Celebrating the strength of Welsh membership - now and for years to come
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25 June 2026
After delivering a session at this month’s Wales Conference, chief valuer at the Valuation Office (VO) , Alan Colston MRICS, discusses the vitality of the Welsh RICS membership, and his role on RICS’ Governing Council.
For Alan, whether valuing major assets, developing future surveyors or representing members on the Governing Council, the goal is the same: leaving the profession stronger than he found it.
"I’d describe the conference as uplifting," Alan says. "A real opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and other members."
This year’s event, held at Sophia Gardens cricket ground in Cardiff, saw more than 200 members join together to gather insights on housing, business rates, energy efficiency and infrastructure, alongside discussions on mental health, economic trends and cost management.
"We saw just how much the RICS Wales Board has done in reinvigorating the region," says Alan. "There was a real buzz in the room. I attend plenty of conferences and this kind of atmosphere – the enthusiasm and energy – isn’t the norm. It was a real pleasure to be there."
He adds, "The AI session in particular was excellent."
"The AI session in particular was excellent" Alan Colston MRICS
Understanding and implications of the 2026 Revaluation
Alan’s own session (hosted alongside Helen Edwards MRICS, director at WSP GL Hearn, and Jane Shankland MRICS, director at Cooke & Arkwright) explored the outcomes of the latest three-yearly revaluation cycle and its impact on business rates across all sectors.
"It was great to deliver a session where both agents and government spoke together – that’s a little unusual. We agree on most points: improving transparency, the challenges of delivering a three- yearly revaluation and the cyclical nature of the workload and property markets.
"I hope that attendees left the session with some appreciation of the scale of our work in the Valuation Office," Alan says. "During a revaluation, we deliver 8,000 valuations a day. We’re larger than any other property assessment authority in the world. With that comes brilliant value for money. Nobody else can do what we do - at the scale that we do it."
Developing talent in Wales
Alan’s role sees his time split between people management and technical work, ranging from public sector valuations to high-profile projects. Based in the Cardiff office, he’s also been instrumental in training a rising number of surveying professionals and increasing retention among those who come through the ranks at the VO.
"When I was appointed as chief valuer, we attracted and trained 25 surveyors every year, but we lost 50 largely through retirements. Now, we have 100 new surveyors coming through our ranks every year and we have over 600 property trainees."
For Alan, who describes beginning his 36-year career in an administrative role and working through the ranks , the development of talent is among the most rewarding aspects of his role. "I want to make a difference" he says.
Representing members and making a difference
That desire to make a difference also explains Alan’s decision to run for election to RICS’ Governing Council. Next month, he’ll meet with the board in Wales to discuss members’ priorities across the country.
"Members of the Governing Council are there to represent the RICS membership," he says, "so it’s important that I take the time to understand what members in Wales are thinking. From there, I can help influence RICS’ strategic direction. How can we make the best choices for members, for standards and to evolve and change with the times?"
Meeting with the Wales Board will also support Alan in uncovering outreach work and identifying opportunities to make an impact that may not, otherwise, have come to light.
"My role also includes England and Scotland, so I plan to meet with regional boards throughout the country. I am Welsh and based in Wales, and I think Wales is truly setting the pace at the moment, so I’m starting here," he adds.
The underlying theme throughout Alan’s work – from his role on the Governing Council, to his technical valuation and drive for talent development – is a firm commitment to improving his profession and the institutions he interacts with.
"I want to leave everywhere I work in a better place than I found it," he says.
