New RICS president sees ‘white hot’ demand for real estate professionals
Justin Sullivan, founder and chief executive of construction consultancy Adair, has become the new president of the RICS and vowed to focus on the “next generation” of the profession.
Sullivan said: “It is an enormous honour to serve as president for an organisation which has supported and promoted the surveying profession for over 150 years.
“While RICS certainly has an incredible history, my eyes are firmly set on the future, and particularly the next generation of surveyors.
Justin Sullivan, founder and chief executive of construction consultancy Adair, has become the new president of the RICS and vowed to focus on the “next generation” of the profession.
Sullivan said: “It is an enormous honour to serve as president for an organisation which has supported and promoted the surveying profession for over 150 years.
“While RICS certainly has an incredible history, my eyes are firmly set on the future, and particularly the next generation of surveyors.
“Across the globe, demand for built environment professionals of all specialisms is white hot, and opportunities for the next generation are profound. We need to get more young people considering and entering surveying as a career.”
Sullivan noted that surveyors and other built environment professionals are in short supply globally, most acutely in regions where construction is booming such as the Middle East. He also said that it was important to “develop an increasingly welcoming profession which is open to people of all backgrounds and identities”, adding that this was “a crucial cornerstone for getting more youth into the profession”.
Outgoing president Tina Paillet said: “Professionals in the built and natural environment play a crucial role in humanity’s future, particularly in the face of climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss.
“The industry also faces profound skills shortages across all global regions to deliver this sustainable future, which is something I know Justin is passionate about addressing. I wish him all the best for his time as RICS president in 2025.”
As part of the leadership change, Maureen Ehrenberg, president of the commercial division at SMS Assist, becomes senior vice president for 2025, while UAE-based Nicholas Maclean, who established CBRE’s Middle East division, becomes president elect.
