Kathleen Fontana Named as RICS President for 2020-2021

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23 November 2020

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has named Kathleen Fontana FRICS as their President for 2020-2021.

The RICS 2020 Annual General Meeting took place virtually, with 636 members witnessing the official handover to Fontana, from outgoing President Timothy Neil FRICS.

The event also saw Clement Lau FRICS welcomed as President-elect, and Ann Gray FRICS as Senior Vice President, to work alongside Kathleen as ambassadors for the profession.

Fontana is the Managing Director, Critical Infrastructure and Projects at Mitie and is active in driving engagement and inspiring change on property technology and diversity.

“For all of us in the profession, this has been an extraordinary year with many challenges. I am exceptionally proud of the way that surveyors have supported and led their communities, colleagues and customers."

–Kathleen Fontana FRICS

President, RICS

A Passion for Social Value and Ethical Behaviour 

Fontana is passionate about inspirational leadership, social value and ethical behaviour as key to performance in the built and natural environment.

Over her twenty-five year career she has delivered commercial and facilities management at firms including Serco, Aspire Defence Services, Interserve, and ISS, and has driven collaboration across disciplines and sectors including defence, local and central government, and financial and professional services.

She is active in driving engagement and inspiring change on PropTech and diversity by speaking at industry events and as a guest lecturer at Middlesex University.

Speaking following her inauguration, Fontana commented: 

“For all of us in the profession, this has been an extraordinary year with many challenges. I am exceptionally proud of the way that surveyors have supported and led their communities, colleagues and customers. The RICS resilience stories have proved to be a real source of pride and inspiration. Across the globe, RICS professionals are delivering resilient responses to the current challenges impacting our industry and wider society. 

“As we start to think about emerging from this crisis I would urge us all to be focused not only on the short-term recovery and regain, but also on the once in a lifetime opportunity to reset and to ‘build back better’ – to continue to address the global challenges of digitalisation, sustainability and social impact. With this strategic focus we can ensure that the assets in the natural and built environment assets are harnessed to truly promote a better future for all.”

Picture: a photograph of Kathleen Fontana FRICS. Image Credit: RICS

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 23 November 2020

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