Chris Williamson elected RIBA President 2025

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that Chris Williamson has been elected as the next RIBA President.

Chris will take up the office of RIBA President-elect on 1 September 2024 and will begin his two-year term as President on 1 September 2025, succeeding Muyiwa Oki.

The position of President of the RIBA was created in 1835. Presidents, who chair the RIBA Council, the representative body, and sit on the RIBA Board of Trustees, are directly elected by RIBA members.

Chris Williamson has completed his MSc in Project Management and is now a Chartered Architect. In addition, Chris obtained an MA in Town Planning in 1995 and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Chris Williamson is co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners, an architectural practice based in London.

The architect believes that “the art of architecture requires excellent business skills to be realized.” At the WW+P studio and elsewhere, Chris acts as a mentor to a number of students. He openly and honestly describes his experiences in architecture as well as his future goals.

Chris has held a number of positions at the RIBA, including Chair of the Architecture Centre from 1999 to 2001 and its Business Skills Ambassador from 2015 to 2017. Most recently he was Vice President International from 2017 to 2019, where he oversaw the development of a plan to expand the organisation into a global membership body and to inspire more UK architects to look for work abroad.

Chris Williamson, Funmbi Adeagbo and Duncan Baker-Brown all applied for the position of RIBA President.

“I am delighted to have been elected RIBA President and would like to thank everyone who nominated, supported and voted for me. I am particularly pleased that my support comes from all sectors of our wonderful profession – including RIBA Stirling Prize winners, major practices, sole proprietors, young architects and students,” said Chris Williamson.

“And also those who are passionate about their own specialties within the industry, be it in science, heritage conservation, sustainability, commercial or residential construction, mass housing or complex reuse.”

“I will do my best to represent all views and communicate to politicians and decision makers what amazing expertise we have and how they can get involved in setting policy and tackling global problems,” Williamson said.

“I will continue to champion social mobility, inclusion and diversity in the workplace and beyond, and take action to tackle climate change. The debates were conducted respectfully and civilly – something that is rare in other elections. Thank you,” he added.

“My whole career has been about collaboration and bringing everyone together. Whether it’s small community projects like Ilkon Arts in Derbyshire or large infrastructure like the Paddington Elizabeth Line or London Bridge Jubilee Line stations.”

“In these difficult times I now have another great opportunity to do the same at the RIBA, but I am really excited and enthusiastic to get started.”

“I owe so much to the RIBA in my career, since being selected for the ’40 under 40′ exhibition in 1985 with Andrew Weston and winning the competitions organised by the RIBA. I want to help a new generation of architects by creating the conditions for them to flourish, which I believe will benefit the whole industry,” Williamson concluded.

Chris is a BRE approved assessor for BREEAM infrastructure projects internationally and nationally. Chris is a member of the City of London Conservation Area Advisory Panel, the Livery Climate Change Action Group and the Southwark Design Panel, where he also chairs.

In 2022, Chris transformed a closed church in his hometown in South Derbyshire into a thriving community arts centre promoting contemporary art in the East Midlands.

Top image in article: Chris Williamson. Image courtesy of RIBA.

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Chris Williamson
RIBA
RIBA President