RICS makes four senior governance appointments

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has appointed four new members to senior governance roles, including former British Property Federation chief Liz Peace. The RICS said the quartet will “work to support an effective governance structure” at the organisation. Peace has joined as senior independent governor, sitting on both RICS’s governing council and its board. She is chair of the GLA’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, as well as the University of Cambridge’s property board. She is also chair of the Churches Conservation Trust and of Real Estate Balance. Gurpreet Dehal has become an independent member of RICS’s governing council. His executive background includes senior leadership positions in financial risk management and investment banking global operations. He is chair at the University of Derby and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Birmingham. He is also an independent board member with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and with the London Legacy Development Corporation. RICS said Peace and Dehal will “bring an independent perspective” to its governing council, which is its highest governance body,  and will support RICS’s public advantage objective. Rounding off the appointments are former Gleeds group executive director Douglas McCormick, who will join RICS’s board as chair of the membership services committee, and former PA consulting chief information officer Kelly Olsen, who will join as a board member with digital and technology skills. Peace said: “I have worked alongside the RICS for the last 20 years to promote a healthy and sustainable real estate industry in the UK. “I have, in the past, challenged RICS’s position on some matters, but I do genuinely believe it has a crucial role to play in ensuring that real estate acts as a responsible industry, embracing the change necessary to continue to deliver the places that society needs in order to flourish. “I am thoroughly looking forward to working more closely with the presidential team and with the rest of the RICS organisation to support the changes recommended by Lord Bichard, and to help the organisation realise its full potential as one of the most important influencers on the future behaviours and performance of the real estate world.” Dehal said he will work with colleagues in “ensuring progress against the overall RICS strategy”. McCormick said he has joined RICS at a “time of significant change and modernisation”. Olsen said: “Throughout my career I have been involved in transformation and change working with some amazing teams. I have a specialism in technology and digital projects and I hope to use this experience within my new role at RICS. “I cannot wait to see where this new chapter of my career will take me, and to share my knowledge.” To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews Photo © David Woolfall