RIBA Elects New President

Muyiwa Oki will take over the top job at the Royal Institute of British Architects next year, replacing Simon Allford as President for a two-year term, confirms Abode2. The Royal Institute of British Architects has elected its next President; Muyiwa Oki will become RIBA President-Elect next month, before taking over the two-year presidential term from Simon Allford in September 2023.

Oki is an architect at construction consultancy, Mace Group. The 31-year-old (RIBA’s youngest ever President) has worked on major infrastructure projects including HS2 Euston and the North London heat and power project. Before Mace, he spent time at Grimshaw Architects, and was founder and Chair of the Multi-Ethnic Group & Allies network.

Muyiwa Oki comments: “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.