RICS Building Surveying Conference 2026
Convene 155 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 3YD
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From £260.18 + VAT
Overview
The RICS Building Surveying Conference highlights how fast the profession is changing and offers attendees a chance to stay up to date with current shifts in legislation and market trends. Every session is designed to speak directly to the pressures building surveyors will face in the year to come. Presenters include experienced surveyors, legal experts and regulators who can provide guidance grounded in real world case studies and demonstrate best practice within the profession.
Throughout the day, the programme gives surveyors the kind of guidance that strengthens judgment and reduces professional risk. Early in the day attendees will explore case law and compliance in building and fire safety, highlighting common areas of liability and providing guidance on Gateway submissions, external wall systems, and the responsibilities of duty holders. Analysis of defects, including damp, mould, and façades teach attendees how to diagnose problems with confidence and defend decisions when projects fall under scrutiny.
This conference will provide surveyors with clear, practical support, strengthening existing skills while enabling the safe adoption of new technologies. Delegates will learn how to communicate effectively and produce reports that clients can understand and trust. Expert guidance on retrofit, EPCs, and conservation will help surveyors deliver low-carbon performance without compromising heritage, structural integrity, or client expectations. In addition, the event will cover the latest RICS professional guidance on the responsible use of AI, ensuring attendees can embrace innovation ethically and safely.
By the end of the day, delegates leave better equipped to handle regulatory pressure, manage complex risks, and deliver work in a robust, clear, and defensible manner. The conference provides a collaborative environment where surveyors can learn from leading practitioners, build confidence in emerging areas, and return to work with knowledge that adds value straight away.
Published date: 01 December 2025
Learning outcomes
Broaden professional perspectives through collaboration with a diverse array of industry experts, practitioners, and regulators.
Enhance understanding of building safety, reinforce professional credibility, and avoid legal and financial exposure by learning about the latest case-law and legislative changes from the Building Safety Act.
Improve their assessment accuracy and prevent costly mistakes by learning an evidence-based approach to identifying and remediating building defects.
Exploring sustainable retrofit, including fabric assessment, insulation and ventilation upgrades, will help attendees balance environmental performance and regulatory requirements in energy-efficient building projects.
Receive updates on fire safety, façade defects, and professional risk management strengthening examination of emerging threats, duty-of-care, and industry best practices.
Gain insight on evolving EPC and MEES standards, enabling surveyors to guide clients confidently, ensure compliance, and enhance the long-term value of properties.
Improve their dispute resolution and legal risk management skills through the learning from the latest case studies in party walls, neighbourly conflicts, and dilapidations.
Learn what the further development of AI means for building surveyors under RICS governance standards and how to use new technology to improve efficiency ethically.
Gain the ability to make informed client decisions, strengthen professional authority, and achieve measurable project outcomes through clearer and more impactful reports.
What previous attendees said
“The presentations were generally informative and felt up to date and current.”
“Managed to have some interesting conversations with other surveyors about issues raised at conference.”
“The sessions were generally informative and well thought out providing relevant information and updates.”
“Good content and right length for each session.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed a well organised and well-presented conference, well done.”
“The speakers were almost without exception, excellent. The range of topics was absolutely right for the issues affecting Building Surveyors now.”
“The conference had excellent content and good networking opportunities.”
“Speakers knowledgeable in their subject. Comfortable surroundings. Well managed event.”
Speakers
Helen McKeown MRICS
Director, Building Consultancy, AECOM
Helen’s current role heading up Building Surveying in the North West also allows her to focus on her favourite topics of technical due diligence (TDD) and dilapidations service lines. With more than 20 years post qualified experience across a broad range of building surveying services, including building pathology and project management. she speaks regularly at conferences on various topics and has developed and delivered internal training courses to enhance and build the skills of building surveying and engineering colleagues. She has delivered TDD and dilapidations instructions for major institutional investors and some of the largest property companies in the world. Working across all sectors in the UK and across Europe, Helen has advised clients on hotels, student accommodation, offices, logistics and retail assets, as well as more esoteric assets such as arenas, pharmaceutical manufacturing, distilleries and life sciences. Helen has previously worked for JLL, Watts and Manchester-centric SME’s. Helen is an active member of the RICS as Chair of the BS&BC PGP and is an APC Assessor for the Building Surveying pathway. Her interests are in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion within the RICS.
James Baker FRICS
Managing Director, Invise Ltd.
James is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Founder of Invise, providing comprehensive building surveying and project management services across the UK. With extensive RICS involvement and leadership roles, he also mentors APC candidates and contributes to industry publications and awards as a judge and editorial advisor.
Trevor Rushton FRICS FCABE ACIArb
Group Chairman, Watts
Trevor Rushton FRICS is Chairman of Watts Group Limited and one of the UK’s leading authorities on building pathology and construction defects. With over 40 years’ experience, he has shaped industry knowledge through his long-standing editorship of the Watts Pocket Handbook and authorship of influential texts including Deleterious and Hazardous Building Materials and Defects in Industrial and Commercial Buildings. A Fellow of the RICS and an experienced Expert Witness, Trevor is regularly appointed in complex defect-related disputes and is a nationally recognised commentator on issues such as RAAC, with appearances on BBC News and Times Radio. His clarity, integrity and deep technical expertise have earned him a reputation as one of the profession’s most trusted voices.
Dr Benjamin Ralph PhD CEng FIFireE FIMechE
Director, Head of Building Safety and Fire, Hollis
Dr Benjamin Ralph is a Director at independent real estate consultancy, Hollis and Head of our Building Safety and Fire Service. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of both the Institution of Fire Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, he has over 16 years’ experience in fire science and engineering. Dr Benjamin holds a First-Class MEng in Civil Engineering, a Distinction in PGDip Fire Safety Engineering, and a PhD in Fire Science. He specialises in building safety, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and risk-based design. His work spans strategy development, fire experiments, modelling, and on-site verification. He also contributes to industry standards through his roles with the IMechE Construction Building Services Division and the Building Safety Regulator’s Advisory Committee.
Samantha Organ FRICS
Director / Associate Professor, Black Cat Building Consultancy / University of the West of England
Samantha is a building surveyor, a fellow of the RICS and Associate Member of the ICE. She divides her time between academia and practice, and uses her expertise to provide advice and strategic guidance on sustainability for built assets. As Director for ESG at Black Cat Building Consultancy, she advises a range of clients on ESG, sustainability and carbon reduction across built assets and portfolios. Samantha previously worked for the National Trust, Europe's largest conservation charity as a surveyor and in the directorate to provide national guidance on sustainability for built assets. In academia, Samantha is an Associate Professor for Building Sustainability at the University of the West of England, Bristol where she lectures and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students. Her research primarily focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency in existing buildings. She has written numerous publications for a range of audiences, including academic papers, reports, professional and newspaper articles. Samantha has previously actively involved with the RICS through boards and committees. She mentors early career surveyors including through the Mentoring Partnership.
Siobhan Cross
Partner , Pinsent Masons
Siobhan is a partner in the property group at Pinsent Masons with over 25 years’ experience acting for commercial property clients. Siobhan now specialises in climate and sustainability issues affecting the built environment. She advises real estate clients on current and proposed climate change related regulatory and policy issues, on related strategy and on incorporating the increasing climate and sustainability factors in real estate related due diligence and in development and leasing documents . She sits on the sustainability committees of the IPF and the BPF and was a member of the steering group and the lead legal editor for the Better Building Partnership’s Green Lease Toolkit. She has advised clients on and written and spoken on Energy Performance Certificates and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard.
Jay Ridings MRICS
Senior Director, Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT) Ltd
Jay Ridings is a Senior Director and a chartered building surveyor (MRICS) and leads the technical due diligence service line, as well as contributing to the TFT leadership groups for fund monitoring and fire safety. Jay has a keen interest in developing and improving TFT’s reporting, adopting the latest technology to communicate survey findings, streamlining the TDD process to assist transactions and providing holistic, commercial advice, integrating all of TFT’s specialisms. Jay has many years of experience having worked for JLL and Watts in London before moving to Bristol. He is on the RICS Built Environment Journal editorial panel and has spoken regularly for the RICS on technical due diligence in commercial property, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and dilapidations. Jay is also a RICS APC Assessor and has recently joined the RICS’ global sector advisory group for building.
Tim Hillier
Partner , Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Irene F Moore LLB
Partner & Party Walls and Neighbourly Matters Surveyor, Fetto Moore & Co
Sponsor
Building Transformation
Building Transformation simplifies building envelope repairs and maintenance through safe specialist access, technical insight and a collaborative approach. We repair and maintain façades, roofs, glazing and atriums using proven access methods. Our services include façade and curtain wall repairs, cleaning, restoration, drainage and rainwater maintenance, roof works, and leak detection. Our teams are fully trained in rope access, cradle systems, MEWPs and safety-line solutions to deliver safe, efficient work on any structure.
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