In this episode of the RICS Podcast, Jon Rowling is joined by conservation experts Karen Gwilliams FRICS, Joanne Williams MRICS, and Sam Wheeler MRICS to explore what it takes to safeguard the UK’s historic buildings. 

We find out about the rewarding projects in heritage surveying, the growing skills gap in traditional crafts and conservation surveying, and how technology & AI are changing the future of the sector.

This episode of the RICS Podcast covers:

• The rewarding nature of working on historic buildings
• The growing skills gap in traditional crafts and conservation surveying
• Practical pathways into a career in historic building conservation
• How climate change, flooding, and extreme weather are affecting historic buildings
• The evolving role of technology and AI in assessing, monitoring, and managing heritage assets

Jon Rowling

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-rowling-41a09329/

Joanne Williams

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-williams-364468b1/

Karen Gwilliams FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gwilliams-8834a220/

Sam Wheeler MRICS

https://www.pha-building-conservation.co.uk/profile.htm

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 month of Ramadan begins in February, observed by many professionals in the built environment and other corporate industries.

In this episode of the RICS podcast, membership DEI manager Tomi Ayede is joined by Gohar Nawaz, land and development manager for Kandore Properties in Nottingham, and Amir Latif MRICS, portfolio manager at M Latif and Sons in Birmingham, to explore what it means to be a surveyor observing Ramadan. 

How can we support Muslim colleagues and build considerate workspaces during the month of fasting, prayer, and reflection?

This episode of the RICS Podcast covers:

• How observing Ramadan shapes the daily routines, wellbeing, and work patterns of Muslim surveyors in the built environment
• Practical ways employers and colleagues can support fasting staff, including flexible hours and meeting etiquette
• Common myths and misconceptions about Ramadan and fasting
• Inclusive policies and practices to consider during Ramadan

On Thursday 26 February, join RICS Matrics Birmingham, RICS Matrics Nottingham, and Muslims in Real Estate (MiRE) for a special Iftar evening at RICS Birmingham.

Book your place: https://www.rics.org/training-events/networking-events/rics-matrics-birmingham-nottingham-iftar-event-muslims-real-estate

Tomi Ayede

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

Gohar Nawaz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/goharnawaz-property/

Amir Latif MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-l-225b58106/

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 Renters Rights Act 2025 brought with it a host of new considerations that will impact surveyors’ work in the very near future.

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Mairead Carroll is joined by property litigation solicitor Adrian McClinton and CBRE executive director Sharief Ibrahim to unpack the real-world implications of the Renters Rights Act 2025 for landlords, tenants, and the build to rent sector. 

We’ll also cover what’s in the Act, how it affects the build to rent sector, and how the industry at large will shift over the years to come as the Act comes into place.

This episode of The RICS Podcast discusses:

• An overview of the Renters Rights Act 2025 and how it amends the Housing Act 1988
• How the Act affects the build to rent sector, in comparison to the private rented sector
• The phased implementation, enforcement, and practical preparation steps for landlords and agents

Sharief Ibrahim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharief-ibrahim-4419193a/

Adrian McClinton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-mcclinton-5061a032/

Mairead Anne Carroll

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairead-anne-carroll-3998b078/

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/

This episode is part of RICS Legal Landscapes, a limited podcast series developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which is CPD-compliant and designed to support professional development across the surveying profession and the broader built environment.

In this episode of the RICS Legal Landscapes CPD series of podcasts, host Charles Cowap MBA, MRICS, FAAV, FRAgS, PFIAgrM, CEnv is joined by Kate Russell FRICS FAAV CEnv ARAgS  and Ben Sharples FRICS to unpack the fast-evolving world of natural capital. 

You’ll learn what natural capital really means in practice, how markets such as biodiversity net gain, nutrient neutrality, and natural flood management work, and why land ownership structures, tenancies, trusts, and lender interests make these projects legally complex. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• What natural capital is and how it translates into soil, water, air, and functioning ecosystems on the ground
• How markets like biodiversity net gain, nutrient neutrality, and natural flood management operate and create new income streams
• The legal complexity of rural land and why it matters for long-term natural capital projects
• How policy change, government schemes, and private finance are shaping the future of natural capital and opportunities for farmers and landowners

Kate Russell FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-russell-a8137133/

Ben Sharples FRICS 

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

Charles Cowap MRICS

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

Ecosystems Knowledge Network 

Wellbeing and prosperity for everyone through a healthy natural environment - Ecosystems Knowledge Network

Green Finance Initiative 

Green Finance Initiative | Climate, Markets & Sustainable Investing News

Tellus Natural Capital 

Tellus Natural Capital

Michelmores 

Leading Natural Capital Law Firm - Lawyers | Michelmores

Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - GOV.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/

RICS’ Project of the Year 2025 award went to the Stephenson Building at Newcastle University. It was a redevelopment that excelled in every criteria, resulting in a world-class engineering facility for teaching, research and industry partnerships.

In this episode of the RICS podcast, Paul Bagust is joined by Simon Allen MRICS, who led the team working on the Stephenson Building , to find out how the exciting and challenging project came to life. 

We then speak with Saba Nayab FRICS, lead judge in the RICS Awards Refurbishment and Revitalisation category, to discuss what makes a project stand out and why the Stephenson Building excelled.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• How Newcastle University transformed a 1950s engineering block into a modern, flexible hub for teaching, research, and industry collaboration 
• Stakeholder engagement and vision setting to align diverse interests 
• Managing complex site and technical constraints, including a constrained urban campus site, sensitive specialist equipment, and a protected tunnel
• Using a bespoke sustainability tracker, strategic reuse of existing structures, and design choices that influence long-term user behaviour.
• What makes an RICS Award-winning project.

Find out more about the RICS UK Awards 2026 here.

Paul Bagust

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bagust-b0420520/

Simon Allen MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-allan-280673151/

Saba Nayab FRICS

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

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/

This episode is part of RICS Legal Landscapes, a limited podcast series developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which is CPD-compliant and designed to support professional development across the surveying profession and the broader built environment.

In this CPD-focused episode of the RICS Legal Landscapes podcast, Vanessa Griffiths MRICS is joined by Tracy Hartley MRICS, Henrietta Hammonds FRICS, and Katie Cohen to unpack what the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA) and related reforms really mean in practice. 

The panel gives clear explanations of the new 990-year lease extensions, the removal of the two-year ownership rule, the proposed abolition of marriage value, and how these intersect with ground rent reforms and service charge transparency. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• What LAFRA really does and doesn’t do, and the limits of current implementation.
• How the Ground Rent Act 2022 and ongoing political pressure are reshaping the value and viability of ground rent–backed investments
• Service charge transparency and management challenges
• Commonhold as an alternative to leasehold, and the potential market shift if a new commonhold bill lands
• How surveyors, lawyers, and property managers should advise clients amid moving goalposts, media misinformation, and pending secondary legislation

Henrietta Hammonds FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrietta-hammonds-07361345/

Vanessa Griffiths MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-griffiths-96415a26/

Tracey Hartley MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-hartley-1752412/

Katie Cohen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-cohen-956b2421/

Keystone Law | Lawyers for businesses & sophisticated individuals requiring legal advice

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/

Welcome to the first RICS Podcast of 2026 in which incoming President Nick Maclean FRICS shares his aspirations for the surveying profession in the coming year.

He’s joined by hydrography expert Gordon Johnston MRICS, as Tara King hosts a conversation that delves into how RICS will be shaped under his leadership to serve the public interest through 2026 and beyond. 

They’ll outline RICS's plans to build influence with governments and regulators, close the skills gap through more accessible and flexible routes into surveying and foster collaboration with like-minded professional bodies worldwide. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Building global influence, securing a seat at ‘the right tables’ with governments, regulators, and lawmakers worldwide
• The unique role of RICS as a royal charter body balancing client service, public good, and member representation
• New, more flexible and inclusive pathways into surveying, plus retraining and CPD for existing members, all aiming to close the ‘skills gap’
• The impact of AI, big data, robotics, and autonomous systems on surveying across land and sea
• The blue economy and hydrography’s central role in future economic growth, climate resilience, and the work of surveyors

Nick Maclean OBE FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-maclean-obe-rd-frics-irrv-hons-17825a19/

Tara King

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-king-5b4494a6/

Gordon Johnston MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-johnston-8778111/

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/

With more than 30,000 items and an original estimate between £7.6m and £11.3m, Freddie Mercury's auction at Sotheby's in London in 2023 exceeded expectations, fetching £39.9m in just over a week.  

In this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, we meet the three exceptional women who helped bring this sale to the public and asked them about the challenges in discovering, valuing and selling the belongings of an international rock star who is so fondly remembered. 

Rachel Reilly is the Senior Director and Head of Valuation for Europe at Sotheby’s London. Sarah Hodgson and Carey Wallace are memorabilia specialists and Co-Founders of Wallace and Hodgson, who were engaged as consultants to work on the wardrobe section of the sale.

Notable sales include Mercury's crown and cloak, selling for £629,000, almost 10 times the estimate, and a Tiffany & Co moustache comb that went for £152,400, over 250 times its estimate. 

The auction's success (140,000 people visited Sotheby's to view the items) highlights the enduring appeal and legacy of the iconic Queen frontman.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The extraordinary scale, popularity, and success of the Sotheby’s Freddie Mercury auction
• The process, challenges, and expertise needed to manage over 30,000 items, including iconic costumes and unique memorabilia
• The importance of storytelling and immersive curation to make the experience accessible, emotional, and museum-like for visitors

Ashley Stewart-Noble

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

Carey Wallace

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-wallace-0b0a3a28/

Sarah Hodgson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hodgson-76792923/

Rachel Reilly

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-reilly-172513273/

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/

This episode is part of RICS Legal Landscapes, a limited podcast series developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which is CPD-compliant and designed to support professional development across the surveying profession and the broader built environment.

The role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the construction industry is evolving, and recent case law shows how it’s being most effectively used in recent examples.

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Dave Hull MRICS is joined by Guy Bolt MRICS and Kirsti Olson, sharing their expert legal and practical perspectives, the essentials of ADR, and its real-world impact on project success. 

Learning outcomes

Explain the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the construction industry and identify its key practical applications.

Analyse recent legal developments and landmark cases to evaluate how they shape the use of ADR.

Demonstrate the essential skills and capabilities needed to participate effectively in ADR processes.

Assess the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between surveyors, legal teams, and other professionals in managing disputes.

Apply current guidance and reflect on future trends to understand how embracing ADR can improve project outcomes and support ongoing professional development.

Dave Hull MRICS

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

Guy Bolt MRICS

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

Kirsti Olson 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsti-olson-84288b51/

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/

Sustainability is, and will continue to be, a prevalent factor in the built environment; this year’s RICS Sustainability Report 2025 offers fresh insight into how the climate agenda is shaping practices across the world.

In this insightful episode of the RICS Podcast, host Kisa Zehra is joined by leading experts Susanne Eickermann-Riepe FRICS and Alexandra Faciu MRICS to explore the latest findings, with critical regional insights and the policies driving decarbonisation in construction. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The evolving demand and market drivers for sustainability in real estate
• Financial constraints and access to capital as current major barriers to sustainable development
• The impact of government policy, regulation, and harmonised sustainability standards across different regions
• The increasing significance of climate resilience in valuation, investment decisions, and risk management for real estate assets
• The crucial role of RICS members in advancing decarbonisation efforts and implementing best practice globally

Susanne Eickermann-Riepe FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-eickermann-riepe-pwc/

Alexandra Faciu, MA MRICS

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

Kisa Zehra

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kisa-zehra-0740ba92/

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/