Property Leaders Unite at RSA House to Drive Competence in the Built Environment

With the backdrop of the historic RSA House - a venue synonymous with innovation and reform - the event brought together hundreds of senior professionals to explore how the sector can raise the bar on competence in the face of evolving legislative and moral responsibilities. 

Chaired by Ark’s Managing Director Peter Clark, the day featured keynote addresses from Dame Judith Hackitt, author of Building a Safer Future, and David Hills, Director of Regulatory, Technical and Technology at Ark. The programme also included an expert panel discussion featuring; Andrew Bulmer, CEO of The Property Institute, Brendan Geraghty, CEO of The Association for Rental Living, Anthony Taylor, Chair of the Building Safety Alliance, Paddy Synnott, Account Executive at Miller Insurance Services LLP, and Dame Judith Hackitt. The panel deep dove into accountability, cultural change, and the practical implementation of competence frameworks. 

Ark Workplace Risk, long established as the gold standard for risk, safety and compliance in the built environment, used the opportunity to challenge the industry to move from policy to practice, and offered practical pathways to embed a culture of competence at every level of an organisation. 

“The day felt like a line in the sand,” said Peter Clark. “We’re at a point where it’s no longer enough to talk about competence, we have to demonstrate it. And that takes not just frameworks and systems, but leadership, accountability and culture change.” 

Dame Judith Hackitt echoed that sentiment, encouraging delegates to take bold action rather than wait for regulatory enforcement. “We have to stop asking what do we have to do? and start asking what’s the right thing to do?,” she told the audience. 

Attendees included property owners as well as senior professionals from managing agents, housing associations, insurers, legal firms, and key industry bodies, reflecting the wide-reaching impact of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the collective responsibility for improving resident safety and professional standards. 

The event also emphasised Ark’s commitment to supporting the sector through strategic consultancy, the QUOODA® platform, and the development of bespoke competency frameworks for duty holders under the new regime. 

Ark Workplace Risk offers strategic guidance, implementation and digital solutions to empower organisations to build robust, future-ready frameworks that comply with the BSA 2022 and stand up to scrutiny.