Young Surveyor of the Year

There are many impressive surveyors in the RICS, and one standout is Joanne Williams, the winner of this year's MATRICS Surveyor of the Year Award.

As a Conservation Accredited Building Surveyor, Joanne is part of the Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation team, where she specialises in adapting built heritage to meet the challenges posed by climate change. She also has valuable experience managing estates for organisations such as the National Trust and Winchester College.

At Historic England, Joanne collaborates with a diverse range of professionals, government bodies, and universities on various projects. Her work involves producing guidance documents, participating in steering groups, and supporting the development of British standards and training opportunities related to conservation and climate change. She also utilises digital tools such as 3D imagery, data modelling, drones, and geospatial planning to assess climate change hazards, particularly in forecasting their effects on buildings.

Joanne's passion for building conservation began during her time as a Facilities Coordinator at the National Trust, where she developed skills in defect diagnosis and problem-solving. This experience inspired her to pursue an MSc in Building Surveying.

In addition to her professional achievements, during 2024/25, Joanne learned the front crawl as an adult. and swam the English Channel to raise funds and awareness for SwimYayka, a charity dedicated to reducing child drowning rates worldwide.

Interestingly, the Register of RICS Certified Historic Building Professionals features surveyors from the UK, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, the United States of America, and France, but not Australia. Why do you think this might be?