All nine members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) standards and regulation board have resigned, following the decision by its chair to hand in her notice.
Chair Dame Janet Paraskeva tended her resignation after disagreeing with the governing council at RICS over proposals to split the SRB board and transfer responsibilities for technical standards to a newer ‘knowledge and practice’ committee.
Her resignation prompted similar action by both professional and independent board members, which include Turner & Townsend director Bruce Haswell, EY partner Leigh Miller, surveyor Richard Waterhouse and Lionheart global ambassador Dele Oyekanmi.
This latest turmoil comes as RICS’ new chief executive Justin Young is due to start next week. Young, a former Knight Frank COO replaces interim CEO Richard Collins. RICS has been without a full time CEO since September 2021, when the previous incumbent left following a critical report on the workings of the organisation.
In a statement regarding the board resignations RICS confirmed all members would be working a short notice period “to ensure a smooth transition for their successors”.
It added: “Our activities remain in full operation and there is no break in the continuity of regulatory functions. Our staff and governance bodies will continue to work on the assessment of professionals, the setting of professional standards and the regulation of the profession.
“We have begun the search for a replacement chair and board members and look forward to working with them to drive forward RICS’ transformation programme.”
