​RIBA Council

• role: the most senior governance body representing our membership
• composition: up to 51 elected members from across the UK, Nations and Regions, International Chartered Members, Students, and Associate members
• chair: RIBA President
• responsibilities: guides strategic direction by collecting insights from members and the profession

Elected by RIBA Members, RIBA Council acts as the representative body for the membership. Chaired by the RIBA President, it meets four times a year and is responsible for gathering insights from the profession to inform the strategic direction of the organisation. Council is responsible for appointing the RIBA Board of Trustees.

An informal account of its most recent discussions and decisions can be read in the Council Courier.

Find out more about RIBA Elections for 2024.

RIBA Council Members 2025 to 2026

president: Chris Williamson 25 to 27

• Funmbi Adeagbo (London) 23 to 26
• Selen Akalin (Student) 25 to 28
• Philip Allsopp (The Americas) 23 to 26
• Karen Anderson (RIAS President) 24 to 26
• Colin Baillie (Scotland North) 25 to 28
• Duncan Baker-Brown (South East) 23 to 26
• Tom Bell (Wessex) 23 to 26
• Philippa Birch-Wood (West Midlands) 23 to 26
• Christopher Brimble (RSAW) 24 to 27
• Dan Brown (Yorkshire) 24 to 27
• Niralee Casson (London) 23 to 26
• Jennifer Dixon (Council) 23 to 26
• Graeme Dodd (North East) 24 to 27
• Calum Duncan (Scotland South) 23 to 26
• Alan Francis (RSAW President) 25-27
• Katie Fisher (Council) 24 to 27
• Tom Foggin (VP Membership) 25 to 27
• Richard Hanley Timmins (South East) 23 to 26
• Mark Harris (Middle East and Africa) 23 to 26
• Paul Iddon (North West) 24 to 27
• Greta Jonsson (London) 23 to 26
• Félicie Krikler (London) 23 to 26
• Waldemar Koehler (Europe ex UK) 23 to 26
• John Lavery (RSUA President) 24 to 26
• Rachael Livingstone (Student) 25 to 28
• Donal MacRandal (Northern Ireland) 25 to 28
• Laura Marr (Council) 25 to 28
• Chithra Marsh (North West) 24 to 27
• Muyiwa Oki (Immediate Past President) 25 to 26
• Timothy Onyenobi (Council) 23 to 26
• Femi Oresanya (London) 23 to 26
• Jack Pringle (London) 23 to 26
• Sumita Singha (Council) 24 to 27
• Ruffina Thilakaratne (Asia and Australasia) 23 to 26
• Anna Webster (East Midlands) 24 to 27
• John Wilde (South West) 24 to 27
• Rebecca Wise (Council) 25 to 28

Read the Council Member Code of Conduct.

Nations & Regions Council Committee

The committee serves as a strategic conduit between the RIBA Council and its branches, chapters, and regions across the UK and internationally. Its role is to represent the membership, gather insights, and provide strategic advice to the Board on matters such as policy development, member engagement, and investment in local initiatives. The committee facilitates communication, supports governance and operations at the regional level, and ensures a consistent member experience across all levels. It also makes non-binding recommendations on themes and priorities raised by members and oversees the distribution of the Local Initiative Fund in alignment with Board-approved budgets and strategies.

Committee of Council

Composition: the Vice President of Membership, all Regional Chairs in England; all international RIBA Council Members; Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) President (or nominee for RSAW Council); Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) President (or nominee from the RSUA Council who is also a RIBA member) and Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) President (or nominee from the RIAS Council who is also a RIBA member).

chair: Tom Foggin

Committee Members:

• All Regional Chairs, England:
  • Alex Durao - Regional Chair, South
  • Damion Burrows - Regional Chair, London
  • Jerene Irwin - Regional Chair, East
  • Josh Maddison - Regional Chair, Wessex
  • James Frith - Regional Chair, East Midlands
  • Philip Twiss - Regional Chair and Council Member, West Midlands
  • Richard Wooldridge - Regional Chair, North West
  • Ben Pipkin - Regional Chair, Yorkshire
  • Sarah Lee - Regional Chair, South West
  • Stuart Eatock - Regional Chair, South-East
  • Grace Choi - Regional Chair, North East
• RSAW President (or nominee from the RSAW Council) - Dan Benham, RSAW President
• RSUA President (or nominee from the RSUA Council who's also a RIBA Member) - John Lavery, RSUA President
• RIAS President (or nominee from RIAS Council who's also a RIBA Member) - Karen Anderson, RIAS President
• All international Council Members are elected from among and by the Chartered Members within the relevant International Region:
  • Mark Harris - Council Member, Middle East and Africa
  • Phil Allsopp - Council Member, Americas
  • Ruffina Thilakaratne - Council Member, Asia and Australasia
  • Waldemar Koehler - Council Member, Europe, excluding UK
• vice president membership - Tom Foggin

Who to contact

• executive director: Belinda Irlam-Mowbray
• governance lead: Jonathan Fraser-Howells
• committee secretary: Janice Nel

email: ribagovernance@riba.org

View current RIBA Committee vacancies.

RIBA Council Task and Finish Groups

On 30 September 2021, the RIBA Council decided to create a number of Task and Finish Groups to support it in its role of giving strategic advice and guidance to the Board.

To make the research/report cycle manageable, these Task and Finish Groups have a specific brief from Council and report back to Council after a period of around three months. Further details can be found on our RIBA Task and Finish Groups page. Further details can be found on our RIBA Task and Finish Groups page.