About Jonathan Harris

Jonathan David Harris CBE FRICS

Jonathan Harris CBE FRICS is a chartered surveyor, a past President of the RICS and founder of the Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning. During his career, Jonathan has been awarded royal honours for his services to surveying and further education. Most recently, he has been behind a campaign to improve access to lifesaving defibrillators.

Chartered Surveying

Jonathan’s career began at Pepper Angliss & Yarwood Chartered Surveyors in 1959, where he rose through the ranks to become senior partner in 1974.

Early in his career, Jonathan also became a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). In the years that followed, he demonstrated his dedication to the organisation and the wider property industry and was appointed RICS President in 2000/2001. In this role, Jonathan helped to shape the organisation in a number of significant ways. This included bringing onboard the Incorporated Society of Auctioneers and Valuers, being responsible for RICS going international with branches opening in China and the USA, and helping to modernise the organisation in its millennium year as part of an ‘Agenda for Change’.

In recognition of this legacy, an annual Harris Debate has been held by RICS since 2013. The debate tackles significant, ethical issues facing property professionals, bringing together experts and industry leaders as they look to the future.

Lifelong Learning

In 1981, Jonathan founded the Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning (formerly the Continuing Professional Development Foundation, and later the Educational Foundation for Lifelong Learning). It was created to provide professionals with learning opportunities through an accessible and affordable lecture programme. Following the great success of this initiative, the Institute of Continuing Professional Development was founded to recognise those individuals who demonstrate a commitment to their professional development.

In recent years, the Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning has broadened its remit to help not only professionals but individuals from all walks of life. This has included supporting creative learning in schools and funding extracurricular initiatives where young people & adults can develop vital life skills.

JumpStart Campaign

Most recently, Jonathan has been campaigning to improve public access to defibrillators. The number of deaths due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is on the rise, with approximately 40,000 fatalities in the UK each year. In response, Jonathan has conceived and is philanthropically funding JumpStart – a national campaign which is calling for portable defibrillators to be included within all new vehicles.

Current appointments

Chairman & Trustee, The Harris Foundation for Lifelong Learning

Member of Advisory Council, The London Philharmonic Orchestra

Chairman, Cressida Group of Companies

Patron, Commonwealth Housing Trust

Previous appointments include:

• Babraham Bioscience Technologies Limited, Non-Executive Director
• Bank of England Property Forum, Member
• Cardinal Group of Companies, Director
• Carlisle Group, Director
• Council for Excellence in Management & Leadership (Professions Working Group)
• Counselors of Real Estate, European Chapter, Board Member
• Eatonbrook plc, Non-Executive Director/Chairman
• Employment Resource Centre, Chairman of Trustees
• Enterprise Education Trust (formerly Understanding Industry, formerly Business Dynamics), Trustee
• Grendon Trust, Director
• Kent County Council, Total Place Asset Management Board, Chair
• Langbourn Income & Growth Property Unit Trust, Board Member
• Lazard Property Unit Trust, Board Member
• Manor Lodge School, Trustee
• Modernising Stamp Duty, Inland Revenue – Member of Technical Advisory Group
• Pepper Angliss & Yarwood, Senior Partner
• Plymouth Development Corporation, Non-Executive Board Member
• Prison Reform Trust, Trustee & Treasurer
• Property Growth Assurance Company, Director
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), President, 2000/2001
• Sackville Property Unit Trust, Board Member
• The London Philharmonic Orchestra Audit Committee, Chairman
• The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Director & Trustee
• The University of Westminster, Governor
• UNECE Real Estate Marketing Group, Member
• UN Real Estate Advisory Group, Deputy Chairman
• University of Reading, Visiting Fellow
• Work-Life Balance Trust, Chairman

Honours and awards

1993 – Appointed an OBE for Services to Further Education

1998 – Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster, DLitt (Hon)

2002 – Appointed a CBE for Services to Surveying

2004 – Careers Research & Advisory Centre’s 40th Anniversary recognition award to outstanding individuals for contributions in the field of lifelong learning

2009 – Awarded the James Landauer/John White award from the Counselors of Real Estate. Given to individuals in international real estate who excel in their profession.

Personal

Jonathan is married to Jeniffer (née Fass). They have 4 children – Lynne, Joanne, Katie and Matthew – 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Jonathan used to play golf – his lowest handicap was 7. Now his main hobby is competitive duplicate bridge. He is also learning to play the piano.

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Jonathan has supported the London Philharmonic Orchestra for many years – as a Trustee, Director and Chair of its Audit committee – and is now a member of its Advisory Council. It is one of the world’s leading orchestras – resident at the South Bank Centre in London.

Jonathan is a member of Buck’s Club and a Fellow of the RSA, the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce – FRSA. He is a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Yacht Club of Monaco. He is also founder member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.