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/

Kieran Halliwell

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

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/

Kieran Halliwell

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

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/

Kieran Halliwell

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

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/

Kieran Halliwell

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

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/

Kieran Halliwell

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

Despite sustained efforts to promote equality, the gender pay gap remains a persistent feature of the real estate and construction sectors, and headline figures alone rarely convey the full picture.

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, host Maria Wiedner MRICS is joined by Dr. Manuela Galetto and Dr. Fuk Ying Tse, as we step behind the statistics to ask what’s really driving the differences in pay between men and women across the sector and how bonus culture, billable hours, and undervalued “glue work” all shape outcomes. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• How real estate compares on gender pay vs other sectors and the national average
• Complexity and limitations of gender pay gap data, and what can disproportionately swing the figures
• The fundamental differences between the gender pay gap vs unequal pay 
• Company responses and interventions to gender pay gap reporting figures
• Valuing women’s work and “glue work” in the age of AI

Maria Wiedner MRICS

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

Fuk Ying Tse

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fuk-ying-tse-133112126/

Manuela Galetto

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-galetto-b9bb64242/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

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

RICS Podcast Page

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

Kieran Halliwell

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

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are an essential part of the built environment, providing opportunities for young professionals to enter the industry.

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, industry leaders from the surveying and built environment sector share candid insights into the realities of running and growing small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

Jennifer Hobart MRICS is joined by Dominic Doig FRICS, Zaman Sheikh AssocRICS and Sean Pearson AssocRICS to share how SMEs are adopting new technologies, balancing growth with quality, and innovating within the industry.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The unique challenges and opportunities of running and growing an SME in the built environment sector
• Leadership, management skills, and effective delegation for sustainable business success
• Adopting new technologies to improve efficiency and remain competitive
• Sector-wide talent shortages and the role of SMEs in providing diverse training and career opportunities
• Strong, long-term client relationships and maintaining high service quality in a competitive market

Dominic Doig FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-doig-a2b72b19/

Jennifer Hobart MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-hobart-mrics-b6954552/

Zaman Sheikh AssocRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaman-sheikh/

Sean Pearson AssocRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-pearson-65241442/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

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

RICS Podcast Page

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

Kieran Halliwell

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

Reinforced concrete transfer slabs have become a frontline building safety concern, particularly in medium and high-rise mixed-use and residential schemes. 

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, host Gary Strong FRICS is joined by Patrick Hayes, Trevor Rushton FRICS and Nick Knight MRICS to unpack the emerging risks around reinforced concrete transfer slabs. 

They explore what transfer slabs are, why they have become a critical building safety concern in the UK, and how issues such as punching shear, historic design practices, and incomplete records affect today’s risk profile.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• What reinforced concrete transfer slabs are, where they are typically found, and why they’ve emerged as a building safety issue
• How punching shear and concentrated loads create risks not fully covered by historic codes and standard design practice
• The roles and responsibilities of those responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing transfer slabs
• Practical approaches to assessment and mitigation of risk around transfer slabs

Gary Strong FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-strong-bsc-hons-frics-fciarb-c-builde-fcabe-fcila-b52667b/

Patrick Hayes FIStructE

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-hayes-b23b5778/

Trevor Rushton FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-rushton-15348222/

Nick Knight MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-knight-77277064/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

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

RICS Podcast Page

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

Kieran Halliwell

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

The MIPIM Challengers initiative creates space for the next generation of professionals to share fresh ideas and new perspectives, and this year’s winners include Betsy Brady and Ioana Orzea.

Betsy & Ioana join James Fiske on this episode of The RICS Podcast to share their approach to rethinking embodied carbon as an asset, how we can educate others on driving sustainability in real estate, and young professionals’ drive to decarbonise the built environment.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Treating embodied carbon not as a one-time cost, but as a resource to be managed and amortised over a building's lifecycle
• The MIPIM Challengers showcasing how younger professionals are driving creative solutions to decarbonise the built environment
• The importance of measuring and tracking carbon emissions throughout a building's entire lifecycle
• Upskilling professionals by developing consistent carbon pricing methodologies and creating career paths focused on carbon management
• Strategies for measuring, reducing, and accounting for embodied carbon

This episode was first released on 14 April 2025.

James Fiske

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-fiske-bcis/

Betsy Brady

https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-brady-853348148/

Ioana Orzea

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioana-orzea-60637813a/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

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

RICS Podcast Page

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

Kieran Halliwell

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

George Clarke HonRICS is an architect, television presenter, campaigner and educator whose position allows him to bridge gaps between the built environment and those less acquainted with the construction industry.

In this episode of The RICS Podcast (originally broadcast in December 2024), George joins Emma Martin MRICS and Ayo Ajayi MRICS as they discuss his passion for construction, the industry’s image, the value of work experience and how to make progress with diversity in construction.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• George’s influences to get involved with construction
• The impact of media on public perception of construction and the built environment
• What it means to work in the public interest
• George’s passionate campaigning for social housing
• How evolving technology impacts the work of  built environment professionals

George Clarke

https://georgeclarke.com/

Ayo Ajayi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayo-ajayi-7356376a/

Emma Martin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-martin-arcadis/

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

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

RICS Podcast Page

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

Kieran Halliwell

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