, HND Quantity Surveying, RICS APC Assessor, China and Hong Kong (since 2013), RICS APC Chair (since 2023).