Isabel Garriga and Robin Webster vie for GIA presidency
March 28 2018
The head-to-head battle sees fresh face and current vice president Isabel Garriga of Holmes Miller face off against battle-scarred veteran Robin Webster, a founding member of A New Chapter as well as Cameron Webster Architects.
Both have pledged to tackle perceived east coast bias within the profession by re-energising the largest single chapter of the RIAS, whose members hail from Oban to Dumfries.
With experience of working in both Spain and Britain Garriga is well-placed to answer concern amongst members about the impending impact of Brexit, exacerbated by the fact that the profession north of the border currently lies rudderless. If elected Garriga believes she can set the tone for the institute’s next 150 years.
Setting out his own stall Webster wrote: “I supported a New Chapter since it began, which has invigorated GIA members and should lead to a re-energised RIAS, with transparent decisions and elections by the whole membership. I wish to avoid personal vendettas, but believe that current incumbents who allowed irregularities to occur on their watch should now stand aside. A new council and president without conflicts of interest, (such as wanting to cover up what happened) must be seen to be impartial.”
For the first time ever the vote will be opened out to members via an email ballot from 5 April, enabling those who cannot attend the vote in person to make their voice heard. Ballot papers can be downloaded directly from the GIA website by all RIAS members practising within the chapter area, or requested by emailing secretary@gia.org.uk.
8 Comments
#1 Posted by Ghost on 29 Mar 2018 at 20:52 PM
Hope Robin gets it.
#2 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 29 Mar 2018 at 21:24 PM
Ah Robin, the man that had the brilliant idea to 'fix' the RIAS by restricting membership to those qualified for 15-20 years at the first opportunity possible.....
#3 Posted by Rem Koolbag's Handag on 30 Mar 2018 at 11:24 AM
.......and both notable by their deafening silence during the RIAS Fake News debacle
#4 Posted by Robin Webster on 31 Mar 2018 at 16:40 PM
Not sure why people don't use their real name in these posts... anything to hide?
But thanks Ghost, and I would merely say that the idea for a senior qualification came from a GIA meeting, which I reported on...personally I feel there is a lot to be said to abandoning any so-called hierarchy in the Incorporation, but the idea was to be able to present authoritative advice and experience to the government.
Nor have I been silent about fake news, but took aNC's queries to Council last week where I aired them publicly along with others, and it looks as though this may have had an effect.
But thanks Ghost, and I would merely say that the idea for a senior qualification came from a GIA meeting, which I reported on...personally I feel there is a lot to be said to abandoning any so-called hierarchy in the Incorporation, but the idea was to be able to present authoritative advice and experience to the government.
Nor have I been silent about fake news, but took aNC's queries to Council last week where I aired them publicly along with others, and it looks as though this may have had an effect.
#5 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 31 Mar 2018 at 20:45 PM
Nothing to hide particularly. But nothing to gain either. Especially in an industry so tightly connected as ours. Differing views can be easier expressed anonymously. Shouldn’t make them less valid as long as nothing untoward is being said.
Also as a merely 10 year qualified architect I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for an experienced or authoritative voice.
Also as a merely 10 year qualified architect I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for an experienced or authoritative voice.
#6 Posted by Alan Dunlop on 1 Apr 2018 at 10:36 AM
Mmmm..... I'm so sure that adding your name to a post makes your comment legitimate. Seems to me that the more legitimate and braver thing to have done as trustees and council members during this whole four month
" debacle" is not to have apparently signed a non disclosure agreement on a report which was allegedly very damaging to the Incorporation and then to have called out publicly to all RIAS members, fellows and beyond council chambers the reports, emails and articles in RIAS Quarterly that governance and serious issues first raised by a whistleblower and taken on by Kerr Roberstson over financial accountability and the resignation of the Secretary and Treasurer were apparently "Fake News"
" debacle" is not to have apparently signed a non disclosure agreement on a report which was allegedly very damaging to the Incorporation and then to have called out publicly to all RIAS members, fellows and beyond council chambers the reports, emails and articles in RIAS Quarterly that governance and serious issues first raised by a whistleblower and taken on by Kerr Roberstson over financial accountability and the resignation of the Secretary and Treasurer were apparently "Fake News"
#7 Posted by Robin Webster on 13 Apr 2018 at 18:25 PM
Congratulations to Isabel Garriga, who was elected president on Thursday evening by a handsome majority. I will support her to the best of my ability and look for a positive future for the GIA.
#8 Posted by MROff on 19 Apr 2018 at 14:23 PM
Would you like a full stop with that rant Alan?
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