RICS has announced that Chris Booke is its new president for the 2018-2019 year. Brooke is a chartered surveyor and co-founder of Brooke Husband Limited, a property consulting firm based in Hong Kong.
Brooke was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Hong Kong with his parents in 1979 and spent 2002–2013 working in Beijing.
“I am very proud to call myself a chartered surveyor as well as to be a member of RICS, and therefore the opportunity to serve as president is a great honour and privilege. This is an incredibly exciting time to be a member of our profession, with the world growing and changing so rapidly. Professionals operating within the natural and built environments are at the heart of some of the great challenges of our time, including urbanisation, climate change, and technological development,” Brooke said of his appointment.
He added, “The surveying profession and RICS as our global professional body both have a critical role to play in tackling these issues. By setting and enforcing standards that give confidence to markets and by putting people at the heart of what we do, we will have a positive impact on the future direction of all the regions of the world in which RICS operates.”
During his presidential year Brooke will be supported by president-elect Tim Neal FRICS and SVP Kath Fontana.
“We are currently one of the most trusted professions in the world, but that does not mean this will always be the case. With the world changing in so many ways it is critical that we never rest on our laurels. That is why I will be focusing on three key areas during my term — promoting and highlighting the value of the work undertaken by surveyors, making sure our profession is prepared for the future, and speaking out on the big issues of our time. Members of RICS have been shaping the world for 150 years. The opportunities which lie ahead are immense, and I am confident that we can and will embrace them,” Brooke commented.
Robert Jackson, RICS MENA MD and interim MD EMEA (non-UK) added that this is a critical time for the built and natural environment and the professionals working in it.
“With trust at an all-time low and urbanisation and technological disruption at an all-time high, the challenges our profession is facing and must overcome are unparalleled. RICS in the region continues to work with key influencers, governments and major stakeholders to address these challenges and is working in partnership with the support of our members to make positive change. We welcome Chris Brooke as the incoming President of the RICS,” Jackson concluded.
