Cultural change in property sector has to come ‘from the top’, says former RICS president
Cultural change in the property industry must come from above, according to one vastly-experienced industry figure.
Speaking at a TheBusinessDesk.com round table lunch at Opus in Birmingham last Friday (31 January), Dr Louise Brooke-Smith OBE, said that gender balance was the biggest difference the industry had undergone since she started her career in the sector some 35 years ago.
She said: “I have really pushed gender balance in the industry, and things have changed – the culture has changed. But I don’t think culture change can come from below; it has to come from the top of an organisation.”
RICS’ first female president, Brooke-Smith was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last year for her contribution to the built environment and diversity and inclusion.
Dr Brooke-Smith has long championed the benefits of a diverse workforce to meet the demands of the 21st Century, and during her time as president, was instrumental to the RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark.
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