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RICS at UKREiiF 2026 (post-review)

  • Writer: Digital Twin Skills Academy CIC
    Digital Twin Skills Academy CIC
  • 1 day ago
  • 7 min read


Day 2 by RICS / UKREiiF - uploaded on 21.05.26

What an amazing couple of days ....... 'my Service' to the global Surveying profession concluded with an amazing and rather priceless selfie of the audience, taken after an equally outstanding panel discussion on ethics and building trust, in AI ...... !!


May 20, 2026





What an amazing panel, meet Emma, Nella, James and Paul!





 



 



 

 


On day two of UKREiiF our session on AI and ethics brought lively discussion, RICS members were given an engaging AI adoption lunch-and-learn session and we learnt more from the employers, developers and industry leaders on how to bridge the skills gap and build a trusted workforce in the housing sector.


 



AI and ethics

 

The built environment is being revolutionised by new technology, with AI at the forefront of that surge. The opportunities are clear, but as these tools reshape surveying practice, they must be used ethically and responsibly.

 

“For those who embrace AI, this is an opportunity”





This morning we brought together AI and data experts to explore AI implementation and what true human oversight looks like in practice.

 




The session was attended by members and professionals spanning across the built environment, including senior leaders and business owners. Our panel included:

 

•            Chair: Dr. Bola Abisogun OBE FRICS

•            Emma Fletcher MRICS

•            Paul Wilson, chair of Provelio

•            James Gleed FRICS

•            Nella Pang FRICS





The session was an open and honest conversation about the opportunities that come with AI, but also the risks, such as the speed at which AI is evolving, how regulation is able to keep pace and ensuring surveyors can act as the breakwater being personal client data and open AI domains.




 

“The people best placed to manage data are RICS members... RICS is about protecting public interest.”

 

We are already addressing this topic, having launched our Responsible use of AI Standard earlier this year, and this panel further underlined our commitment to ensuring RICS members are suitably equipped to work with AI responsibly, which we will continue to progress through 2026 and beyond.



 

Building trust in AI panel discussion at UKREiiF 2026

 

 

An AI focused lunch and learn

 

The theme of AI, and how to use it effectively and responsibly, continued into an insightful lunch and learn hosted by RICS Valuation professional group panel member Chris de Gruben FRICS.

 






There is understandable concern when it comes to working better and more confidently with AI in their day-to-day job. If used correctly, safe and proper AI implementation can save time and smoothen processes.





Therefore, the built environment workforce needs to digitally upskill, and it was really pleasing to see the appetite of RICS members who attended this season to do so.

 



AI adoption lunch and learn session at UKREiiF 2026

 

 

Cross-party discussion on the Future Homes Standard

 

This afternoon we convened a cross-party panel discussion to discuss the realities of the Future Homes Standard, how it could work in practice and what needs to be done cohesively across the public and private sector to overcome obstacles such as current demand and the balance between regulation and delivering.

 

RICS CEO Justin Young spoke about RICS' role in ensuring professionals reliable, trusted and have the tools to deliver warmer, safer and more sustainable homes.

 

“RICS are there to make sure professionals are suitably trained and understand what standards they are working towards”

 

By the number of attendees at the RICS studio for this panel, this is clearly a hot topic for surveyors and other built environment professionals. RICS will continue working with members, industry and government figures so that delivery can start picking up pace, without sacrificing quality or trust.




RICS CEO Justin Young at UKREiiF 2026

 


UKREiiF’s One Big Idea

 

Being at UKREiiF means being able to hear groundbreaking, innovative ideas that are shaping the future of the built environment.

 

This year, UKREiiF ran a competition inviting organisations and individuals to submit their ‘One Big Idea’ for the built environment. This morning, a breakfast was held to hear from the three finalists.

 

The ideas tackled key industry challenges: reducing carbon, supporting the next generation and closing project viability gaps.

 

Addressing the skills shortage and creating a more sustainable, resilient built environment are two of our priorities for 2026 and beyond. It’s encouraging to see a clear synergy in those priorities across other leading figures and organisations in the industry.

 

There is unquestionable value in fresh thinking and challenging the status quo of the built environment. Initiatives like this help ensure the industry continues to evolve and move forwards. All the competition submissions will be issued in a report following UKREiiF, including our own.





Building a workforce capable of delivering

In the afternoon we visited the Future Homes Pavilion to hear from the National Housing Business Council (NHBC), property developers and employers regarding how the industry needs to build a workforce truly capable of delivering sustainable homes at scale.

 

When it comes to building sustainable homes in particular, we have already taken steps to ensure our members are at the forefront of this through our Whole Life Carbon Assessment Standard, and the recently launched Coalition for Life Cycle Emissions Alignment and Reporting (CLEAR); a global initiative designed to harmonise carbon measurement across the built environment.

 

Furthermore, we were proud to see member, Mark Farmer MRICS, leading on this talk, pushing forward such a meaningful topic.

 

“Chartered surveyors have a big responsibility when it comes to delivery”

Ultimately, the learning from this session is clear: Housing ambitions, and wider industry targets will not be achievable without a truly competent and trusted workforce, and RICS members are key to this.

 

 


 

Diversity, equity and inclusion

 

This evening we invited friends and colleagues from across the built environment for important conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.

 

Dr. Bola Abisogun OBE FRICS spoke passionately about the duty of surveyors to look back and pave the way for those that follow to make their journey through the profession as easy as possible.







It was truly powerful and inspiring to see attendees aligned, focused and committed as we continue in our mission to create a built environment that’s inclusive and accessible for all.



 

“We need more people to step up and own the conversation around diversity and inclusion”

 

LinkedIn post: RICS



And additional post by Roger Esson, from RICS _ on 21.05.26 

Building trust in AI



 


 

 



And from Regeneration Brainery (Ambassador) _ Oluomachi AO ……. posted on 30.05.26

 

"Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend UKREiiF 2026 with Regeneration Brainery. Being able to attend such a major event so young was an experience I’m extremely grateful for.

 

I attended a variety of insightful sessions including talks from JLL and a live recording of the Housed Shared Living Podcast. It was great to hear from speakers such as Noah Taiwo and learn from their experiences within co-living and challenges within accommodation.

 

A highlight for me was speaking with professionals from Foxtons, who shared such great advice supporting a future in residential real estate. Thank you to everyone I met for taking the time to speak with me. Joel Ellis-Duffy Karl Thomas MARLA MIRPM Mustafa Kamruddin





Another great experience was joining RICS and having the opportunity to speak with Dr Bola Abisogun OBE (Hon DUniv, Hon MBA). We discussed a concept that was new to me: digital construction and the opportunities technology is creating within the sector. Somehow the conversation ended up celebrating Arsenal’s win which made the conversation even more memorable!

 




I'm incredibly grateful to Regeneration Brainery and everyone I met throughout the week for making the experience so valuable.

 

A special thank you to Julie Simms and Andrew Batterton who actually helped me find my way! It was lovely speaking with them and I'm very grateful to have met them along the way!"

 

 

LinkedIn post _ Oluomachi AO - May 2026






And Lauren Fowbanks _ observations on Day 1





Amidst the recent report on Digital Skills (called 'Developing Digital Competency in the Built Environment'), published last year (October 2025) by the Construction Leadership Council





"The challenge is less about technology and more about clear leadership and soft-skills" _ Dr Bola Abisogun OBE



 



This panel "What will the Surveyor of the future look like?" _ included, the following experts:

 

•            Chair: Lynda Rawsthorne FRICS

•            Dr. Bola Abisogun OBE FRICS

•            Max Wowra (Graduate)

•            Morag Angus FRICS

•            Nella Pang FRICS



And representative X-post, uploads across both days ……

 




 


 





Liz Hemson, of BE News chaired an amazing conversation at the Leed's City Centre offices of FREETHS ..... and, as part of the discussion "How to manage risks and costs, through the construction lifecycle", I managed to insert #ProjectIIRIS into the conversation, as well as the concept of #IPI which gained momentum (and support) ............











 

 



 


 


 

 

 


And it was good to see an old colleague 'Sir' Terry Stocks, from my time (during sabbatical) at CDBB / University of Cambridge ....












 


 

 











 


 


 







And another very nice post by Richard Scott on 21.05.26










Plenty of 'Ambassadorial' and talent representation, from the UKREiiF 'Charity Partner' _ Regeneration Brainery





And, having concluded 'my Service to my profession' I bumped into an individual I'd not seen in a while _ and managed to catch up briefly with 'Brother Nero' who was the very first Special Advisor to Rt Hon Theresa May MP (during her official term as the PM)





And here we were, (invited by Nero) back at No.10, Downing Street ............ (June 2018); flashback to June 2018 _ https://www.diversecity-surveyors.com/single-post/2018/06/22/dcs-roundtable-amidst-windrush70-celebrations-at-10-downing-street






And then, it was a dash back through the City Centre to pick up the car ....... enroute the long drive back to the 'Big Smoke' .............. however, on my way back to the Merrion Centre !!









............... it was an absolute pleasure to 'fortuitously' bump into the 'Man of the Moment' the amazing & extraordinary Tani Dulay, CEO of Woodbourne Group, the master developer behind the Curzon Wharf scheme ..... aka Birmingham Knowledge Quarter a JV between WMCA / BCC / AU and BSciTech






So, ahead, of a four hour drive back to London, what an amazing way to end UKREiiF, God willing, roll on 2027!!  



END

 

 


 
 
 

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