The RICS Podcast

The surveying profession is facing a skills challenge that extends beyond attracting new entrants. So where are the biggest skills gaps in surveying, and how do we address them in the long-term?

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Simon Rubinsohn is joined by Ravvy Kaur MRICS and Grace Conisbee MRICS to explore this on a global scale - from the shortage of mid-career professionals and the challenge of retaining talent, to the transition from technical expertise to leadership. 

They discuss how mentoring, workplace culture and lifelong learning can support career development, while considering how AI and digital tools may change the work without replacing professional judgement.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The shortage of mid-career professionals and its impact on firms and the wider profession
• Retention, workplace culture and clear career progression
• The move from technical work into management, leadership and commercial decision-making
• How AI and digital tools can support efficiency while retaining professional judgement
• Mentoring, lifelong learning and developing the next generation

Simon Rubinsohn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rubinsohn-43124162/

Grace Conisbee MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-conisbee-mrics-95a233132/

Ravvy Kaur MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravvy-kaur/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Professional standards shape the advice people rely on across the built and natural environment. 

As the profession works across borders and faces new challenges in areas such as conflicts of interest, sustainability and artificial intelligence, the question is not only what standards say, but how they earn trust and work in practice. 

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, we explore what professional standards mean for the people who rely on a surveyor’s advice, and how they build trust across markets and borders.

Charles Golding is joined by Jose Covas and Pauline Wong to explore how standards guide difficult decisions, help professionals identify and manage conflicts of interest, and provide a consistent professional language for working across jurisdictions. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• How professional standards support client confidence, clear advice and consistent professional judgement.
• Why identifying, documenting and communicating conflicts of interest early is essential to protecting trust.
• How international standards provide a shared professional baseline while working alongside local laws and practices.
• Why standards are a shared responsibility, shaped by independent oversight, practitioner experience and stakeholder input.
• How AI, sustainability and digitalisation are creating new challenges—and why professional responsibility remains central.

RICS Regulation Hub

https://www.rics.org/regulation

RICS iConsult

https://consultations.rics.org/

Charles Golding

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-golding-23512b175/

José Covas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jos%C3%A9-covas/

Pauline Wong

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinewong669903/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Every infrastructure project requires the work of a surveyor, and when developing economies and public opportunity this role is akin to that of a ‘silent hero’.

In this episode of the RICS Podcast, host Kieran Halliwell is joined by Dorothy Natukunda MRICS, Principal Government Valuer at Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. 

This special member profile tracks her route into the industry, landmark work on the Standard Gauge Railway project, and how she’s balancing technical demands with empathetic stakeholder engagement to bring the project to life.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Dorothy’s journey into surveying and her influential role in Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
• The complexities and human impact of land acquisition for major infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge Railway
• The importance of proactive stakeholder engagement and transparent communication in public sector valuation work
• The influence of international standards like RICS on local practice and professional development in Uganda
• The evolving opportunities for women and young professionals in the surveying and valuation profession

Dorothy Natukunda MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natukunda-dorothy-mrics/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

New Zealand’s ‘Central Interceptor Tunnel’ project represents a huge step towards upgrading the territory’s infrastructure for decades to come.

Central to its success is this week’s guest on The RICS Podcast, Dr Inoka Withana Gamage MRICS, Principal Contracts and Commercial Manager at Jacobs New Zealand.

In this member profile, Inoka talks us through the delivery of such a major project, the importance of collaboration, and how commercial and contract management plays its role in one of New Zealand’s largest landmark projects.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The engineering and delivery complexities behind New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project, the Central Interceptor Tunnel
• The importance of collaborative working and stakeholder engagement in delivering major infrastructure
• Leadership lessons and the value of practical, adaptable management plans in large-scale projects
• The role of commercial and contract management in mitigating risk and ensuring project success
• Professional growth, continuous learning, and advice for early-career professionals in the built environment sector

Dr Inoka Withana Gamage

https://www.linkedin.com/in/inoka-withana-gamage-722a4b2b/?originalSubdomain=nz

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

The Jewry Wall Museum plays a core role in Leicester’s history, and RICS member Emily Thorpe Jones MRICS has been the Project Manager on the it’s revamp since 2022. 

In this first member profile episode of The RICS Podcast, Emily speaks with Podcast Lead Kieran Dhunna Halliwell to share the complexities behind managing  a major heritage conservation project, and the collaborative efforts required to balance historical preservation with modern visitor experiences. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The transformation and revitalization of the Jewry Wall Museum as a significant Roman heritage site in Leicester
• Complexities and rewards of managing large-scale heritage conservation projects, including overcoming contractor insolvencies and logistical challenges
• Collaboration among project managers, conservation officers, archaeologists, artists, and specialist contractors in delivering successful outcomes
• The evolving role of technology in the surveying profession and its impact on heritage projects
• The crucial role of community engagement and public advocacy in preserving and valuing historic buildings for future generations

Modus LiDAR Article

https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/modus/technology-and-data/harnessing-data/lidar-preserving-historic-monuments.html

Emily Thorpe Jones MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-thorpe-jones-a62a68154/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

One of the widest-reaching impacts that can be seen from surveyors’ work is the sustainable growth of global infrastructure.

In this episode of the RICS podcast, host Kieran Halliwell is joined by Tom Haithwaite, a surveyor whose work is transforming public infrastructure in Peru. 

Tom shares his experiences navigating cultural differences, implementing sustainable solutions, and the lasting impact that well-executed public projects can have on society. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The complexities and challenges of developing public infrastructure, particularly healthcare facilities, in Peru
• The importance of early stakeholder engagement and understanding local needs to ensure successful project outcomes
• Balancing cost efficiency, functionality, and user experience in public sector construction projects
• Integrating sustainable technologies and practices despite budgetary and operational constraints
• The value of international experience and transferable skills in driving impactful change in other nations

Thomas Haithwaite MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-h-b4542961/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

From the very start of enrollment to the APC, your APC Diary becomes one of the most vital tools in helping you document your progression. So what should the diary look like by the time you’re ready for assessment?

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Adam Quinn speaks with APC assessors Steve Joel-Dicks FRICS, and Alicia Styring MRICS, to share what makes a good APC Diary, what shows maturity and progressions, and some common pitfalls to avoid.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The importance of maintaining a consistent and detailed APC diary to support professional development and assessment readiness
• Best practices for diary entries, including context and justification for competency selection
• Common mistakes candidates make, such as misclassifying experiences and neglecting to refer to the pathway guide
• The value of tracking growth and progression through diary entries, and using visual tools to identify gaps in experience
• The role of ownership and responsibility in the APC process

Steve Joel-Dicks FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-joel-dicks-mapm-frics-1a65b713/?originalSubdomain=uk

Alicia Styring MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-styring-mrics-494aa412a/

Adam Quinn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-quinn-395938265/?originalSubdomain=uk

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Across the built environment, traditional centralised approaches to data management are being challenged by increasingly complex project teams, diverse data sources, and rising regulatory expectations around governance, transparency and accountability.

In this episode of the RICS Podcast, Ashley Stewart‑Noble is joined by James Garner FRICS, Head of AI and Data at Gleeds, to demystify federated data and explore what it means for surveyors accessing and interrogating information across multiple systems, teams and organisations, without the need to copy or move a single file.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• What federated data is, and what its use really means for surveyors 
• Why rapidly growing project data and tighter governance is moving federated data up the agenda at this point in time
• The difference between federated analytics and federated learning
• What surveying can learn from other sectors’ use of data
• Why professional judgement, AI literacy and audit trails are essential to trustworthy use of federated data

James Garner FRICS: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgarner1976/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Recorded live at UKREiiF in Leeds, this week’s special episode of The RICS podcast features Lynda Rawsthorne FRICS, UK Government Head of Property Profession and RICS Governing Council member, to explore how surveying underpins the delivery of critical public assets.

Against a context of public spending scrutiny, rapid advances in AI & technology, and a growing skills gap, Lynda joins host Harry Chafer to examine the real social value created by surveyors.

They touch on, the evolving competency needs of the profession, and the RICS’s pivotal role for inspiring the next generation of professionals in the built and natural environment.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• How Lynda has built a varied civil service career and why purpose keeps her in the public sector
• The tangible social impact of work within the built environment 
• What public scrutiny, gateway reviews and evolving net-zero standards mean for programmes like HS2 and other major builds
• The future of surveying: skills, AI and the talent pipeline

Lynda Rawsthorne FRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynda-rawsthorne-bsc-ma-frics-fapm-fciob-fiwfm-chpp-98751919/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Surveying careers do not always follow a linear path from school to university and into chartered practice - no two pathways are the same. 

In this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, host Kieran Halliwell speaks with Lisa Cowie MRICS, Associate Director at FG Burnett, about her journey into commercial property via a non-traditional route. 

Their conversation explores how life experience, transferable skills and alternative pathways such as AssocRICS, apprenticeships and part-time study can support entry into the profession at any stage in life, contributing to a more diverse and resilient surveying workforce.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Lisa’s unconventional career journey to becoming an Associate Director and MRICS commercial surveyor
• Transferable skills and non-traditional routes into the industry
• Balancing study, work and family life while pursuing professional qualifications
• Tackling skills shortages and widening access across surveying
• How supportive employers, mentors and creative initiatives can raise awareness and attract more diverse talent into the built environment

Lisa Cowie

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-cowie-a417b3372/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

https://www.rics.org/uk/

RICS Podcast Page

https://www.rics.org/podcast/