A huge congratulations to Jay Morton who has been elected as the next RIBA President!

Morton, a director at Bell Phillips, will become President-Elect in September 2026 before taking office as RIBA President for the 2027–2029 term in September 2027. Her election comes at a pivotal moment for the profession, with architects navigating ongoing challenges around housing delivery, procurement, practice viability, planning reform and the growing influence of AI.

Throughout her campaign, Morton called for architects to have a stronger voice in shaping the UK’s built environment. Her manifesto focused on strengthening the profession’s influence in public policy, championing better procurement, supporting public-sector design leadership and helping practices embrace emerging technologies without losing sight of design quality.

For many architects, these priorities reflect the realities of practice today. As demand for housing remains high but project pipelines fluctuate, and as practices continue to balance commercial pressures with delivering meaningful, sustainable design, there is a growing expectation that RIBA will play a more active role in advocating for the profession.

Morton’s appointment also signals an emphasis on collaboration and engagement beyond architecture itself. Her commitment to increasing the profession’s political influence and raising the profile of architects in national conversations could help strengthen the industry’s voice at a time when decisions around planning, housing and regeneration have far-reaching consequences.