Farewell from Chris Smith FRICS

As I prepare to relinquish the role as Chair of the Americas Board, it’s a good time to reflect on the Board’s collective achievements and some of my personal highlights over the last six years on the Board including my time as Chair.

Back in 2019 we collectively prioritized DEI, Data & Technology, Sustainability, and the Next Generation as important themes that we would focus on in the Americas. I am proud of the way our Board set out these guiding principles and how these have remained relevant throughout our term.

I have lost count of the number of events that have taken place. From monthly webinars to multi-day conferences, hosting World Built Environment Forums, Global Construction & Infrastructure conferences, working alongside RICS Presidents, the annual Americas conference, the inaugural RICS Americas awards (which kicked off in 2023), the Caribbean Conference, the Cayman Conference. The list goes on!

Every event has been an opportunity to listen to members and that has really been a key focus for me as Chair. Understanding what it is that RICS can bring to help its members: how to promote the brand in a region that does not enjoy the luxury of being a household name like in the UK or even a simple gesture such as connecting a member directly to a Counsellor or a Supervisor.

I particularly enjoyed forging a strong bond with our membership in the Caribbean. Of course, the scenery is an attraction, but what made the biggest impression on me is the passion and enthusiasm for RICS and understanding of why RICS membership adds value to members in the region.

The significant legacy of this Board is likely to be the formation (or reformation in some cases) of our Chapters. Chapters are how local members engage. It was a Board priority to first focus on the major hubs of New York City (Tri-State), Toronto (Ontario), Vancouver (BC), and California (North and South), where almost half of the Americas membership resides.

The Caribbean Chapters soon formed, and we have Chapters in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and the Bahamas. We are also now seeing smaller hubs form these important networks, from Calgary all the way South to Peru.

Seeing local members engage, network, and share their knowledge will always be a highlight of this Board’s efforts. The way that our Chapters are now consistently structured with a Chair and representatives for Event Planning, University Engagement, Candidate Engagement, etc. means they are primed to support local activities and plug into more strategic goals from the Board and ultimately RICS HQ.

It has also been enjoyable being part of the Global Members Committee – a forum where all global regional Board chairs are connected and where I was able to be the Americas’ voice on a global platform. Listening and working through similar challenges with Chairs in the UK&I, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific has helped drive initiatives in the Americas, while also appreciating that regions across the globe all face similar challenges.

That being said, the Board members’ efforts are only successful because of the RICS staff who support us. I would like to thank Amie Silverwood, Allen Williams, Michael Zuriff and Lory Paterson for being fantastic partners, taking the Board’s recommendations and suggestions and putting them into practice with enthusiasm. Without the RICS staff working tirelessly often behind the scenes, none of these successes would have materialized.

My role as RICS Chair has been a lot of work but incredibly fulfilling. I put my name forward in 2019 as I have always been passionate about the RICS. Being a chartered surveyor has opened so many doors in my career and continues to be the global passport that I wanted it to be.

I wish the Board all the best and have no doubt that they will continue to support members and grow the RICS brand in the Americas.