The RICS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

As RICS introduces the refreshed continuing professional development (CPD) framework effective from January 2026, it’s important to know what this means for day‑to‑day professional practice. 

In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Charles Golding MRICS is joined by Olga Turner Baker MRICS to set the scene for those changes, and explore how the new RICS CPD app can help keep professionals up to speed on their CPD throughout the year.

This episode of the RICS podcast covers:

• What has and hasn’t changed in the RICS CPD framework for 2026
• The shift from not only counting hours, but also focusing on relevant, adequate and appropriate CPD
• The introduction of mandatory topics on sustainability, AI/technology, and ethical & professional standards
• How to plan and record CPD more effectively, including practical strategies to avoid the year‑end rush and recognise more of the learning you already do
• Using the new RICS member app and online resources to plan, track and document CPD and learning outcomes

Information about the new CPD app and where to download it 

https://www.rics.org/surveyor-careers/career-development/continuing-professional-development

Olga Turner Baker MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-turner-baker-mrics-well-ap-non-exec-director-128b5729/

Charles Golding MRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-golding-23512b175/

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.

Gateway 3 is the final, mandatory checkpoint under the Building Safety Act 2022 for higher risk buildings (HRBs) in the UK

This episode of the RICS Legal Landscapes series dives into what Gateway 3 really means in practice, as both a regulatory hurdle and as a decisive moment of legal accountability, commercial viability and building safety. 

Gary Strong FRICS is joined by building surveyor Graeme Manley MRICS and construction lawyer David Savage to unpack Gateway 3, why it’s often called the ‘point of no return’ for clients and duty holders, and what legal responsibilities arise if a building fails to secure a completion certificate. 

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The role of Gateway 3 as the final pre‑occupation checkpoint for Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs)
• How responsibility and accountability crystallise at Gateway 3 for clients, principal designers and principal contractors
• The legal and commercial consequences of failing Gateway 3, including a range of criminal sanctions 
• The importance of the ‘golden thread’ of information, accurate as-built records, change control, and digital systems
• Practical steps for surveyors, developers and building owners to plan for Gateway 3 from day one.

Building Safety Act information centre:

https://www.rics.org/news-insights/building-safety-act-information-centre 

Gary Strong FRICS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-strong-bsc-hons-frics-fciarb-c-builde-fcabe-fcila-b52667b/

Graeme Manley MRICS

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

David Savage

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

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/

The Mayor for Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, is uniquely placed as a leader with experience in the built environment, a history which informs his vision of the area’s future.

Steve joins Gabriel Davies (Fisher German LLP) and Hannah Daly (SES Engineering Services) on The RICS Podcast this week as he discusses the relationships between placemaking, infrastructure, local skills and heritage, which are rooted within his plans for the region.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Steve’s Masters in Contemporary Urban Renaissance and how it informs his vision for Liverpool City Region
• The importance of built environment jobs and retention of local skills
• Major infrastructure developments and the implications for local residents
• Steve’s vision for the ideal future of Liverpool City Region and the value of preserving heritage buildings

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Gabriel Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-davies-481270124/
Hannah Daly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-d-88925311a/
Mayor Steve Rotheram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-rotherham-67ba7ab/

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/

At the heart of the surveying profession, and what it means to be an RICS Surveyor, lies an industry that’s equally varied, rewarding and impactful.

This episode of The RICS Podcast brings together the expertise of Ashley Royer AssocRICS, Kareem Zahran MRICS and host Sinead Clarkson MRICS as they speak about their career paths, unique journeys, and how aspiring surveyors can do the same.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Routes into the industry and the breadth of roles available
• How to engage and educate future generations
• Initiatives to create a more diverse and inclusive built environment
• Advice for those seeking a career as a Chartered Surveyor

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Ashley Royer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-royer-assocrics-acabe-diprsv-cemap-1a631b17/
Kareem Zahran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-zahran-phd-mrics-83b1742a/
Sinead Clarkson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadclarkson/

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 13,000 attendees over three days, UKREiiF is one of the UK's largest gatherings of built environment professionals. Many RICS members and firms are in attendance and key themes that impact upon our membership are discussed.

This episode of the RICS Podcast brings some of those conversations out of the arena and showcases what it means to be an RICS surveyor. Hear directly from RICS members at the event - what did they do there? Who did they meet and how? What are the key things that left them thinking?

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Some key conference themes for the construction, valuation and property sectors
• Member session highlights and takeaways
• Reflections on DEI and what the built environment needs to do to progress 
• The value of networking and talking to professionals across different sectors

Links:
Emma Fletcher MRICS episode on the Value of Sustainable Housing
Industry Challengers, What Needs to Change in the Built Environment?
Women in Surveying, What Does Progress Look Like? 

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 quality of spaces relies strongly on how well they’re designed to serve human experiences, so in this episode of The RICS Podcast we explore the power of placemaking.

Olga Turner Baker MRICS (Managing Director, Ekkist) hosts Nicholas Boys Smith (Chair of the Office for Place and Author & Director, Create Streets) whose passion for quality spaces and placemaking makes for a fascinating conversation around good urbanism, new approaches to planning, and the balance between greenbelt and development.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• What ignited Nicholas’ passion for high quality spaces, and motivated him to make change
• Why the quality of placemaking is at its current standard
• Projects which demonstrate great placemaking
• The biggest urban design challenges and priorities facing the UK government now and going forward

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Nicholas Boys Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-boys-smith-800614/
Olga Turner Baker MRICS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-turner-baker-mrics-well-ap-128b5729/

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/

Irene Barclay is a trailblazer in surveying, being the first woman to qualify in Britain as a Chartered Surveyor, and her path is as important and inspiring now as it ever has been.

Patricia Moore MRICS (UK Managing Director, Turner & Townsend) is joined this week by Carrie de Silva (Visiting Professor, Harper Adams University) and Rebecca Preston (Historian, English Heritage) to discuss the pioneering life story of Irene Barclay, and why it should inspire the direction that the surveying profession takes today.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Irene Barclay’s family story
• The significance of celebrating her achievements with a plaque
• How preserving heritage supports the present profession
• The importance of seeing women’s names in the profession, and understanding the past

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Patricia Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia1moore/
Carrie de Silva: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-de-silva-61017916/

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 strides towards net zero emissions are essential in urban and rural areas alike, and it’s vital to consider what can be done within natural capital as well as the built environment to encourage climate-positive change.

Discussing these key issues in this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, Francesca Fowler-Walsh MRICS (Chair, RICS Matrics Lancashire) is this week joined by Maddi Naish MICS (Estate Manager, National Trust) and Carolien Samson (Head of Sustainable Banking, Oxbury Bank).

They share their perspectives on the demand for financing resilience projects, pressures on farmers to reduce their carbon footprint, and the importance of attracting young people into the profession to have a tangible impact on the environment.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• The growing influence of natural capital
• Surveyors’ roles with the National Trust
• How farming and agriculture poses a very tangible industry in which to make impact
• Increasing focus and pressure on farmers to reduce their carbon footprint
• How we can better attract the next generation of surveyors through their potential impact

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/

Maddi Naish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddi-naish-95471169/

Carolien Samson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolien-samson-04242125/

Francesca Fowler-Walsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-fowler-walsh/

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 role of an expert witness is key to any court and tribunal, and this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast is essential preparation for those considering the span of their expertise.

Joining Rajbinder Sohal are Leonora Riesenburg, a Chartered Arbitrator/Mediator Trainer in ADR, and Faye Allen FRICS, Director at J.S. Held LLC - they discuss the importance of advising only within your area of expertise, and the need for open communication between experts and stakeholders.

This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:

• Potential consequences of surveyors straying outside of their area of expertise
• How to identify the areas to which you should stick
• Ethical considerations that experts should think about when accepting instructions
• How expert witnesses should mitigate inbuilt biases

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Leonora Riesenburg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonora-riesenburg-61182846/
Faye Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayeallen/

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/