Update from Justin Young, RICS CEO – July 2025

June saw us gather for the 2025 RICS annual general meeting (AGM). It was a privilege to be joined by hundreds of members, both online and in person, and to hear from the many members who took to the stage to speak about their work with RICS. Thank you for your commitment to our organisation.

You can read a summary of the event and even watch a recording of the whole session here. Many members submitted questions in advance of the AGM, and several more asked questions on the day. You’ll find answers in a Q&A report that’s available via that same link.

For me, the highlights of the AGM were sharing news of our ongoing transformation projects and celebrating the growth of Matrics. In 2024, Matrics launched internationally, hosting 60 events across cities including Dubai, Delhi, Paris, Rome, Sydney, and Toronto, engaging more than 1,000 members. These events have set the stage for continued growth and engagement of next-gen talent on a global scale.

Another theme of the AGM was the devolving of resources for local initiatives. More and more grassroots activities are taking hold in all our global regions, empowering everything from candidate progression to shaping best practice.

In recent months, we’ve held events in Italy, Spain, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Oman, specifically to support candidates in those localities, raise the profile of surveying as a career option and strengthen the future talent pipeline. We’ve held sustainability focussed events that increase usage and understanding of our standards and tools, welcoming hundreds of attendees across Europe. Sessions in the US, Italy and the UK have enhanced understanding of the Red Book and its importance.

From careers fairs to conferences, training programmes to networking events, we’re increasingly active in spaces that are more accessible for you. You should notice a further rise in opportunities and engagements as our new operating model beds in and our transformation project continues.

If you’d like to play a hand in the transformation journey, I urge you to consider standing in our upcoming Governing Council elections. RICS Governing Council is the strategic leadership body that provides independent oversight and governance underpinning everything RICS does. It oversees entry requirements and the setting and enforcement of professional standards to deliver confidence in the built and natural environment. The Council also shapes RICS' priorities as an influential thought leader.

Applications for the RICS Governing Council elections are open until 12 August and 11 seats are available. We’re searching for specialists in Building Surveying and Building Control, Residential Property, and Land and Natural Resources to take up professional group seats. Meanwhile, four regional seats are available in the UK and Ireland, and one each for the America’s, Asia-Pacific and Europe. There is also an opportunity for a professional under 30 to fill our dedicated next-generation seat.

Your voice and perspective could help shape the future of our profession. Please apply here now if you’re passionate about creating change in RICS that uplifts our profession and our work in the public interest.

We depend on your input. Your enthusiasm for shaping RICS is valued beyond measure and what’s more, it’s integral to our charter. That same charter requires RICS to act in the public interest, and you may have noticed my comment last week in response to UK Government leasehold reforms. Not only does this present an opportunity for us to raise standards, but to raise demand for the services of RICS members. Around 30% of leasehold properties are managed by an RICS Regulated Firm.

The consultation that the government announced last week will look at introducing existing measures with the current Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, and a range of new reforms, including mandatory qualifications for managing agents.  We will be updating our Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Hub with more information and will be responding to the consultation. If you would like to be part of our response, please contact knowledge@rics.org

As the Government works to improve transparency in the leasehold sector, we’re working to ensure that our members are positioned to support Government and the public using our regulatory experience and existing infrastructure.

This work, while crucial to the public interest , is also critical to our work to increase the value of RICS membership, a pillar of our strategy. Across the UK and around the world, we’re working to meet you where you are, with the right information and resources. We’re changing and improving every day, and while our recent AGM provided opportunity to reflect on the journey so far, rest assured, there is more to come.