Jonathan joined the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) at the age of 17 and rose through the ranks to become its President in 2000/2001. Over the years he has played an important role in shaping the work and structure of the organisation.
Milestones
Jonathan’s work with the RICS has included expanding its offering both nationally and internationally. He led the RICS team that successfully absorbed into the Institution the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
When Vice-President he sat as a member of the Bank of England Property forum; was a member of the Technical Advisory Group – modernising stamp duty – Inland Revenue; and was a member of the profession’s working group that was part of the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership.
Whilst Vice-President he was a member of the Agenda for Change leadership team. He was the author of two strategic policy documents – The Future Role of the RICS (The Harris Report) and Victorian to Virtual. These papers were the catalyst for refocussing the RICS from a predominantly UK only professional body into a global player. During his presidential year he founded RICS China and RICS USA.
The Harris Debate
The CPD Foundation Harris Debate was established by RICS to recognise Jonathan’s unique contribution to CPD, further education and lifelong learning. Each subject revolves around the theme of “Ethics” and the debates are all chaired by Lord Bichard of Nailsworth KCB.
Harris Debate 2025:
11th November 2025 – Ethical surveying during a housing crisis
Speakers:
Justin Sulivan Nicholas Maclean, OBE, RD, FRICS
Acting President and Acting Chair of Governing Council, RICS
Nick Knight MRICSDr Wei Yang OBE, FAcSS, FRTPI, MCIHT
Digital Task Force for Planning; Chairman, Wei Yang & Partners; Member, The New Towns Taskforce
Panellists:
Charlotte Neal MRICS
Director of Professional Practice and Research, RICS
Faraz Baber FRICS
Chief Operating Officer of Lanpro and Member of the London Mayor’s Housing Mission Board
Fiona Fletcher-Smith
Chief Executive Officer, L&Q Group
Joey Aoun
Director – Net Zero and Sustainability Lead, Savills Investment Management
Previous Harris Debates:
24th October 2024 – Ethics in the Age of AI: Impact on Valuation Practices
Speakers:
Justin Sulivan FRICS
President Elect, RICS
Nick Knight MRICS
Managing Director, UK Lines of Business, CBRE and Chair of the Valuation PGP, RICS
Leo Qizhou Xiong Ph.D.
Director, Real Estate Economist, IMMO
Clare Grimes MRICS
Associate Director, GRE Finance
Andrew Knight
Global AI, Data & Tech Lead, Thought Leadership & Analytics, RICS
10th October 2023 – Is it right to damage the economy to save the environment?
Keynote Speaker:
Smith Mordak
Chief Executive, UKGBC
Panellists:
Vivienne King
Head of Real Estate Social Impact, The Good Economy
Sam Carson
Senior Director and Head of Sustainability, CBRE UK’s Valuations Advisory team
Dan Epstein
Consultant Director of Sustainability, Useful Projects
Pete Gladwell
Group Social Impact & Investment Director, Legal & General Capital
Xaviere Roudeix Crouan
Head of Research and Forecasting, Knight Frank Investment Management
10th December 2020 – Professionalism and Ethics in the Built Environment
Speakers & Panellists:
Sophie Chick
Director, World Research, Savills
Vicky Pryce
Chief Economics Adviser, Centre of Economics and Business Research
Kerry Gibbs
Partner, Gardiner & Theobald
Christine O’Rourke
Head of Conduct Standards, RICS
Jonny Anstead
Director, TOWN
30th October 2019 – Climate Change: Your Impact, Your Responsibilities
Speakers & Panellists:
Alistair Mant
UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)
Dr Eva Gkenakou
Multiplex Construction Europe
Professor Chris Rapley CBE
Climate science expert
Jorge Mendonça
Grosvenor Developments
14th November 2018 – What future for professions in a world of algorithms?
Speakers & Panellists:
Professor Richard Susskind
Author, Speaker and Independent Adviser
David Wood
Independent Futurist, Consultant and Writer
Katie King
International Trainer, Author and Keynote Speaker
14th November 2017 – Which Public, Whose Advantage?
Speakers:
Kenan Malik
Lecturer and Broadcaster
Phillip Blond
Director, ResPublica
Francesca Berriman MBE
CEO, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
16th November 2016 – Ethics, Competition and Growth: Where Are We Now?
Speakers:
Philippa Foster Back OBE
Director, Institute of Business Ethics
Tatiana Bosteels
Director Responsibility and Head of Responsible Investment, Hermes Investment
Peter Bolton King
Global Property Standards, RICS
16th November 2015 – Ethics and the Public Interest: Who, Why and How
Speakers:
Chris Yapp
International Futures Forum
Antony Townsend
Chair of the UK and Ireland Regulatory Board of RICS
19th November 2014 – “Trust Me I’m a Professional”: Recovering Integrity, Regaining Trust
Speakers:
Steve Kenzie
Director, UN Global Compact UK
Michael J Hershman
President and CEO, Fairfax Group
14th November 2013 – Ethics: Lost in Translation?
Speakers:
Philippa Foster Back OBE
Director, Institute of Business Ethics
Ken Creighton
Director of Professional Standards, RICS
Robert Barrington
Executive Director, Transparency International UK