James Baker, Associate Building Surveyor for Artelia across the UK has been appointed Chair of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) East Midlands Regional Board.
As Chair, James will head the Regional Board and provide leadership and guidance on a range of objectives to set and improve local industry standards. Activities will include influencing Government policy and encouraging more young and diverse talent in to the industry by raising awareness of the various careers available in the land, property and construction sectors.
James’ assumes the role of Regional Board Chair at a significant point in RICS history. In 2018, RICS celebrate their 150th anniversary, with the East Midlands Board having a vital role to play. The Board, will be responsible for encouraging firms in the region’s land, property and construction sectors to get behind a campaign – known as Pledge150 – which will see RICS partnering with LandAid to raise £2.25 million for the provision of 150 bed spaces across all 12 UK regions by December 2018, for young people at risk of homelessness.
The East Midlands Regional Board is made up of 11 chartered surveyors from both the public and private sector working across the full spectrum of surveying disciplines. James, a chartered building surveyor has held a seat on the Board for the past XX years, along with recently retaining a seat on RICS Governing Council*.
As an RICS Building Surveyor working a large developer and hotel operator, James currently manages a national programme of capital expenditure, as well as providing a variety of other building surveying services. He has a wealth of experience to bring to the role, having worked across numerous sectors including retail, commercial, housing, emergency services, education and health.
RICS Regional Director, Lynn Robinson commented: “James’ expertise and experience will be extremely beneficial to the local surveying community in his new role. As former RICS Matrics UK Chairman and an APC Assessor, James places inspiring the next generation at the heart of all he does. His dedication to the driving profession forward and ensuring our professionals’ standards and ethics are held to high esteem will help bolster the vast and diverse work of the East Midlands region.”
On his appointment, James Baker, said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as Chair of the East Midlands. There are a wealth of opportunities available in the East Midlands to those in the profession and the next generation and I look forward to delivering the range of initiatives which will have a positive impact on our local industry and our wider local communities in the region.”
James finishes: “Our region’s land, property and construction sectors continue to face many challenges. But as Chair of the RICS East Midlands Regional Board, I will represent the interests of our professionals, and together with the knowledge and expertise of our experienced Board members, we will capitalise on future growth opportunities for the region.”
