Update from Justin Young, RICS CEO - September 2026

Recently I have been reflecting on relevance. It is a word I hear often when talking about surveying, whether in conversations about the skills needed to deliver more homes, the way we connect with students considering their future careers, or how surveying adapts to technological change and reform. For me, relevance is about the extent we are helping chartered surveyors remain trusted, equipped for the future and in-demand.

I want to ensure that chartered status remains meaningful now and in the future, and it is one of the main reasons you tell us you see value in being part of RICS. Reviewing member research from Survey of the Profession along with feedback from Shaping the Future, this topic comes through loud and clear. You’ve told us that professional standards, the status and credibility of chartered membership, regulation, and learning and CPD are all key to keeping our profession relevant.

That’s why the adoption of global standards such as the responsible use of AI in surveying and strengthened CPD through mandatory topics and reflection are essential as they drive up professionalism and protect the long-term reputation of our profession. It is also why we are undertaking a transformation of our qualification and professional development programme to ensure that we future- proof the profession. Alongside that, some of the important but less visible work to maintain confidence in the profession continues through firm oversight, compliance reviews and tribunal cases led by our regulatory team.

I’ve recently seen for myself how RICS accreditation is valued internationally during a visit to Singapore and China where I met local members, universities and organisations helping to create routes into the profession and support existing members. These conversations reinforced a key point: RICS is strongest when our global and trusted standards are matched with local networks and a clear understanding of local markets.

I also recognise the areas in which our work as a professional body needs to be more visible. Firstly, we need to ensure we continue to have a strong voice that influences policy on the topics that impact the profession, be it around skills, technology or building safety.

Consultation responses, expert roundtables and direct engagement ensure that our policy recommendations are based on practical experience and evidence of our members. A key topic in the UK right now is the potential reform within the residential sector, including to the home buying and selling process, and we are in close discussions with government representatives around the role of surveyors in these changes.