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Our Team
Our Co-Founders
Jen Lemen BSc (Hons) FRICS
Jen Lemen is a co-founder of Property Elite, Chartered Surveyor and RICS APC assessor. She is the author of 'How to Become a Chartered Surveyor' and 'APC Essentials: Mandatory Competencies', both published by Routledge.
She is also an experienced property consultant (co-Director of Projekt) with FRICS status, a RICS Registered Valuer and a RICS Accredited Mediator, with over 15 years' experience working in the commercial property sector.
Jen has extensive experience in providing training services to students, RICS AssocRICS, APC and FRICS candidates and corporate clients, together with academic experience as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, External Examiner at the University of Westminster and Associate Tutor at the University College of Estate Management. Her RICS assessment experience includes sitting on final APC interview panels, APC appeal panels and being a lead APC preliminary review assessor.
She has also written published articles in Property Week, ACES Terrier, RICS Modus and the RICS Property Journal. She also writes a regular APC column in Estates Gazette and the RICS Property and Built Environment Journals, contributes to the Estates Gazette Bricks & Mortar podcast series with Sarah Jackman and the ACES Terrier and is a contributing author to the Health & Safety section on RICS iSurv.
Jen holds a BSc (Hons) First Class (91% average) from the University of the West of England in Property Management & Investment. She was awarded the RICS South West Regional Prize upon graduation.
When she is not working, Jen loves to ride and race her bike, walk her Greyhound, Ben, and explore new food and coffee.
Rachel Saint DipSurv MRICS
Rachel Saint is a co-founder of Property Elite, Chartered Surveyor and RICS APC assessor. She has had extensive experience in providing training support to graduate trainees, RICS APC candidates and corporate clients throughout her career.
She is also an experienced property consultant (co-Director of Projekt) and expert witness. Rachel has over 30 years' experience working in the commercial property sector.
As a former Equity Partner with a national firm of property consultants, Rachel was responsible for the Lease Consultancy department including a team based throughout the UK.
Rachel has extensive experience of supporting retail businesses work through their property needs through outsourced Property Director roles, taking her across the country.
Rachel also has extensive experience in planning and development matters ranging from advising on development appraisal for residential and mixed use developments to planning applications, discharging conditions, appeals and inquiries.
Our Consultants
You will be supported by both our founders and our team of consultants. Please note this is not an exhaustive list, as we have other consultants who are not listed below.
Our team are all highly experienced Chartered Surveyors and APC assessors/chairs, covering all RICS APC pathways, routes and world regions.
Abigail Blumzon BArch (Hons) MSc MRICS
Client Project Delivery Advisor at Pick Everard
Abigail is an adaptable and enthusiastic construction industry professional, with experience on a wide variety of public and private sector developments. She has significant experience leading and engaging with large multi-disciplinary teams and building relationships of trust and respect.
Abigail also holds a Masters degree in Construction Project Management (First Class, University of Westminster), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture (2:1, University of Nottingham).
She currently works as a Senior Associate and South Coast office lead at Bailey Partnership, where she supports clients in successfully procuring and delivering their schemes.
Her career history is multi-disciplinary, including work as a Project Manager and an Architectural Assistant. During her career to date, Abigail has obtained significant experience in project planning and administration, brief-development and viability, design work, programme management, and bidding and commercial management.
Abigail also has significant experience in relationship management, leadership and mentoring. She proactively seeks to develop unified and high-performing teams on both a project and office-wide basis, and has led company-wide training programmes (CPD).
Alan Thunhurst FRICS
Land Surveyor and Geomatics Consultant at MJ Rees & Company
Alan commenced training as a land surveyor in 1965. He became a director of a chartered land surveying company in 1981 and managing director in 1996. He retired from this position in 2011 but continues working as a geomatics consultant.
Having been elected a Fellow of the RICS in 1988, he has been a member of various RICS Practice Panels and currently acts as an assessor and chair for APC panels in the Geomatics pathway.
His experience covers a wide range of land surveying, mapping and measurement projects and includes the preparation of reports and court appearances as an expert witness in relation to various boundary and measurement disputes.
He is also a member of the RICS Dispute Resolution professional group.
Andrew McDonald MRICS MInstLM MPNLP FRSA
Founder at Credo Living & Tandem Real Estate
Andrew is a Chartered Surveyor with over 27 years of experience, primarily as a commercial property agent with a focus on the retail property market. Andrew has worked at a variety of consultancies from boutique and niche property agencies (CWM) right through to large corporates such as Capita Real Estate. This experience of working in a variety of teams with differing approaches to management has provided a wealth of experience in company culture and how teams operate and leaders can get the best out of their colleagues.
Andrew holds a Level 5 Accreditation from the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) in Effective Coaching & Mentoring. He is also a qualified NLP Coach and a Master Practitioner of NLP with the ABNLP. He is in the process of taking his Level 7 Accreditation in Senior & Executive Coaching with the ILM.
Andrew left the corporate sector in 2020 to set up his own commercial property agency (Tandem Real Estate) and his development platform (Credo Living), focussing on converting redundant town centre property into much-needed housing.
He believes it is important that industry personnel work out what they are passionate about and aligns with their values in order to maximise their potential and experience a fulfilling and ultimately rewarding career. His core values are honesty, integrity and curiosity combined with keeping an open and growth mindset and a lifelong approach to learning.
Ashley Hurd MRICS
Associate Director at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) EMEA
Ashley Hurd MRICS is a Consultant to Property Elite. He is an experienced APC assessor, specialising in the Quantity Surveying & Construction, Project Management and Infrastructure pathways.
Ashley is an Associate Director at CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) EMEA. He is an experienced Programme Manager, with a history of working in the financial services industry.
He is skilled in Portfolio & Commercial Management, Risk Management, Procurement and Project Management Office (PMO).
Betsy Wong BA (Hons) PG Dip FRICS
Director at BCW Consultancy
Betsy is an independent consultant with over 20 years' experience, becoming a Fellow member of RICS in 2016. She specialises in Commercial Property and Asset Management and Corporate Real Estate and has a strong record of managing high value investment management and occupier portfolios. She is also experienced in service charge management and disputes.
Before becoming an independent consultant, Betsy worked at senior director levels in number of top 10 national real estate consultancy firms.
Betsy has been an APC assessor and supervisor/counsellor for over 10 years. As an RICS Inspire Ambassador, she is passionate to bringing surveying to our next generation.
Betsy is also a non-executive board member of the RICS East Regional Board and a non-executive director of Harborough District Commercial Services Ltd.
Charles Watson MSc FRICS
Associate Director at Avison Young (UK) Limited
Charles is a FRICS Chartered Surveyor currently operating as an Associate Director within the Real Estate and Infrastructure Management Business Service Line at Avison Young. Based in the Leeds office, Charles has over 12 years’ experience within commercial real estate practice.
Charles joined the Property Elite team in 2021 as a consultant and provides assistance to candidates to include; submission reviews, mock interviews, mentoring and question pack writing. Charles has been assessing and chairing RICS APC final assessments since 2020.
Charles currently sits on the RICS North West Regional Board and also acts as an external examiner for the built environment modules at Sheffield Hallam University.
Chris Jeffers BA (Hons) MSc FIWFM FRICS
Project Principal and Director of Facilities Management Advisory at Mott MacDonald Ltd
Chris is a Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor, and is currently a Project Principal and Director of Facilities Management Advisory at Mott MacDonald Ltd, a global engineering, construction, and built environment consultancy. He has over 25 years’ experience in the property, commercial real estate, and facilities management sectors.
He has been a consultant for 15 years, and held a number of property and commercial management roles in the public and private sector before that. His experience includes property and FM strategy reviews, asset data reviews and integration projects, property and FM transformation programmes, estates rationalisation projects, service provider performance reviews, procurement strategies and lead implementation roles, contract and specification writing, FM cost analysis and review, technical adviser roles on PFI projects, whole life cost analysis and operational FM contract management. He is a Government Soft Landings Champion.
He has worked in the UK and internationally for public, private and charitable sector clients, and has led advisory teams in a wide variety of property and FM commissions.
Chris is an APC mentor, and counsellor on the FM pathway.
Daniel Jacob MRICS
Professional Coach at Danielzjcoaching
Along with his Real Estate degree, Dan completed a placement year at Cluttons and went on the graduate programme at Strettons.
After specialising in the commercial management pathway and getting chartered in November 2022, he embarked on a personal development coaching course and has since become an approved coach after completing his certificate in professional coaching practice.
Dan is passionate about positively impacting others and partnering with them to help them reach their definition of success. He is currently in the process of growing his coaching business as he remains eager to help others reach their full potential. He does this by challenging them, creating space for reflection and allowing clients to find their own solutions.
Dan’s authentic passion to help others better themselves is applicable to any area of life and for individuals at all stages of their career
David Clare MRICS MFPWS
Director of Surveying Services at Gold Crest Chartered Surveyors
David has a built environment career spanning 20 years across various market sectors. He initially worked in the insurance industry as a loss adjuster dealing with property damage and contractor repairs before progressing through multiple appointments to a Partner position with one of the world's largest loss-adjusting firms. He then moved on to the antiquities world before changing markets to residential surveying.
After gaining MRICS, via the senior professional route, David initially worked at a regional firm before taking the reins in his current position. Now responsible for a national multi-award winning team a good proportion of his time is spent with compliance, welfare and business development. However, when on 'the ladders' David specialises in surveying conversion and Victorian municipal buildings, recent instructions have been for a former technical institute, an asylum and a water tower!
David is a LionHeart Ambassador as well as an RICS APC & SPA Residential pathway panel Chair, along with being a trained RICS Counsellor for his firm's internal candidates.
David Reynolds FRICS FCMI MAPM
Director at Bloomsbury Project Management
David Reynolds, a Chartered Project Management and Quantity Surveyor, runs Bloomsbury Project Management. He heads up the cost and project management service delivery of innovative client solutions on construction and property related projects within the retail, commercial and infrastructure sectors
David is a specialist in cost, procurement and project management, including sustainability and health & safety. He is also experienced in design team and stakeholder management, including landlord, tenant and statutory authority liaison. He provides added-value through being a Certified Assessor of both Office and Retail Ska Rating environmental assessments.
David has been an APC assessor for over 10 years, and provides guidance and mentoring as a Counsellor to aspiring RICS candidates.
Denis Alema MRICS
GIS Associate at UNHCR
Denis is a Chartered Land Surveyor, APC Assessor and Counsellor with over eight years’ experience in Geomatics.
He has been mentoring, assessing, and conducting preliminary reviews for prospective candidates in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa Regions.
He has experience in a wide area of geomatics specializing in spatial data analytics.
In 2021, he joined the Property Elite team as a consultant and helps candidates through submission reviews, mock interviews, and preparing question packs.
Ed Rothery MRICS
Senior Surveyor at Colliers International
Ed Rothery has been a surveyor for over 3 years at Colliers International in London within the valuation department. He is also a Registered Valuer.
He completed the Colliers graduate rotation programme, undertaking rotations in valuation, office agency, investment and a secondment to HSBC. He joined Colliers in 2015 after receiving a BSc (Hons) First Class from Sheffield Hallam University in Real Estate.
Ed is involved within the Colliers graduate programme, mentoring APC candidates through the whole APC process including acting as a Counsellor and Supervisor for candidates undertaking their valuation rotations. He also undertakes reviews of candidates submissions along with Q&As and mock interviews for Colliers candidates.
In his day-to-day role, Ed undertakes valuation work for various purposes including loan security, accounts, IPO, expert witness and advisory purposes for a range of national and international clients.
Francesca Laugharne BSc (Hons) MSc MRTPI
Freelance Planning Consultant
Francesca Laugharne is a Chartered Town Planner with over 15 years private sector experience. Francesca has worked at a number of high profile consultancies including RPS, Alder King, Rapleys and LDA Design before setting up as a freelance consultant.
She has extensive experience in planning and project management, leading multi-disciplinary teams delivering residential, commercial and energy developments for national clients. She is currently based in Devon and works for a range of consultancy and private clients in the South West and nationwide.
Francesca has a BSc in City and Regional Planning and an MSc in Regeneration Studies (with Distinction) from Cardiff University.
Having worked closely with Chartered Surveyors in her roles at Rapleys and Alder King, Francesca offers a highly valuable perspective to our Planning and Development pathway candidates. She has an established track record and has been supporting our APC candidates since Spring 2019.
James Clifford BSc (Hons) FRICS
Change Commercial Manager at Balfour Beatty Vinci (HS2)
James Clifford BSc (Hons) FRICS is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who has over 26 years' experience within the Building, Infrastructure/Rail and Nuclear sectors gained within; consultancy and large main contractor, organisations. His current role is as a Change Commercial Manager at Balfour Beatty Vinci (HS2).
He is an RICS APC Mentor, Counsellor, Supervisor and Panel Assessor and has acted as Counsellor for over 350 candidates becoming MRICS worldwide.
He can advise on all matters pertaining to the Housing, Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009), the associated Scheme for Construction Contracts 1998 (as amended 2011) and the Arbitration Act 1996.
He is a qualified Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Expert Witness and Adjudication Party Representative.
Jane Forsyth BA (Hons) FRICS FIRPM
Consultant Chartered Surveyor and Lecturer
Jane is a Chartered Surveyor, a former property solicitor, a Fellow of the Institute of Residential Property Management and an NRLA Accredited Landlord. She is also an Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and an Associate Tutor at UCEM.
Jane is the co-author of Real Estate – the basics, published by Routledge.
In her role in higher education, Jane has experience over a range of modules, including land law, landlord and tenant law, valuation, property development and property transactions.
Prior to her current roles, Jane was director of her block management business, from incorporation in 2002, until its sale to a national competitor in 2014.
During this time she won the British Property Federation Award for her MIRPM exam paper. She was also a director of the Association of Residential Managing Agents, before leaving this role to take on a paid position with the Association from 2013 to 2017.
In 2018, she was invited to contribute towards the Law Commission's preparation for its consultation on the Right to Manage and was named as a stakeholder in the Commission’s 2019 consultation paper.
As a Property Elite Consultant, Jane covers a wide range of competencies, including valuation, management, leases and lettings, and purchase and sale.
Having had an interesting and varied career in the property sector, Jane now enjoys helping students and RICS candidates to develop and progress.
Joseph Foot BSc (Hons) MRICS CMCIH
Principal Residential Valuer at Wandsworth Borough Council
Joseph Foot is the Principal Residential Valuation and Asset Management surveyor for Richmond and Wandsworth Council, a Chartered Surveyor and an APC assessor.
Graduating in 2005 from Oxford Brookes, he has obtained experience in private sector valuation and survey work, as well as local authority and housing associations. Joseph has over 18 years of experience across a wide range of subjects and surveying issues.
Present day to day duties include lease renewals, right to buy valuation, acquisitions, and disposal, as well as strategic advice on residential property issues in relation to regeneration, new builds and local authority housing stock.
Joseph obtained his MRICS status in 2020 having initially been referred in 2008. Whilst he became a Chartered Member at the Chartered Institute of Housing in the interim, he was always keen to return to achieve his MRICS accreditation. Joseph has a passion about helping others achieve their ambition and pass their APC.
Keith Jagger MBA FRICS MCMI
Consultant Chartered Surveyor - Self-Employed
A Chartered Surveyor for 47 years, 37 of them as a Fellow. Keith is an RICS APC Assessor, Counsellor and Chair, and has served on both National and Local Committees of the RICS.
His career began in the West End in 1972. Starting as a trainee surveyor and studying by correspondence course for his RICS Exams he gained his RICS qualification 3 years later.
He worked for three major firms for 8 years dealing with a wide variety of mainly commercial professional work throughout London and the rest of the country including valuations, rating, landlord and tenant, mortgage valuations, and group valuations, with some residential work and property management, sales/lettings and dilapidations work thrown in.
In 1980 he moved to Nationwide Building Society again specialising in valuations, HBRs, FBRs, panel management and some minor maintenance works. In 1989 he moved into residential private practice as an Associate in a long-established firm again doing valuations and surveys, including building surveys and Expert Witness work.
He later moved back to a major lender, where he stayed through various mergers and acquisitions undertaking a wide range of duties including management, working as a BSI qualified ISO 9001 internal auditor, complaints investigation, mortgage valuations and surveys.
Following an external approach in 2009 he left to set up his own consultancy, subsequently working with Oakwood Global Finance (later Pepper) and Legal and General Surveying services, closing the business in 2020. This work involved a range of tasks and projects including working closely with both of LGSS’s MDs to publish papers on Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Buy-to-Let Market, and working within the underwriting department of a lender client.
He has also worked as a postal tutor and written a course paper for the College of Estate Management.
Matt Trewartha FRICS
Head of Asset Management at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Matt Trewartha became chartered in rural practice but has extensive experience in managing diverse portfolios across the UK, incorporating commercial, residential and telecom assets. Matt has a degree in Agriculture from Harper Adams and worked in Agri-Business before moving into surveying in 2007, completing the Post Graduate Diploma in Estate Management with Reading University in 2009.
Having started his career as a residential agent in the North-East of England, Matt then moved to Fisher German in 2013 where he became an Equity Partner and Head of Non-Operational Property Management, working with several large water, waste and aggregate companies delivering a wide range of services.
Matt is currently the Head of Assets for two local authorities and acts as a non-executive advisor for a rural planning practice. As a highly experienced APC Assessor, Chair and Moderator for Rural and Land & Resources Pathways, Matt has a wealth of experience in helping candidates prepare for their assessment.
Mike Ward BSc (Hons) FRICS FCABE FAPM MICWCI MIoR MCIOB MIIRSM CMgr FCMI CEnv
Senior Technical Quality Manager at ISG
Mike is a Chartered Building Surveyor who has a diverse background in the construction industry. Mike started his career in Carpentry & Joinery, before progressing into various construction and commercial management roles, obtaining his degree in Construction Management in 2013. In 2017, Mike made the move into building surveying when he joined TESCO and became a Chartered Surveyor in 2022.
Mike is employed by Tier 1 contractor, ISG, but also holds an Assessor Coach position at Leeds College of Building for surveying-related degree apprenticeships.
Mike is keen to develop new talent within the industry and is currently an RICS Counsellor, APC Assessor, and holds a position on the RICS Yorkshire & Humber Regional Board.
Nick Millinchip MRICS
Director at McCartneys LLP & RICS Registered Valuer
Nick is a Chartered Surveyor who qualified via the Senior Professional route with the help of Property Elite. He is a Director at McCartneys LLP; a large multi-disciplined private practice of Chartered Surveyors rooted in both property and livestock markets. He is based in the Midlands between Worcester and Birmingham.
Nick’s personal area of focus is residential estate agency and the essential professional valuation work that surrounds the trade. Namely, IHT, CGT, and matrimonial valuations for private clients and Solicitors. He also regularly carries out Right to Buy, Right to Acquire and Staircasing valuations for a Local Authority.
With more than 25 years in the business, there would be very few nuances of the residential market beyond Nick’s experience. Despite that, he remains utterly subscribed to lifetime learning in view of the fact that Surveyors do not make the market, but must interpret it, and without a full commitment to CPD that is impossible!
Nick’s consultancy work with Property Elite then brings things ‘full circle’, fulfilling an aim to use his experience to help the qualification of others. At the same time, this also strengthens a very special profession, of which, he is proud to be a part.
Onur Demirci
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader (Course Director) at the University of Westminster
Onur Demirci is a Senior Lecturer and a Course Leader (Course Director) at the University of Westminster, Westminster Business School, School of Applied Management. He is also an affiliated and matriculated member of the University of Cambridge, Homerton College, where he researches within the subject of Mathematics (pedagogy).
He has extensive experience in asset management, and his research focuses on digital transformation in the valuation sector by pioneering new technology and techniques. He is developing algorithms (mathematical models) for Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) based on Big Data, Artificial Intelligence – AI: Artificial Neural Network and Machine Learning. Onur’s job is thinking things about digitalisation that most people in the industry are not thinking of – yet.
In Onur’s senior role in higher education, he manages, leads, delivers and assesses in a range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate modules, including valuation, tangible and intangible asset management and finance, property finance, lending and risk strategies, development, land law, landlord and tenant law and dissertation.
He supervises and assesses both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dissertations (thesis). Onur is also the designated personal and professional tutor working with professional services and the industry.
As a Property Elite Consultant, Onur can support the RICS APC candidates with a range of competencies and pathways, including Valuation, Valuation of Business and Intangible Assets, Research, Commercial Real Estate and Residential.
Paul Stewart MIWFM MIRPM AssocRICS
Managing Director
Independent Firm
Paul joined an independent firm of surveyors, estate agents and valuers in 1991 as a Junior in Commercial Property Management. The business he works in is a multi-disciplined practice formed in 1958 and based in the South of England.
Having developed the Property Management department throughout the 90’s into the single largest entity in the Group, Paul was promoted to a Director in April 2008.
Since then, he has assumed management of offices throughout Hampshire & Dorset and has developed an understanding of all disciplines from Agency through to Valuation. Paul has been Managing Director since 2017 and possesses a strong work ethic and prides himself on his determination to deliver.
An AssocRICS member since April 2012, Paul also assumes responsibility for supervising all of his firm’s AssocRICS candidates and has assisted staff in successfully passing on the Real Estate Agency (Residential), Commercial Property Management and Building Surveying pathways.
Roger Chubb BSc (Hons) FRICS
Self-Employed Chartered Surveyor
Roger is a very experienced commercial property chartered surveyor having joined the profession in 1977, subsequently gaining a well-rounded experience which includes most aspects of commercial property investment and development, as well as time as an RICS Registered Valuer.
He qualified while working for the Valuation Office and subsequently joined the private sector with Jones Lang LaSalle Australia (1981 – 1989); Jones Lang LaSalle West End London (1989 – 1992) and Hartnell Taylor Cook Bristol (1992 – 2007).
His primary focus has been the commercial investment and development sector for over 24 years which included leading and managing the Investment Department as Equity Director at HTC.
Since 2007 Roger has been self employed; working as a consultant in the agency team of a firm of Chartered Surveyors focussing exclusively on the Healthcare sector; as a director of a company developing onshore wind turbines and as a director of a company providing asbestos surveying and removal services.
Following retirement from full time involvement in property in 2019 Roger joined Property Elite as a consultant specialising in the Commercial Property pathway and he is also an RICS Assessor.
Russell de Beer BA (Hons) MSc FRICS
Rural Director at Strutt & Parker / BNP Paribas
Russell is a rural chartered surveyor who qualified in 2006. Russell works across East Anglia and specialises in landlord and tenant, rural planning and diversification, Compulsory Purchase work, valuation and expert witness work, having given evidence in both the High Court and County Courts.
Strutt & Parker/ BNP Paribas is a multi-disciplined firm with a strong UK presence as well as international coverage.
Russell is a Director and is responsible for three offices across East Anglia. Russell is also responsible for the rural APC training for the firm, having been an RICS APC Assessor for 6 years and Chairperson for 4 years. Russell is also a RICS Registered Valuer RICS Accredited Mediator and qualified expert witness
Outside of work, Russell is a keen triathlete, when weather and lockdown allows!
Will Holden MPlan MRICS
Director at Holden's Chartered Surveyors and Building Consultancy
Will Holden is a director of Holden's Chartered Surveyors and Building Consultancy.
He has been surveying since 2017 following a master’s degree in Town and Country Planning with Real Estate from the University of Manchester. Will achieved MARLA, AssocRICS, and his Registered Valuer in 2021 and followed with MRICS the year after.
Will is also a Chartered Building Engineer and member of the Institution of Royal Engineers.
Will works in a multidisciplined practice and undertakes a range of different specialisms including residential and commercial surveying, valuation, property and block management.
Will is currently an APC Mentor and Counsellor and Vice President of Lancashire Matrics.
Aittia Mahmood BA (Hons) MSc MRICS
Managing Director at Spera Real Estate Consultancy
Aittia Mahmood is a Managing Director at Spera Real Estate Consultancy, Chartered Surveyor and RICS APC assessor.
She has 12 years' experience within the construction industry, working with a wide range of high profile clients across several sectors including residential, commercial, industrial, rail and education.
She has acquired noteworthy international experience both in the roles of professional consultants and Main Contractors in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the United Kingdom.
Currently based in the United Arab Emirates she has founded Spera Real Estate Consultancy, a company dedicated to providing Building Surveying services within the Middle East. The name “Spera”, derived from the Latin word for “hope”, symbolises her dedication to cultivating and encouraging trust and optimism for the profession within the region.
Aittia has a proven track record of helping APC candidates to achieve their goals, and is passionate about helping others to progress in their professional qualifications.
Alex Hillman BSc (Hons) MRICS
Chartered Surveyor at Abercorn Surveyors
Alex completed his first work experience placement with a firm of Chartered Surveyors when he was 14 years of age.
He attended the University of the West of England and graduated with a degree in Building Surveying in 2016 and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2018.
The main core of his work comprises of residential surveys and valuations for a range of different purposes. He is also involved in site certification for new builds and Party Wall matters
Arthami Valavan BSc (Hons) MRICS
Chartered Surveyor at VINCI Facilities
Arthami graduated in 2015 with a BSc in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor on the Facilities Management pathway in 2018.
She is currently working as a Commercial Manager at Vinci Facilities and in her role has obtained significant experience in commercial administration, procurement and tendering, project financial control and reporting, supplier management and maintenance management.
Arthami has extensive experience of the APC process. She is a mentor providing support to candidates through the APC process.
Babatunji Adegoke BSc MSc MRICS
Project Manager at Paragon Holdings Ltd
Babatunji has extensive hands-on experience in project delivery and management in a variety of sectors, including complex projects in the property, construction, and civil engineering industries.
Babatunji has quality experience working with top-tier rated Clients, Contractors, and Consultants in Nigeria and Ghana, having earned a first degree in Civil Engineering and a second degree in Construction Management from the prestigious University of Lagos.
Babatunji is a highly regarded multidisciplinary professional with memberships in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (MNIQS), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE), and the Project Management Institute (PMP).
He is an RICS APC Assessor and Counsellor.
Brian Robinson MRICS
Chartered Building Surveyor
Brian Robinson is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 47 years’ experience in the construction industry.
He started his career at the age of 17 with as a draughtsman with a practice of structural engineers based in Edgbaston Birmingham before joining the Property Services Agency in 1975 as a Professional and Technical Officer and became a Charted Building Surveyor in 1990.
He joined WS Atkins in 1992, where he was the lead designer on several major refurbishment projects and Project Manager on multi-million-pound projects. He undertook a wide variety of professional work including dilapidation, pre-purchase surveys, building surveys, defect and condition surveys. He was also a Contract Manager for the delivery of Establish Works Consultant services at 3 MOD sites in Warwickshire and Worcester.
In 1996 he joined Serco Ltd as a Works Service Manager responsible for the setting up and managing of a team of 26 staff to deliver a day-to-day maintenance service and execution of major works for an MOD client.
In 1998 he joined Pennycuick Collins initially as their “In House” Building Surveyor supporting their residential and property management teams. He was then asked to set up a Building Surveying Team becoming an Associate Partner. A part of his role was the professional training of the trainee building surveyors to achieve Charted Status. He was also involved in advising on the training of surveyors from other teams.
He still undertook a wide range of professional work including dilapidation surveys, building surveys, boundary disputes, design and specification of refurbishment and building projects, contract administration, building pathology and defects resolution, project management and acting as an expert witness on several occasions.
He was also responsible for the Health and Safety Management of the practise and for carrying out Fire Risk assessments and Health and Safety inspections of residential property and small retail/commercial units.
He is a qualified Auditor, Chair and Assessor on RICS APC and on Appeal Panels.
He has been a Sessional Lecturer at Nottingham University, Aston University and Coventry University as well as external examiner at Coventry and Salford Universities.
Chris Fairbrother MRICS
Head of Estates working in Local Government
Chris Fairbrother is a Chartered Surveyor (commercial/valuation) with 24 years’ post-qualification experience, an RICS Registered Valuer and experienced RICS APC chair and assessor.
Chris has significant senior experience in local government, spanning a wide range of professional property disciplines including disposals & acquisitions, valuation, strategic asset management, landlord & tenant, regeneration, and compulsory purchase & compensation.
Since qualifying in November 1997, nearly all Chris’s experience is working in local government estates departments, where he has worked progressively to Head of Estates – a position in which he has over 10 years’ successful experience.
Chris is passionate about supporting RICS APC candidates; he originally became involved with the APC process by being a supervisor and counsellor, successfully mentoring candidates through the process. He then progressed to becoming an assessor (for final assessment interviews and preliminary review), which he has done for 10 years, and for the last 2 years he has been a chair.
Christopher J Leach BSc (Hons) MRICS ACIArb
Senior Surveyor at tmd Building Consultancy
Christopher is a Chartered Building Surveyor and has over 11 years’ experience in residential and commercial property. He is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He holds an Undergraduate (RICS accredited) degree in Building Surveying, during the completion of which he was awarded a RICS London Student Award.
Christopher started his career in 2009 contractor-side, before moving to a general practice consultancy in central London in 2011, where he also gaining experience in rights of light. He spent a further 3 and a half years working in the Residential Building Consultancy at Knight Frank, working with high net-worth clients based in the UK and overseas.
Subsequently he gained 5 years’ experience in a multi-disciplinary construction and property consultancy. This afforded him to broaden his experience predominantly within the commercial, industry and educational sectors. Acting in the capacity of lead consultant, project manager, contract administrator and quality & progress monitor. He has experience working client-side at a top 100 global school. Currently working as a senior member of tmd Building Consultancy, an award winning, independent Chartered Building Surveying and Project Management practice in the heart of Oxford.
Christopher has extensive experience of the APC process, is a RICS APC Counsellor and Mentor providing support to candidates through the APC process. He is also a committee member of the RICS Matrics Oxford where he seeks to engage and give back to his profession and community.
Experience includes: Lead consultant; Project Management; Contract Administrator; Building Surveys; Schedules of Condition; Dilapidation Surveys; Measured Surveys; AutoCAD; Rights to Light; and Party Walls matters.
David Broschomb MRICS FAVLP
Registered Valuer and Director at Dabro & Associates
David is Founder and Director of Dabro & Associates, Leisure & Licensed Property Valuers & Consultants, with over 30 years’ experience within the Commercial Property sector.
After 11 years as Business Manager for a national firm of Licensed Trade Accountants, David joined a firm of Commercial Property Agents and spent 10 years of valuation and advising clients on commercial sales & lettings, particularly in the leisure sector. A position with Chartered Surveyors Fleurets, involved specialising in Leisure & Licensed property, including Hotels, Pubs, Restaurants, Golf Clubs, and all forms of Leisure and Trade Related properties.
Dabro & associates was founded in 2014 and now specialise within the Leisure & Licensed Property sector for Valuation, Leasing, Landlord & Tenant and Rent Reviews to a wide variety of corporate and individual clients, including the Plunkett Foundation, for which he is the approved Chartered Surveyor for Community Groups.
In addition to specialising in the Leisure and Licensed Property sector, David has experience in the valuation, sales and lettings of Commercial and Trade Related properties and businesses.
David is a Registered Valuer with the RICS and a Fellow of the Association of Valuers of Licensed Property. (AVLP).
David is a Past National President and Fellow of Propertymark and presented courses on Valuation of Commercial Property and Aspects of Sales & Lettings of Commercial Property.
David currently contributes to the RICS Valuation of Individual Trade Related Property Expert Witness Group.
David Lowin MRTPI
Associate at Ridge and Associate Lecturer at UWE Planning School
David was elected as a Chartered Planner in 1982. Following a period in local government as a development control officer up to 1984, he has since worked in the private sector.
In the private sector he initially worked for a house builder, followed by developing the planning function at a leading South West firm of chartered surveyors and then for a further volume house builder.
In 1988, David joined a small planning consultancy in the South West where by 1996 he was a part owner. During this period, David served on the RTPI Southwest executive committee.
In 2000, David having materially assisted in building up his firm to become a nationally significant planning consultancy, played a leading part in its sale to a quoted engineering and environmental consultancy.
Following the incorporation of the new planning business into the PLC, David was a major actor in expanding the planning function to become a top five national planning consultancy. David led a regional office team and in 2013 led the firms national planning function. He was elected RTPI regional chair in 2017, and has sat on National RTPI committees, including one responsible for the APC process.
David became an RTPI APC Assessor in 2008 and has remained so until the present. He is able to assess all routes, apart from legal, to Chartership and Associate status. He brings specialist planning knowledge to test out Planning & Development RICS APC candidates.
Declan Fitzgerald
Regional Commercial Director at NG Bailey
Declan is a highly experienced Commercial Director/Chartered Surveyor, with a proven track record in developing businesses having grown companies to the region of £160 million in turnover. As a director, he has overseen and secured multiple mergers, acquisitions, and third-party project funding, leading his teams through clear communication and a result orientated approach.
He has a deep knowledge across the Commercial/Residental, Mission Critical Data, Industrial, Infrastructure, Pharmaceutical and Oil & Gas Sectors. He uses this knowledge to create comprehensive commercial strategies that are aligned with business objectives, mitigating risk as necessary. With exceptional stakeholder and relationship management skills, he generates rapport with ease at board level.
Declan uses his extensive experience and RICS APC Assessor training to support APC and AssocRICS candidates, primarily on the SPA route and on the QS&C and PM pathways.
Denish Patel MBA FRICS
Head of Property at London Borough of Brent
Denish Patel brings over two decades of real estate and property management expertise, focusing on maximising financial returns and social value from property assets. His extensive experience in local government, most recently as Head of Property, includes leading key strategic initiatives to align property portfolios with broader goals, enhance operational efficiency, and drive meaningful revenue growth. Denish's innovative approach and commitment to diversity and inclusion have significantly advanced local government objectives, benefiting the community and staff.
As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) and a Registered Valuer, he seeks to uphold and promote RICS values, fostering excellence, integrity, and professionalism.
Denish holds an MBA and is pursuing a master’s in artificial intelligence, aiming to explore AI’s transformative potential within the surveying industry. Beyond his professional endeavours, he is committed to mentoring emerging professionals and volunteering within his community.
Elise Thompson BA (Hons) MSc MRICS
Senior Surveyor at Vail Williams
Elise is a Chartered Surveyor who qualified through the Commercial Property Pathway and a Senior Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer at Vail Williams. She studied her Masters in International Real Estate at Kingston University, winning the Course Directors Prize for her research into Build to Rent development profitability, finance and viability.
Elise specialises in Financial Viability Assessments (FVAs) at the planning stage, working exclusively for public sector clients. Elise has undertaken a range of FVAs with the aim of maximising the viable level of affordable housing and other planning benefits on major planning applications across Greater London and the South of England.
She regularly assesses the financial viability of Local Plans, CIL Charging Schedules and strategic property portfolios. Most recently she has begun undertaking rent reviews, lease renewals, and Red Book valuations particularly for best consideration under the Local Government Act 1972.
When she isn’t at her desk, Elise volunteers at young people’s groups and enjoys performing arts, having originally trained as a classical singer. She loves to help others feel accomplished and will always appreciate a good book recommendation!
Gary Yeardley Touyz MSc FRICS
Director at CBRE
Gary is a Director at CBRE working within their Operational Real Estate Team. He specialises in the valuation of healthcare properties in the investment, operational and development markets and has worked for many of the largest global investors and national occupiers. As a recognised expert in the sector, Gary has written for RICS Journals and received appointment on high value expert witness mandates.
Gary understands all levels of RICS membership as he himself has progressed from AssocRICS, to MRICS, and most recently FRICS. He is a trained APC and AssocRICS assessor, regularly assessing for commercial, residential survey and valuation pathways across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia. He is also an APC appeal chair and has worked with the RICS in growing their AssocRICS qualification across Europe.
Jamie Cohen MSc MRICS MCABE
Director at Ashrose Properties
Jamie is a Chartered Surveyor and has over 12 years’ experience in residential property. He holds a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development and started his career in agency in 2009 where he worked with a wide variety of clients based in the UK and overseas.
He then moved client side to Grainger Plc, one of the largest listed residential property companies in the UK where he was responsible for the performance of a portfolio of circa 1000 properties in central London. Jamie is now a director in a property development company based in London, where he is responsible for new acquisitions and asset management of a core portfolio. He specialises in residential investment, development and valuations.
Jamie is an RICS APC mentor and has supported a number of candidates through the APC process.
John Hooper BSc (Hons) MRICS MCIOB
Director at KCML Chartered Surveyors
John is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and a Chartered Construction Manager with over 15 years private sector experience. John has worked for tier one cost consultants, main contractors, construction managers and developers in London before forming his own RICS regulated consulting practice based in his native Cornwall.
John has extensive experience in quantity surveying, commercial management, cost management, contract administration and construction management. He has and continues to provide consultant support across the residential, energy, healthcare, commercial and education sectors.
John holds a RICS accredited Quantity Surveying degree from University College of Estate Management (UCEM). John initially qualified as an Associate member (AssocRICS) in 2009, was quoted on the RICS Paperback ‘AssocRICS: Your Practical Guide to Success’ in 2011 and joined Property Elite to specialise in supporting candidates on the Quantity Surveying and Construction pathway to obtain their own esteemed AssocRICS qualification.
Joseph Knight MRICS MCIOB
Senior Building Surveyor at Pinders
Joseph is a Senior Chartered Building Surveyor and Chartered Construction Manager with over 12 years’ experience in the property and construction sector. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). He holds a 1st class undergraduate (RICS accredited) degree in Building Surveying, gained from Sheffield Hallam University.
Joseph started his career in 2009 working for a local authority, before moving to the private sector in 2014 where he spent several years operating within the role as a specialist Project Manager, managing large multi-million-pound developments, before moving back into the Building Surveying role, working for the consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton and now Pinders Professional Consultancy. During this time, he has strengthened the diversity of his knowledge and experience, particularly in the role as a monitoring surveyor.
Joseph has extensive experience and in-depth insight into the APC final assessment, is an RICS APC Mentor and Assessor, providing support to candidates through the APC process. He is also the vice- chairman for the CIOB Northampton Hub where he actively seeks to engage and give back to his profession and the wider community.
Mark McKay FRICS
Senior Development Surveyor at Network Rail
Mark is a Chartered Surveyor and APC Assessor with over 12 years experience in both the commercial and residential sectors.
Originally trained in the private sector, Mark has since worked in the public sector for Network Rail and previously at a Greater Manchester Local Authority.
Mark has written and published articles in the RICS Land and Property Journals and also delivered presentations at numerous RICS events.
Recently, Mark has been the lead author publishing a new Guidance Note on behalf of the RICS regarding Commercial Property Management for the industrial and energy sectors.
For APC Candidates, Mark truly believes that the best chance of APC success is simply down to “preparation, preparation, preparation!” - all starting with the quality of content in the submission pack.
Michelle Parkes BSc (Hons) MRICS
Chartered Surveyor at
Network Rail
Michelle Parkes is a Chartered Surveyor with over 19 years of experience in Property. Michelle completed her degree in Property Management and Valuation and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2012, while working as a Surveyor full time and raising her two children with her husband.
Michelle has extensive experience across multiple competencies including leasing and letting, landlord and tenant, purchase and sale, property management and access and rights over land, having worked in a variety of roles within Network Rail. Michelle currently undertakes land acquisitions across the whole of Scotland and provides advice to her clients on access and burdens.
Michelle previously sat on the RICS Matrics Glasgow and the West Committee. During this time she delivered presentations to its members on the APC process, including preparation for interview, and on professional rules and ethics.
Michelle has been assessing in England and Scotland for four years, assessing on several panels each session, and has recently started chairing interview panels.
Michelle is passionate about helping candidates pass their APC. When mentoring and counselling candidates, the first thing she tells them is that “the submission is the panel’s first impression of you, so really make it count”.
Mike Woods BSc (Hons) PGCert MRICS
Chartered Building Surveyor & Senior Project Manager at Prendoz New Zealand
Mike is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 18 years industry experience. Formerly from Wales where he gained an undergraduate degree in Building Surveying and a post grad certificate in Built Environment Studies, Mike began carving his career path by first gaining AssocRICS through the residential survey and valuation pathway and Registered Valuer status going on to full membership via the Building Surveying pathway. Mike was a director of a firm of surveyors and estate agents where he gained multi-panel appointments for valuations and provided a broad range of services including heritage building surveys, Homebuyer surveys, mortgage valuations, dilapidations and condition surveys.
In 2022 Mike and his family made the decision to move to New Zealand, Taking a position with Prendos. As an associate of the company, he created and oversees the Graduate development program, a natural inclination borne from his experience as an Assessor, mentor and Counsellor for the APC. He has undertaken all the modules required for the Diploma in Building Surveying awarded by the New Zealand Institiute of Building Surveyors to both, gain familiarisation with the industry differences presented by a country that has seismic, geothermal and climate considerations vastly different to that of the UK, and to become registered with the NZIBS.
Taking a leading role in the Auckland office, Mike is responsible for overseeing large projects including the Eastern Busway Development, Summerset residential villages and the Tamaki Regeneration project. His services are sought after for reinstatement matters (dilapidations in the UK), Technical Due Diligence and post-flood damage assessment.
Olivia Proudley BSc Hons MRICS FNAVA FNAEA
Director at Proudley Associates Ltd
Olivia Proudley, Director of Proudley Associates Ltd and a Chartered Surveyor, has a multi-faceted career and possesses over a decade of working in valuation, to include leasehold and freehold property, plant & machinery, business, intellectual property and other assets. She also has a wealth of experience in the asset disposal industry, including mergers and acquisitions, and management of auctions and disposal sales.
Olivia has completed the NFOPP Level Three Technical Award in Chattels Auctioneering, graduated with First Class Honours in BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management, is a Fellow of both NAVA and the National Associate of Estate Agents (NAEA). Olivia qualified as a RICS Chartered Surveyor in November 2020 and is continuing her professional development by studying her Level Three Award in Residential Lettings & Property Management.
Whilst working with Proudley Associates, Olivia has gained extensive experience in asset management, valuations and disposals, working for a number of public sector clients across the South of England. Olivia has a proven commercial acumen & diligence and is passionate in supporting others in their success.
Paul Matton MRICS
Property Director and Consultant
Paul is a highly experienced commercial Property Director and Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) with a career in corporate real estate spanning 40 years, including Board positions at Bestway, Gold Group and Somerfield Stores.
He is also Non-Executive Vice Chairman at Anchorwood Ltd, a residential developer. He has managed and developed large scale real estate comprising commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments.
A proven leader and excellent communicator at all levels he is focussed on creating and delivering value, reducing cost and minimising risk in organisations.
Paul brings commercial acumen, integrity, and diligence, encouraging wider oversight together with a range of both technical and personal qualities that can assist and develop candidates.
Robert Bias BSc (Hons) MRICS
Director at Blend Development Consultancy
Robert is a Chartered Planning & Development Surveyor with over six years’ experience in the commercial and residential development sector.
He holds a degree in Property Development and has maintained a focus on all aspects of the development cycle from pre-application, project delivery through to disposal, with a particular specialism in Financial Viability Assessments.
Robert is an RICS APC mentor and has a passion for providing straightforward and direct guidance for candidates to make the experience as enjoyable and straightforward as possible.
Roy Albert BSc (Hons) MRICS
Chartered Valuation Surveyor at the
Valuation Office Agency
Roy started his career as a valuer at the Rent Service in 2004. He moved through the ranks as an Administrative Assistant to a Rent Officer.
Fast forward through the years; the Rent Service amalgamated with the Valuation Office in circa 2009 and Roy became a Chartered Surveyor through the apprentice route.
To date, Roy has primarily been involved in Rating, but also has strong experience in asset valuations, capital tax valuations and local taxation.
He is an Ambassador for LionHeart, as well as a hub administrator for the Surveyor Hub. Roy is also a trained RICS APC Assessor.
Sarah Chaudhry
Director at Surveyor Store Ltd
Sarah specialises in mentoring Senior Professional Assessment candidates, but also works with candidates on all other RICS APC routes. She is a Fellow of the RICS (FRICS), a CIOH Member and has an MBA in Construction and Real Estate from Reading University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management from the College of Estate Management, a Post Graduate Certificate in Management and a Higher National Certificate in Housing.
Sarah has 30 years of corporate real estate experience. She formed the One Public Estate Northwick Park Partnership, a 2,500-home mixed-use regeneration scheme, has been a director in Local Government and has worked in several housing associations.
Sarah specialises in asset management strategy, strategic asset management, regeneration, project management, and property development. Sarah has overseen operational, commercial, and investment property portfolios and led all associated services.
Sarah works with several establishments teaching real estate on MSc and BSc courses, as well as teaching graduates at a Sovereign Wealth Fund in Saudi Arabia. Sarah's Dissertation on Diversity in Construction was published by the College of Estate Management (now UCEM) as a special paper in 2014.
Sarah's experience is wide-ranging, having been a RICS Board Member, a charity trustee and founded two diversity, equity and inclusion global networks.
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