Muyiwa Oki has been elected as the next President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Muyiwa will become RIBA President-Elect from 1 September 2022 and take over the two-year presidential term from Simon Allford on 1 September 2023.
The role of RIBA President was established in 1835. Presidents are directly elected by the RIBA membership to chair RIBA Council, the representative body, and to sit on the RIBA Board of Trustees.
Muyiwa Oki is an architect at construction consultancy, Mace Group. Throughout his career, he has worked on large-scale infrastructure projects, such as HS2 Euston and the North London heat and power project. Whilst at Grimshaw Architects, he was founder and Chair of the Multi-Ethnic Group and Allies network and drove cultural change for colleagues globally. Muyiwa is an external speaker and mentor for aspiring architects in programmes to encourage greater social mobility within the industry.
Muyiwa Oki stood for election as RIBA President, alongside Jo Bacon and Sumita Singha.
Speaking today, Muyiwa Oki, said:
“I am grateful to the grassroots movement whose support and passion offered a platform to represent architectural workers. Most of all a special thanks to those members and nominators, that responded to this movement, tuned in, and voted - especially those that did so for the first time.
We can be proud of an election where people of colour, at different stages of their careers, of all identities, can be heard and seen bidding to represent the profession. I hope this is the start of many great things to come for those who feel disenfranchised and under-represented.
I am proud of my campaign, the discourse has been positive, energetic, and inspirational. It has been a privilege to run alongside Jo and Sumita and as RIBA council and Board members, I am looking forward to working with you both to deliver equity, transparency, and innovation in architecture.”
RIBA President (2021-23), Simon Allford, said:
“Congratulations to Muyiwa who led a commendable campaign with an electoral manifesto focused on the future of the profession. This is an exciting time for RIBA as we shape a leaner, more agile organisation to support our global membership and engage all those with an interest in architecture. I look forward to working closely with Muyiwa as President-Elect before I hand over to him in September 2023.”
RIBA has also today announced the results of the 2022 RIBA Council Elections. All RIBA Council appointments will commence on 1 September 2022.
Council Members were elected using the Single Transferable Vote. The candidates who reached the required quota and were therefore elected are:
National
- Mina Hasman
- Alfred Munkenbeck – returning for a second term
Regional – East
- Jon Greenfield – returning for a second term
- Roger Shrimplin – returning for a second term
Student
- Maryam Al-Irhayim – returning for a second term
- Zafir Ameen
The following members will take uncontested seats as Council Members:
- Mark Benzie (South) – returning for a second term
- Warren Whyte (South)
- Karen Anderson (Scotland North)
- Joan McCoy (Northern Ireland) – returning for a second term
No valid nominations were received for the one available East Midlands seat or the two available Associate seats.
There was one candidate for the role of RSAW Presidency, therefore Daniel Benham is elected unopposed. Darren will take up his term as President Elect on 1 September 2022 and become President from September 2023 for a two-year term at which time he will join RIBA Council by virtue of his role within RSAW.
ENDS
Notes:
- Media contact: Abigail.Chiswell-White@riba.org.
- Images can be downloaded here.
- The overall Presidential election turnout was 12.4% (6,020 votes); Muyiwa Oki was elected at 2nd stage with 49.28% of the votes.
- Muyiwa Oki has been elected as the RIBA President-Elect (RIBA President 2023-2025), following a campaign to speak up for future architects. As an Architect at Mace Group focused on technology and innovation, he delivers off-site manufactured solutions for major estate public programmes as a technical assessment lead. During his time at Grimshaw Architects, he was the founder and chair of the Multi-Ethnic Group and Allies network and drove global cultural change for colleagues. Muyiwa was an external speaker and mentor for aspiring architects for the POCinArchitecture, Scale Rule, Grimshaw Foundation programme, which all exist to encourage greater social mobility within the industry. Throughout his career, Muyiwa has worked on large-scale infrastructure projects - such as HS2 Euston and the North London heat and power project - in collaboration with public estate department clients that have a strategic mission to revitalise neighbourhoods using design. He presents at EDI Practice Clinics and speaks on RIBA panels, events, and radio programmes. Muyiwa also contributes to the next generation of architects as an Ambassador for the Mayor of London: Design Future London challenge. Nationally he was profiled in Portrait of Black Britain, a major public exhibition by Cephas Williams (Black British Network), which aims to be “the largest showcase ever of the contributions Black Brits make to society”.
- RIBA Council is made up of individuals elected by the RIBA’s membership. Chaired by the President, it acts as the representative body for the membership. It meets around four times each year and is responsible for collecting insight from the membership and the profession to provide strategic advice and guidance to the RIBA Board of Trustees. RIBA Council is also responsible for appointing Trustees, the majority of whom are Council members, including the RIBA President and other Honorary Officers.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
