Chris Williamson has been elected as the next RIBA President. The co-founder of London-based practice Weston Williamson + Partners prevailed over fellow presidential candidates Funmbi Adeagbo and Duncan Baker-Brown.

From a total of 4,462 votes from RIBA members, Williamson received 1,760 votes in the first round of the election, while Baker-Brown secured 1,502 and Adeagbo 1,200 votes. With Adeagbo eliminated and her votes redistributed in the second round, Williamson edged out a small advantage with 2,008 votes over Baker-Brown, who gathered 1,898 votes.

When asked about his top three priorities by The RIBA Journal during the election campaign, Williamson outlined: "Communications: Our members represent many of the world’s best architects. Increase influence, positioning the profession’s knowledge centre stage; Advocacy: Better support for all practices -helping all Members in their businesses; Education: Make the letters R I B A mean something: provide a real competitive advantage — a recognised qualification, not a members’ club."

On Archinect, Williamson has penned two Op-Eds on his immediate response to the 2016 Brexit vote and the subsequent economic implications for architects. He was also a leading voice in our Brexit Diaries series.

Williamson will officially take on President-Elect duties on September 1 for one year and then serve as RIBA President for a two-year term from September 1, 2025. He will take over the office from Muyiwa Oki, who became RIBA's youngest and first Black president in August 2023.