Corporate Governance at RICS

Our governance structure

RICS is a Royal Charter body. Our Royal Charter requires RICS to act in the public interest. Under the Royal Charter, RICS’ governing body is the Governing Council, which is responsible for approving RICS strategy and vision, overseeing the effective delivery of the strategy’ as well as standards and regulation. Governing Council is also responsible for approving changes to RICS’ constitution. Governing Council is supported by the Executive Board and expert governance bodies populated by active RICS members, RICS employees and independent non-executives.

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RICS Constitutional Documents

RICS is governed through its constitutional documents which consist of the Royal Charter, Bye-Laws, Regulations and Standing Orders. Changes to the Royal Charter and Bye-Laws can only be amended following a membership vote and approval of Privy Council which is part of the UK government. Governing Council can approve changes to the Regulations and Standing Orders

Royal Charter (PDF 1.11MB)

Published date: 20 February 2020

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Bye Laws (PDF 1.13MB)

Published date: 20 February 2020

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Regulations (PDF 1.07MB)

Published date: 01 January 2023

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RICS Regulatory Framework (PDF 0.40MB)

Published date: 30 October 2022

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Standing Orders (PDF 0.84MB)

Published date: 28 March 2024

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Meet our governance bodies

Governing Council is RICS’ governing body. It delegates responsibilities to the RICS Board, which is akin to a corporate board, but retains the function of setting RICS’s strategy and vision and approving changes to RICS’s constitutional documents. Governing Council oversees the effectiveness of the RICS Board and the Standards and Regulation Board.

RICS Board has delegated responsibility for delivery of the business plan and oversight of operations (excluding standards and regulation).

The Standards and Regulation Board has exclusive responsibility for exercising RICS’ regulatory functions, including strategy, governance, structure, policy and operational oversight in the public interest.

It oversees the activities of RICS’ professional standards, entry and admission to the profession, education and qualification standards, regulatory operations, dispute resolution services and the Regulatory Tribunal.

The Board is independently led and comprises non-members (independent) and members of RICS, and reports to Governing Council.

RICS Governing Council

Governing Council is our highest governing body, setting our global strategy and ensuring RICS fulfils its Royal Charter obligations.

RICS Board

The main purpose of the RICS Board is to have delegated responsibility for delivery of the business plan and oversight of operations (excluding standards and regulation).

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Standards and Regulation Board

The Interim Standards and Regulation Board has exclusive responsibility for exercising RICS' regulatory functions, including strategy, governance, structure, policy and operational oversight in the public interest.

World Regional Boards

RICS has divided its global membership into five world regions which each have a World Regional Board reporting to the Member Services Committee. Each Board is responsible for developing a strategy and business plan for their region.

View all World Regional Boards

Professional Group Panels

Lord Bichard, in his independent review, recommended that professional groups should be established. Following a consultation with members in 2022, Governing Council have established six professional group panels.

Professional Group Panels (PGPs)

The Professional Group Panels will report to the RICS Board and assist the Knowledge and Practice Committee in advancing the profession

The RICS Board is supported by the following Board Commitees

Audit, Risk Assurance and Finance Committee (ARAF Committee)

The main purpose of the ARAF Committee is to monitor the integrity and effectiveness of the financial reporting, internal control and risk...

Nominations and Remuneration Committee

The Nominations and Remuneration Committee plays a strategic role in overseeing and approving changes to the Global Appointments Model and to play an advisory role...

Membership Services Committee

The main purposes of the Member Services Committee (‘MSC’/’Committee’) are to consider and recommend regional business plans developed by World Regional Boards for approval by RICS Board as part of the overall business plan, champion the delivery, and ensure the quality and consistency.

Knowledge and Practice Committee (KPC)

The main purpose the Knowledge and Practice Committee (‘KPC’/ ‘Committee’) is to maintain and develop the knowledge and professional practice of surveying by developing, maintaining and promulgating technical standards.

The Executive Team consists of our CEO and Executive Directors responsible for our Operations, our Profession, our People, our Products, our Reputation and our School of the Built Environment.

Meet the Presidential Team

Our President is the most senior person within RICS, they our leading ambassador and chair Governing Council, our governing body. Our President is supported by the President Elect and Senior Vice President.

Meet our Presidential Team

Meet the Executive Team

The Executive Team is the senior management team at RICS. They are responsible for running the RICS on a day to day basis and for implementing the decisions of the Governing Council, RICS Board and Standards and Regulation Board.

Meet our Executive Team

RICS Corporate Reporting

RICS is accountable to its membership and reports on its progress through the Annual General Meeting and other corporate reports

Corporate Reviews and Reports

Every year RICS provides three reports as part of its annual reporting cycle: the Annual Review, the Annual Report and Accounts, and the Remuneration Report.