Chair and Vice Chair of the Architects Registration Board

Chair and Vice Chair of the Architects Registration Board (05/03/2007)

Following on from the earlier announcement of the results of ARB’s election for the offices of Chair and Vice Chair, editors may find the following information helpful.

Michael Starling – Chairman

Michael started his career in design education as a Senior Tutor in Industrial Design at the Royal College of Art. As a convinced European, he also advised the French Ministry of Research and Technology on their design education strategy. Later, his research at the RCA into computer simulation as an integrated design and engineering tool attracted him into industry as a software consultant to multinational manufacturing companies as they started to adopt this emerging technology. Then, returning to academic life at Manchester Metropolitan University, he managed the merger of the two schools of architecture in the city, becoming its first Administrative Director until 2001. For five years he was a member of AGOCG, a Joint Information Systems Committee group that advised HE on the introduction of computer graphics, which encouraged the early adoption of the World Wide Web. He is now the Head of Academic Development for the Faculty of Art and Design.

(Elizabeth) Jane Rees – Vice Chairman

Jane has extensive experience in the field of regulation and was Registrar of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council from 1986 to 1998. She now works as a regulatory consultant and as such has served as Acting Registrar of ARB from September 1999 to April 2000 and has assisted a number of other statutory and regulatory bodies over the last seven years.

More ……

It is the first time in ARB’s 10-year history that both key office holders are non-architects. For the Board now to elect two lay members as Chair and Vice Chair serves to underline its commitment to upholding the public interest.

New Chair Michael Starling said that as Chairman, he would like to enable every member of the Board to make a full and effective contribution to the Board’s business, and hopefully find a way to accelerate the rate at which the Board’s business is planned and executed.

He added:

“I believe that such an approach will help to ensure that the Board continues to fulfil in equal measure the expectations of the public, architects, and students of architecture.”

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Notes for Editors

ARB is the statutory body established by Parliament under the Architects Act 1997 to regulate the UK architects’ profession in the public interest. The Act requires ARB (inter alia) to:

• Maintain the Register of Architects (Section 3)

• Prescribe qualifications for entry to the Register of Architects (Section 4)

• Deal with competence to practise (Section 9)

• Issue a Code which lays down standards of professional conduct and practice (Section 13)

• Regulate use of the title “architect” and prosecute those who use it unlawfully (Section 20)

ARB has a different role and function than that of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). As a statutory regulator, ARB is responsible for delivering the statutory duties and responsibilities laid down the Architects Act. The RIBA is a chartered institute, and is responsible for advancing architecture and promoting excellence in the profession.

ARB has a Board of 15 members, seven of whom are architects elected by the profession. The remaining eight are members of the public appointed by the Privy Council to represent the interests of consumers and users of architectural services.