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RICS
has become a large and complex global organisation:
- In
delivering the requirements of the Charter, Governing Council - the
democratic and representative body within RICS - will
consider and approve the overall strategic direction of the
Institution and approve its strategy and key objectives.
- Governing
Council has delegated the day-to-day operational
accountability of RICS to a professional Management
Board composed of nominated members operating in a
non-executive capacity, independent non-executives from the
wider business world, and executive staff.
- The
World Regional Boards (WRBs) are made up of
small groups of members acting as non-executives and
executive staff who are fully accountable to the RICS
Management Board for the successful delivery of their part
of the global RICS business plan. They seek to deliver the
RICS corporate strategy in their respective world regions
whilst being responsive to local market conditions.
- The
National Boards are responsible for
implementing their country’s part of the World Regional
business plan.
For
an overview of the RICS structure, click
here
RICS
is organised as six world regions:
- RICS
Americas
- RICS
Asia
- RICS
Europe
- RICS
Middle East,Near East and Africa (MENEA)
- RICS
Oceania
- RICS
UK.
RICS
Europe has been quick off the mark with the establishment, at
the end of last year, of a new Europe Board in line with the
new RICS governance – for the composition of this Board, click
here.
Based upon an application procedure (job
description and application form posted on the web) qualified
members could apply to join the Board and I was appointed by
the Management Board as Chairman. Candidates were interviewed
over the telephone by a panel including Max Crofts FRICS the
then President Elect, Liliane Van Cauwenbergh Managing
Director RICS Europe, and myself. The successful candidates
were then appointed to the Europe Board by the Management
Board.
There
are three governance issues related to our development as a
global organisation on which the Europe Board would like to
update you:
1.
RICS has developed rapidly in many countries and has moved
from its beginnings in networking to active business
trading. As such, RICS’s legal and operational structure
across the world now needs to be refined to ensure optimum
compliance with tax, financial and employment requirements.
This structure is often unseen to members, but its
rationalisation will mean that locally registered legal
entities and constitutions external to the RICS structure
and currently governing the existing national associations
across Europe will not be required anymore. All members will
be subject to the common RICS Charter, Bye-Laws and
Regulations within the RICS legal and operational structure.
This will also protect members from potential liability
under local statutes and they will no longer be placed in
potential conflict with the Royal Charter, Bye-Laws and
Regulations. Over the next few months the external legal
entities existing locally will be wound down and replaced
with common RICS structures.
2.
The RICS Europe Board has also started to implement the new
RICS governance model at country level in line with the
Governing Council’s aim of developing one worldwide members'
organisation and moving away from a system that may
currently be incorrectly perceived by some as a dual
membership of a central RICS and a local National
Association. As a single worldwide organisation RICS has the
responsibility of helping members to promote RICS and to
satisfy their needs in their local markets. The RICS Europe
Board will work with each country to review the terms of
reference and composition of each National Board to ensure
the optimum capability to deliver the business plan for each
country. It will aim to create a smooth transition to the
new governance system in a way which will ensure the
consistency of the RICS brand across all countries in
continental Europe.
3.
My discussions with each country will focus on how Boards
can be assembled with the right capabilities and skills to
help deliver the business plan and how they can best reflect
the diversity of their local membership. As in the case of
all other RICS Boards, the standard term of office will be
up to three years with the possibility of members serving a
second term. All qualified members will be informed by email
of Board vacancies and may put themselves forward if they
believe they have the right skills and knowledge to help
deliver the Board’s business plan. New Boards have been set
up already in Russia and Cyprus.
Members
who are not very active in their National Association may not
feel directly affected by the new corporate governance.
However, the key benefit of the new governance for all our
members is linked to RICS being a truly single
brand – with the same high standards, and the same
entry processes and procedures, no matter where it operates in
the world. Only by ensuring that all our National Groups work
towards the same corporate strategy decided by the membership
(Governing Council) can we continue to guarantee the quality
of our brand to international clients, investors, regulators,
and the public.
If
you have any questions or comments about the new governance
system please feel free to contact me on ricseurope@rics.org.
Whilst travelling around Europe I have already met and
discussed with many members. I have been able to observe the
hard work that our members and staff are carrying out in
different countries, and the great results that have been
achieved. I am convinced that with this new governance system,
we can continue along this road whilst at the same time
creating added value and new business opportunities for our
members.
I
wish you all a relaxing holiday season.
Kind
regards,
Dr
Ing Luciano Capaldo FRICS
Chairman RICS Europe
On behalf
of the RICS Europe Board
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