The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is pleased to announce that Alan Kershaw has been reappointed as Chair by the Privy Council for a further two-year term, commencing on 20 June 2026.
Alan has served as Chair of ARB since 2020, initially on a temporary basis before being formally appointed in 2022 for a term running until June 2026.
During his tenure, ARB has undertaken a significant programme of reform including a fundamental overhaul of architects’ initial education and training, the introduction of a mandatory CPD scheme, publication of a modernised Code of Conduct and pioneering mutual recognition agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries outside the UK. Wider work centres on ensuring that regulation continues to serve the public, further modernising the regulatory framework for architects, and ensuring that standards of education and professional practice continue to meet the needs of the public. The Board’s work during this period has also reflected increasing focus across the built environment sector on competence, sustainability, building safety, and the public interest role of regulation.
Under its current Corporate Strategy, ARB will continue to focus on embedding these reforms, ensuring that regulation remains effective and proportionate, and responding to emerging opportunities and challenges facing both the profession and the public it serves.
Alan Kershaw, ARB Chair:
“It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of ARB over the past six years, and I am delighted to have been reappointed by the Privy Council for a further term.
The profession continues to evolve in response to changing public expectations, technological advances and wider changes across the built environment. ARB has a central role to play in ensuring that regulation remains proportionate, effective and focused on protecting the public while supporting high professional standards.”
Professor Elena Marco, Senior Independent Board Member:
“Alan brings a wealth of experience in governance and professional regulation, together with a deep understanding of ARB’s statutory role and responsibilities. Throughout his time as Chair, he has encouraged constructive challenge and supported effective governance as ARB has delivered a number of significant reforms.
I am pleased to see him reappointed and look forward to continuing to work with him as ARB advances its programme of reform and continues to strengthen public confidence in the profession.”
Hugh Simpson, ARB Chief Executive and Registrar:
“Alan has led the Board with integrity, sound judgement and a clear focus on ARB’s public interest responsibilities during a period of significant change for both the profession and its regulation. His leadership has helped guide major reforms to architects’ education and training, continuing professional development, and the wider regulatory framework.
As ARB continues to implement its ambitious programme of reform, Alan’s reappointment provides valuable continuity and experience. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and the Board to ensure regulation remains effective, proportionate and focused on maintaining public confidence in architects.”
Alan Kershaw’s appointment as Chair will run from 20 June 2026 until 19 March 2028.
ENDS
Notes to editors
ARB’s Board
ARB’s Board is responsible for providing strategic oversight and supporting the organisation in delivering its statutory duties in the public interest. The Board comprises 11 members appointed by the Privy Council, including an independent Chair, five lay members, and five architect members.
All members of the Board are appointed by the Privy Council after consultation with the Secretary of State and such other persons or bodies as the Privy Council thinks fit.
Alan Kershaw
Alan has specialised in professional regulation since 1983. He has worked in both executive and non-executive roles and has a wealth of experience as a lay member of a range of professional bodies. He has been involved in standards setting for professional groups across sectors such as healthcare, law, finance, property, and science. He has experience in all parts of the regulatory process, with particular focus on standards and education, governance and strategy, and the effective handling of fitness to practise cases. He has published numerous articles on regulation in professional journals and has delivered papers at national and international conferences.
About ARB
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is an independent professional regulator, established by Parliament as a statutory body, through the Architects Act, in 1997. It is accountable to government. The law gives ARB a number of core functions:
To ensure only those who are suitably competent are allowed to practise as architects. We do this by approving the architecture qualifications required to join the Register of Architects. To maintain a publicly available Register of Architects so anyone using the services of an architect can be confident that they are suitably qualified and are fit to practise. To set the standards of conduct and practice the profession must meet and take action when any architect falls below the required standards of conduct or competence. To set requirements for and monitor the continuous professional development that architects must undertake, to provide assurance to the public about the continuing competence of the profession. To protect the legally restricted title ‘architect’.
Tenure
Alan Kershaw’s reappointment as Chair runs from 20 June 2026 until 19 March 2028.
Under ARB’s governance arrangements, Board members, including the Chair, may serve a maximum of eight years. Before his appointment as permanent Chair in 2022, Alan served as a temporary Board member and subsequently as temporary Chair, appointments made by the Board under ARB’s General Rules.
In determining the length of Alan’s second term, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government concluded that this earlier service should count towards the eight-year maximum period. As a result, his second term is shorter than the four-year term that would ordinarily apply to a substantive formal appointment.
For media enquiries please contact:
media@arb.org.uk, +44 (0) 20 7580 5861 (ext 6542) | Mobile (+44) 79 8571 9581
The post Alan Kershaw reappointed as ARB Chair appeared first on Architects Registration Board.
https://arb.org.uk/alan-kershaw-reappointed-as-arb-chair/
seen at 14:54, 5 June in Architects Registration Board.