25 NOVEMBER 2020

Harris DebateProfessionalism and Ethics in the Built Environment

For a long time, the success of our profession was measured against commercial success. More recently, increased attention to the issues of inclusion, sustainability and social impact has changed this approach. To remain successful, organisations now need to increasingly assess the long-term impact of their practices and actions.

In a world increasingly disrupted by pandemics, technological advancements, globalisation, and a renewed focus on fairness, inclusion and environmental protection

• What are the new expectations for the built environment sector and the consequences of our work on the world around us?

• How can we continue to champion professionalism and sound ethical decision-making to ensure a positive impact on society and add value to our communities?

Join this year’s annual Harris Debate, as part of the RICS Social Impact and Sustainability Conference and Awards, to explore how the call for professionalism, ethical practice, sustainability and social value will re-shape the long-term strategy and development of our industry and profession.

Harris Debate Professionalism and Ethics in the Built Environment 25 November at 18:00 - 19:30

FREE TO ATTEND FOR ANYONE

What is the Harris Debate?

The Annual Harris Debate was established by RICS to recognise the unique contribution of Jonathan Harris CBE FRICS to the furthering of CPD, further education and lifelong learning. Jonathan founded the Continuing Professional Development Foundation in1981, which was passed to the RICS in 2011 to expand its activities and build on Jonathan’s enterprise.

Harris Debate panellists

Chair: Lord Bichard KCB

Michael has been a cross bench peer since 2010 and has chaired the National Audit Office for 6 years. Prior to that he had a varied career which included being the founding director of the institute of government, a university vice chancellor and a permanent secretary of the department for education and employment for six years.in 2004 he chaired the Soham Inquiry.

Vicky PriceChief Economic Ad-viser, Economics and Business Research

Vicky is Chief Economic Adviser and a board member at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). She was previously Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, Director General for Economics at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service.

www.cebr.com

Sophie ChickDirector, World Research, Savills

Sophie Chick is the head of department for Savills World Research team and the lead researcher on ESG in the Urban Environment. Working across all property sectors, she delivers market leading research on global real estate markets and the international forces that shape them. In 2016, she moved to Sydney for two years, where she set up a residential research department.

www.savills.co.uk

Christine O’Rourke Head of Conduct Standards,RICS

Chrissie O’Rourke is Head of Conduct Standards for RICS with responsibility for all standards relating to professional behaviour. She has worked for a number of professional regulators and complaint handling bodies including the General Teaching Council for England, the Pensions Ombudsman and the British Psychological Society.www.rics.org

Book your place today: rics.org/harrisdebate

09:00 Chair’s Opening Remarks

Programme 25 November 2020 | Venue: Virtual

Book your place today: rics.org/harrisdebate

Working from home has not only affected the office and commercial property market, but it is also shifting people’s priorities when choosing properties to live in. It follows suit that property investments are increasingly at risk and investors are looking at new options to safeguard their assets. While return on investment remains a priority, social value and impact is now taking a central stage. How can we strike a balance to ensure that our advice and decisions on affected property consider and achieve both?

18:00 The changing city landscape: advising on social value and impact

Join this interview with the winner of this year’s RICS Social Impact Awards to delve into the real-life experience of a highly-successful project, explore the ethical challenges, and get inspired on how to choose the best solutions to benefit society.

18:40 Case study: delivering an award-winning social impact project

This panel will discuss the ethical dilemmas of telling the truth. • What should we do when the truth places us in a less favourable position than

our competitors? • How do we deal with situations where minimising an issue might create an

advantage? • Even more importantly, what happens when the truth can actually harm society? • Is it always imperative to tell the truth or does its value change based on

circumstances? Join this highly-inspirational panel to delve into the moral and ethical value of honesty and transparency.

19:00 Exploring the truth value – the ethical and moral implications

19:30 End of event

FREE TO ATTEND FOR ANYONE

This year, Harris Debate is part of a larger event “Sustainability & Social Impact Conference & Awards”, which is held online on 24 November.

Join the new RICS Sustainability and Social Impact Conference to delve into what social value practically means for your work. From measuring and valuing social impact at different stages of the project life cycle, to understanding how your advice needs to change and, most importantly, how implementing the principles will benefit your company – this event will provide you with practical guidance on how to improve social value and social return on investment.

Each session is backed by a real life case study, which will help you understand the key challenges, best practices and working solutions.

Why is it important to join?

For the past decade, socially responsible investment in the built environment sector has been a growing trend. Governments and organisations are changing their approach to project management to incorporate social value and sustainable practice – leading to stricter requirements and regulations for contractors and supply chains.

To succeed, it is now even more imperative that surveyors and professionals operating within the built environment understand what social value, socially responsible investment and sustainability are and how they will drive future decisions on their work and projects.

rics.org/socialconference

Date: 24 November 2020

Time: 08:30 – 17:00

Venue: Virtual

RICS members: £119 + VATNon RICS members: £179 + VAT

Cost:

Book your place today:

Sustainability & Social Impact Conference & Awards