Practice management – challenges for 2012 and beyond - 1.15pm

Mike will examine the challenges faced by the smaller practice in today’s business environment, considering critical areas such as time management; winning business; fees and their collection; staffing; cash and working capital; marketing; succession and the work / life balance. Mike’s glass half full approach will ensure a thought provoking presentation for delegates.

Speaker:  A Chartered Accountant and holder of the Corporate Finance qualification, Mike Norrie works with owner managers to maximise business value. He ran his own accounting practice and was head of M&A with two national accounting firms, before launching his own boutique advisory company in 2008. Mike specialises in strategic advice to owner managers.

RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Internal management

Selling sustainability to clients - 2.15pm

Our speaker will provide guidance on how to sell sustainable design to clients – the benefits to the client, the need to depart from business as usual, and when additional services maybe required. Examples of how to incorporate products into domestic and small projects will also be given.

Speaker:  David Clark is the Sustainability Partner at Cundall, the 2010 Building/UKGBC Sustainability Consultant’s of the Year. He has designed many award winning green buildings during 14 years in Australia and relocated back to the UK in 2009. David is currently writing a book on the carbon footprint of building for RIBA Publishing.

RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Climate – sustainable architecture

Re-imagining light – a tactical view: lighting and Part L Regulations - 3.30pm

Our speaker will discuss the implications of the regulations and how they affect lighting design. He will describe recent projects and examples which have pushed the boundaries and which show that it is not so easy to regulate light and ways around Part L.

Speaker: Mark Sutton Vane, Principal at Sutton Vane Associates, studied architecture at the University of Westminster and has been working in architectural lighting design since 1989. His passion for excellent lighting design has helped place the practice in the top tier of lighting design consultancies worldwide. In addition to designing residential, commercial and architectural lighting schemes, he also created the award-winning Tsola solar powered light tile and is frequently involved in the design of custom fittings for special projects.

RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Designing and building it

Building Regulations and contemporary design - 4.30pm

What do the Building Regulations mean in reality for architects and designers when considering contemporary design solutions? The speaker will outline how a flexible approach to Building Regulations can aid design solutions whilst still meeting the requirements. He will also give an insight to planned Building Regulations changes coming in 2013.

Speaker:  Colin Blatchford-Brown is South West Regional Manager at jhai ltd, Building Control Approved Inspector Services. Having worked in the building control industry for more than 25 years, Colin has a wide range of experience of all aspects of Building Regulations, including fire safety, access provision and sustainability issues. He delivers seminars on Building Regulations and is involved in a number of high profile projects in the region.

RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Climate – sustainable architecture