The RICS Podcast

The surveying profession is facing a skills challenge that extends beyond attracting new entrants. So where are the biggest skills gaps in surveying, and how do we address them in the long-term?
In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Simon Rubinsohn is joined by Ravvy Kaur MRICS and Grace Conisbee MRICS to explore this on a global scale - from the shortage of mid-career professionals and the challenge of retaining talent, to the transition from technical expertise to leadership. 
They discuss how mentoring, workplace culture and lifelong learning can support career development, while considering how AI and digital tools may change the work without replacing professional judgement.
This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:
The shortage of mid-career professionals and its impact on firms and the wider profession
Retention, workplace culture and clear career progression
The move from technical work into management, leadership and commercial decision-making
How AI and digital tools can support efficiency while retaining professional judgement
Mentoring, lifelong learning and developing the next generation
Simon Rubinsohn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-rubinsohn-43124162/
Grace Conisbee MRICS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-conisbee-mrics-95a233132/
Ravvy Kaur MRICS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravvy-kaur/
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:
https://www.rics.org/uk/
RICS Podcast Page
https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Professional standards shape the advice people rely on across the built and natural environment. 
As the profession works across borders and faces new challenges in areas such as conflicts of interest, sustainability and artificial intelligence, the question is not only what standards say, but how they earn trust and work in practice. 
In this episode of The RICS Podcast, we explore what professional standards mean for the people who rely on a surveyor’s advice, and how they build trust across markets and borders.
Charles Golding is joined by Jose Covas and Pauline Wong to explore how standards guide difficult decisions, help professionals identify and manage conflicts of interest, and provide a consistent professional language for working across jurisdictions. 
This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:
How professional standards support client confidence, clear advice and consistent professional judgement.
Why identifying, documenting and communicating conflicts of interest early is essential to protecting trust.
How international standards provide a shared professional baseline while working alongside local laws and practices.
Why standards are a shared responsibility, shaped by independent oversight, practitioner experience and stakeholder input.
How AI, sustainability and digitalisation are creating new challenges—and why professional responsibility remains central.
RICS Regulation Hub
https://www.rics.org/regulation
RICS iConsult
https://consultations.rics.org/
Charles Golding
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-golding-23512b175/
José Covas
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jos%C3%A9-covas/
Pauline Wong
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinewong669903/
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:
https://www.rics.org/uk/
RICS Podcast Page
https://www.rics.org/podcast/

Every infrastructure project requires the work of a surveyor, and when developing economies and public opportunity this role is akin to that of a ‘silent hero’.
In this episode of the RICS Podcast, host Kieran Halliwell is joined by Dorothy Natukunda MRICS, Principal Government Valuer at Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. 
This special member profile tracks her route into the industry, landmark work on the Standard Gauge Railway project, and how she’s balancing technical demands with empathetic stakeholder engagement to bring the project to life.
This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:
Dorothy’s journey into surveying and her influential role in Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
The complexities and human impact of land acquisition for major infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge Railway
The importance of proactive stakeholder engagement and transparent communication in public sector valuation work
The influence of international standards like RICS on local practice and professional development in Uganda
The evolving opportunities for women and young professionals in the surveying and valuation profession
Dorothy Natukunda MRICS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natukunda-dorothy-mrics/
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:
https://www.rics.org/uk/
RICS Podcast Page
https://www.rics.org/podcast/

New Zealand’s ‘Central Interceptor Tunnel’ project represents a huge step towards upgrading the territory’s infrastructure for decades to come.
Central to its success is this week’s guest on The RICS Podcast, Dr Inoka Withana Gamage MRICS, Principal Contracts and Commercial Manager at Jacobs New Zealand.
In this member profile, Inoka talks us through the delivery of such a major project, the importance of collaboration, and how commercial and contract management plays its role in one of New Zealand’s largest landmark projects.
This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:
The engineering and delivery complexities behind New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project, the Central Interceptor Tunnel
The importance of collaborative working and stakeholder engagement in delivering major infrastructure
Leadership lessons and the value of practical, adaptable management plans in large-scale projects
The role of commercial and contract management in mitigating risk and ensuring project success
Professional growth, continuous learning, and advice for early-career professionals in the built environment sector
Dr Inoka Withana Gamage
https://www.linkedin.com/in/inoka-withana-gamage-722a4b2b/?originalSubdomain=nz
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:
https://www.rics.org/uk/
RICS Podcast Page
https://www.rics.org/podcast/

The Jewry Wall Museum plays a core role in Leicester’s history, and RICS member Emily Thorpe Jones MRICS has been the Project Manager on the it’s revamp since 2022. 
In this first member profile episode of The RICS Podcast, Emily speaks with Podcast Lead Kieran Dhunna Halliwell to share the complexities behind managing  a major heritage conservation project, and the collaborative efforts required to balance historical preservation with modern visitor experiences. 
This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:
The transformation and revitalization of the Jewry Wall Museum as a significant Roman heritage site in Leicester
Complexities and rewards of managing large-scale heritage conservation projects, including overcoming contractor insolvencies and logistical challenges
Collaboration among project managers, conservation officers, archaeologists, artists, and specialist contractors in delivering successful outcomes
The evolving role of technology in the surveying profession and its impact on heritage projects
The crucial role of community engagement and public advocacy in preserving and valuing historic buildings for future generations
Modus LiDAR Article
https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/modus/technology-and-data/harnessing-data/lidar-preserving-historic-monuments.html
Emily Thorpe Jones MRICS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-thorpe-jones-a62a68154/
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:
https://www.rics.org/uk/
RICS Podcast Page
https://www.rics.org/podcast/