Summary of the Governing Council meeting, 25 & 26 September 2025

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 September Governing Council meeting was chaired by Nick Maclean OBE FRICS as Acting President.

Presidential team

• The first day of the September Council meeting was dedicated to the election of the Senior Vice President (SVP) for 2026. Council received presentations from two shortlisted candidates and held question and answer sessions with each of them. Council voted to elect Susanne Eickermann-Riepe as SVP for 2026.
• Council also confirmed, in accordance with the Standing Orders, that for the 2026 session of Governing Council, Nick Maclean would be President and Maureen Ehrenberg would President Elect.

RICS Board Quarterly Report

• Council received and discussed the latest quarterly report from the RICS Board, including the Q2 2025 CEO report, the performance reporting pack and the half-year budget reforecast.

Standards & Regulation Board Quarterly Report

• Council received and discussed the latest quarterly report from the Standards & Regulation Board.

Business Planning & Budget 2026

• Council considered the current position in preparations for the RICS business plan for coming three years and the 2026 budget, noting the key areas of the three-year plan. The business plan and budget are to be presented for final approval in November.  

Entry & Assessment

• Council heard from the chair of the Entry & Assessment Implementation Oversight Group regarding progress in the workstream to implement the new entry and assessment programme. Council noted that a concurrent workstream is adjusting the existing entry and assessment regime to address immediate priorities.

Residential Sector Reform

• Council considered the proposed model being developed by RICS to address impending changes in the regulation of the residential sector, and confirmed its support of the direction of travel presented.

RICS Strategy

• As a continuation of the strategy discussion from the July meeting, Council reviewed and was supportive of the proposals of the working group for amendments to RICS vision and strategic goals at the mid-point of the current three-year strategy.

RICS Independent Review 2025

• Council approved the appointment of the reviewer to carry out the 2025 Independent Review, and approved the reviewer’s terms of reference.

Questions from Members

• Council noted that a response was being formulated for approval to a question received regarding RICS communication channels. Council’s response is to be published separately.