Summary of the Governing Council meeting, 22 & 23 January 2026

Council is keen to engage with our members and to hear your questions and views and we will be setting time aside on each meeting agenda for this purpose.  If you have a question to raise with Council please visit Ask Governing Council (rics.org).

Governing Council membership

• The January Governing Council meeting was chaired by Nick Maclean as the first Council meeting of his term as President.
• This was also the first meeting at which nine new Council members were able to participate as members. The new members comprise the 2026 SVP and eight elected members whose terms of office started on 1 January 2026.
• At the start of the meeting, each newly elected member addressed Council to explain their previous involvement with RICS and why they stood for election to Council.
   

Annual assurance reports

• Council conducted its annual session for assurance regarding the RICS governance structure, with reference to written assurance reports received from the RICS Board, the Standards and Regulation Board, the Audit Risk Assurance and Finance Committee, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, the Knowledge and Practice Committee and the Global Members Committee.
• Each Board or Committee Chair presented the key considerations from their report and participated in a Q&A session with Council.
• The outcome was that Council was assured that the Boards and Committees were operating effectively and had discharged their duties during 2025 as set out in their respective terms of reference.
   

RICS Independent Review – interim update

• Council received an interim update on the Independent Review from the external reviewer, Strat-edgy, and discussed at length the emerging conclusions and areas presently identified for focus.
• Council noted that the final review findings are due to be presented to the March GC meeting.
   

Universities and schools engagement plan

• Council received and discussed a presentation on the RICS approach to engaging the next generation of Chartered Surveyors, including a case study of the approach in practice in the UK with a practical perspective from the RICS Next Generation team, which encompasses engagement for schools, universities, candidates and Matrics.
   

Diversity Equity & Inclusion

• Council continued its discussion from the November GC meeting on DEI strategy and priority campaigns, with particular focus on attracting diverse students through ‘Inspired to Hired’ and a focus on gender balance through ’30 by 30’ as 2026 priority workstreams, and Council approved the 2026-2030 DEI strategy.
• It is noted that RICS must adopt a balanced approach to mark major world religious holidays.
   

Fellowship

• Council confirmed its support for work to review and enhance the criteria, offering and holistic value proposition of FRICS status.
• Council confirmed its appetite to explore a route for further recognition of eminent individuals and leaders of exceptional standing within surveying sectors.
   

Qualifications & Professional Development transformation programme

• Council received and discussed an update on the Qualifications & Professional Development programme (formerly known as Entry & Assessments).
• It was noted that the programme scope has broadened to cover the end-to-end experience of becoming an RICS member and has expanded to involve workstreams across the whole organisation.
   

Questions from Members

• Council approved a response to a question received regarding RICS’ use of email and LinkedIn as a medium for communications with members.