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

Chris will take over as RIBA President-Elect on September 1, 2024, and he will take over his two-year term as President on September 1, 2025, following Muyiwa Oki.

In 1835, the position of President of RIBA was created. To chair RIBA Council, the representative body, and to serve on the RIBA Board of Trustees, presidents are directly elected by the membership of RIBA.  

Having completed his MSc in Project Management, Chris Williamson is a chartered architect. In addition, Chris received an MA in Urban Design in 1995 and is a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) member. Chris Williamson is the co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners, a London-based architecture practice. 

The architect believes that "the art of architecture requires excellent business skills in order to be realised." In the WW+P studio and elsewhere, Chris serves as a mentor to a number of students. He gives a candid and open description of his experiences in architecture as well as his future goals.

Chris has held multiple positions at RIBA. He served as the Architecture Center's chair from 1999 to 2001 and as its ambassador for business skills from 2015 to 2017. More recently, he served as Vice President International 2017–2019, where he oversaw the development of a plan to expand the organization into a global membership organization and to inspire more British architects to look for work abroad.  

Chris Williamson, Funmbi Adeagbo, and Duncan Baker-Brown all competed for RIBA President.

"I am delighted to be elected RIBA President and would like to thank all those that nominated me, supported me and voted for me. One of the most gratifying aspects is that my support came from all aspects of our wonderful profession - including RIBA Stirling Prize winners, large practices, sole practitioners, young architects and students," said Chris Williamson. 

"Also, those passionate about their own specialisms within the industry whether that be academia, conservation and heritage, sustainability, commercial, residential, volume housing or intricate re-use." 

"I will try my best to represent all views in order to communicate to politicians and decision makers what amazing specialisms we have and how they can be involved to establish policy and tackle global issues," Williamson explained.

"I will continue to champion social mobility, inclusion and diversity in the profession and beyond and take action to combat climate change. The debates have been conducted respectfully and with civility - something that is rare in other elections. Thank you," he added.

"My whole career has involved collaboration and bringing all stakeholders together. Whether small community projects like Ilkon Arts in Derbyshire or large infrastructure like the Paddington Elizabeth Line station or London Bridge Jubilee Line station."

"I now face another big opportunity to do the same at the RIBA in these challenging times but I am excited and enthusiastic to get started." 

"In my career I owe the RIBA so much since being selected with Andrew Weston in the 1985 ‘40 under 40’ exhibition and winning RIBA administered competitions. I want to help a new generation of architects by creating the conditions to thrive which I believe will benefit the whole profession," Williamson concluded.

For BREEAM International and National Infrastructure projects, Chris is a BRE Approved Assessor. Chris is on the City of London Conservation Area Advisory Panel, the Livery Climate Change Action Group, and the Southwark Design Panel, where he also serves as chair. 

Chris transformed a shuttered church in his South Derbyshire hometown into a thriving community arts center that supports contemporary art in the East Midlands in 2022 after purchasing it. 

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

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Chris Williamson RIBA RIBA President