On Thursday 26 June, RICS held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Great George Street. The AGM is an opportunity for members to hear updates on the activities and performance of the Institution, as well as ask questions to Acting President and Acting Chair of Governing Council Nick Maclean OBE RD FRICS IRRV (Hons) and CEO Justin Young.
On the day, the AGM welcomed almost 350 in-person and online attendees, who ranged from Members, Fellows, Candidates and Students.
During the AGM, we showcased our commitment to transforming member feedback into strategic action, highlighting the achievements we’ve made during 2024 and our ambitions for the year ahead. More information on our achievements can be found in the 2024 Annual Review.
Placing members at the heart of what we do
Members heard from an array of RICS colleagues and member speakers on activities against strategic pillars, in line with the feedback identified from the past year. They also heard from Nigel Clarke, Standards and Regulation Board (SRB) Chair, and Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs, SRB member, on the latest updates from SRB.
The AGM included updates on:
Key updates for the year ahead
At the AGM, members heard about the next steps for 2025 and beyond. In the forward look, we reinforced its commitment to professional excellence and member support through 3 key updates:
1) Maintaining and upholding professional standards
Following successful public consultations in early 2025, we revealed plans to launch two upcoming standards in the autumn: Responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and countering financial crime.
These standards align with the Institution’s aim to support surveyors through evolving trends in the markets, especially AI.
In addition, we will hold a public consultation on the Home Survey standard – a crucial standard for not just members, but also the wider public. We also have plans to consult members on whether there is a need for a home survey scheme, proposed to provide greater oversight of member activity. The consultation is due for early autumn.
2) Elevating local value to the membership
We plan to expand its member engagement events, as well as work closely with World Regional Boards and Regional Advisory Boards. Through this collaboration, this ensures activities are informed by local insights and member expertise.
In addition, we will continue to deliver updated standards and thought leadership. For example, the Institution plans to hold a public consultation on Global Construction standards and supporting guidance (formerly known as the Black Book). Members will be consulted on repurposing this existing body of knowledge.
3) Enhancing membership ecosystem and pathways
We continue our plans for a significant overhaul to the Entry and Assessment process, following a final report on the process’ review. The changes aim to create a clearer, more consistent and inclusive process, built for today and the future.
In addition, there will be further updates to the CPD framework as we implement the recommendations approved by the CPD Framework Steering Group. Members can expect enhanced functionality, such as logging in CPD easily through the website and a new member app, as well as an improved portfolio of courses and products. It’s important to note that no changes to the CPD process will be implemented before January 2026.
With all these initiatives, we reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with boards and representatives from across the Institution. This is to ensure that they deliver value to members, and RICS remains an experience-led and member-centric Institution.
You can watch the AGM back and read the Q&A report on its dedicated webpage.