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RIBA Chief Executive Alan Vallance is stepping down

2022-04-28T11:58:00-04:00

Change is coming to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as Chief Executive Alan Vallance is stepping down in a surprise move announced by the organization on Wednesday.

RIBA shared that Vallance will be departing to helm the influential 110-year-old Chartered Insurance Institute beginning in July. No immediate successor has been named.

The outgoing chief said now was “the right time for the RIBA and for myself to take this step,” and that he was “proud of our many collective achievements during my time at the helm.”

Vallance first stepped into the role in 2016 and has guided the organization through polarizing political times and the inevitable pandemic, which included the recent tough decisions to get RIBA’s financial house in order by shedding staff and selling its former 77 Portland Place offices.

Vallance’s tenure saw the launches of a host of new initiativ...

Theresa May resigns: 'The country's left in limbo,' responds RIBA President Ben Derbyshire

2019-05-24T14:16:00-04:00

The news of British Prime Minister Theresa May announcing today that she would move out of 10 Downing Street on June 7, following a lengthy period of political disarray over the UK's post-Brexit future as well as criticism over her handling of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, did not come as an overwhelming surprise anymore.

RIBA President Ben Derbyshire most likely had his response, on behalf of the country's architecture industry, ready to go in his desk drawer for the past weeks, and the time to publicly release it had come now.

"The news that Theresa May will step down as Prime Minister leaves the country in limbo while the clock ticks down to the latest deadline of 31 October," comments Derbyshire. "While much is uncertain, one thing remains clear – a no deal is no option for architecture or the wider construction sector. Whoever becomes the next Prime Minister must focus on taking the country forward with policies beyond Brexit that tackle the major challenges facing the co...

Ben Derbyshire from HTA Design voted President Elect of the RIBA

2016-08-09T12:16:00-04:00

In September 2017 Ben Derbyshire will officially become RIBA President-Elect, taking over from the current President Jane Duncan.

Commenting on the announcement on HTA's website he said:

“Once again we find ourselves in turbulent times. In winning this election I am conscious of a great sense of responsibility owed to architects everywhere, in all corners of the UK and overseas. Jane Duncan has laid the foundations for change at the RIBA that I look forward to driving forward, when I take up the role of President. My primary goal is to champion architects so that they, our sister professions and clients, can advance architecture as the cornerstone of the well-designed and more sustainable built environment society desperately needs. All architects, wherever and however we practice, need an RIBA that works for us."