Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Independent Non-Executive Director/Trustee

The Organisation:

The RIAI was founded in 1839. 

The RIAI is the support and representative body for architects and architectural technologists in Ireland. It is also the registration body responsible for the registration of the title architect.

Its five-year Strategy focuses on its three objectives; to promote architecture that serves our society and environment; to support members in the practice of architecture and their career progression; and to protect standards through registration, continuous professional development and learning within the architectural profession.

The Strategy has been built on the RIAI core values; professional, progressive, collaborative, creative, and inclusive. These values support the RIAI, ensuring it is promoting architecture that delivers sustainable, creative and resilient solutions to serve our society and our environment.

Its vision is to inspire excellence in architecture to deliver a sustainable and resilient future.

Board:             https://www.riai.ie/the-riai/board-of-directors

Council:          https://www.riai.ie/the-riai/riai-council

Executive:       https://www.riai.ie/the-riai/riai-staff

The Role:

The RIAI is seeking an experienced independent non-executive director/charity trustee with expertise in the property sector. 

General Trustee duties of a Trustee

• Comply with the organisation’s governing document
• Ensure the organisation is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit
• Act in the best interest of the organisation
• Act with reasonable care and skill
• Manage the assets of the organisation
• Input to the strategic direction, contributing with insight, oversight, and experience of strategy formulation in other sectors.

Board Structure

There are nine directors on the RIAI Board. Eight architects and one independent director.

The RIAI Board is chaired by the President of the RIAI. The President is directly elected by members every two years. When the President is appointed, Council also appoints two Vice Presidents whose terms run concurrent with the President’s.

The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer are also elected for two-year terms. Their terms are staggered and are not concurrent with the President’s term.

The members of the RIAI Council also elect three directors. These directors are appointed for a term of up to three years and retire annually in rotation.

The CEO and Registrar/Joint Company Secretary also attend board meetings.

Board Meetings:

The RIAI Board is required to meet at least six times a year.

The six board meetings take place in person at RIAI’s offices in Merrion Square, on Friday mornings from 0900 to 1030/1045.  The quorum for the board is 5 out of 9.

The meetings are usually held in February, March, May/June, September, October and December.

Occasionally there may be a one item agenda, online, Board meeting.

The AGM is held in June. The Independent Director may attend the AGM but is not required to do so.

Subcommittees

The incoming Independent Director may be invited to sit on the Property Committee, Risk Committee, Finance Committee, or Registration Committee. These meetings are generally held two to three weeks in advance of the board meeting. The sub-committee meetings are generally hybrid.