At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Valerie Vaughan-Dick.
Valerie is the Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Chair of the Board at Wandle. As RIBA’s Chief Executive, she brings extensive senior experience across the public, private and voluntary sectors, including leadership roles in housing, the built environment and heritage regeneration. RIBA is a global professional membership body that drives excellence in architecture. It serves more than 57,000 members and society, working to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Being inclusive, ethical, environmentally aware and collaborative underpins everything RIBA believes in.
Valerie initially studied an undergraduate degree in Economics because she knew it would provide her with a broad foundation on which to build her career. She chose Economics because it covers a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from international economics to labour economics. It also prepared her for a career requiring numerical and problem-solving skills. She subsequently qualified as an accountant. Valerie chose City University because of its academic excellence, its location close to the City of London, which was the world’s leading financial capital at the time, and its extensive range of student clubs. She continued her education at the University of London, completing an MSc in Management Science and a PhD in Management, further strengthening her already impressive CV.
In her first job at the National Audit Office, Valerie undertook value-for-money audits of public bodies worth billions of pounds, including housing associations. She went on to work for the Housing Corporation, which was then the regulator and funder of the housing sector, as well as for a housing association. As Chair of the Woolwich Creative District Trust, she led a multi-million-pound regeneration project that created a cultural hub in a deprived area of the city. Valerie also served as the equality lead on the board of Network Homes, which provides affordable housing.
Valerie became a leader because others recognised her leadership qualities. This recognition led to her promotion to her first leadership position at the National Audit Office. Her leadership qualities included thinking creatively, leading with positivity, communicating consistently, delegating and prioritising tasks effectively, knowing and listening to her team, and always being honest.
Throughout her career, Valerie has worked in housing for the Housing Corporation, the regulator and funder at the time, and for a housing association. She has also worked in the civil service at the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Transport. Over the years, Valerie has worked collaboratively to lead and deliver cultural change agendas. She has delivered performance and efficiency improvements across private and public sector organisations, as well as improvements in customer and employee value propositions and membership services. Valerie has also established strategic direction and commercial capability within organisations. She continued working in the housing sector before joining the civil service as Group Director of Finance and Resources, working with agencies across the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Transport.
Following her time in Whitehall, Valerie joined the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Her extensive leadership experience in central and local government, as well as across the public and voluntary sectors, attracted the College. Valerie joined the organisation as Executive Director of Planning and Resources in 2014. She was appointed Acting Chief Executive in March 2017 following the departure of Neil Hunt. Since 2017, she had served as the College’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), a role equivalent to that of Chief Executive Officer. As COO, she was responsible for 300 staff, a budget of £48 million and delivering excellence in general practice through 32 faculties across the UK and teams worldwide. The RCGP is a professional membership body that supports more than 54,000 members in the UK and overseas.
The biggest achievement in Valerie’s career has been steering the Royal College of General Practitioners through the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic threatened the organisation’s operations, with a projected 30 per cent drop in income and many staff being furloughed. More importantly, there was a risk that trainee GPs would experience delays in qualifying at a critical time.
As the College’s Chief Operating Officer and Chair of its Covid Recovery Group, Valerie oversaw the transfer of all GP continuing professional development (CPD) online, the production of a new suite of Covid CPD resources and a complete overhaul of the final GP examination. She secured approval for the revised examination from the General Medical Council within just three months. Unlike trainees in other professions, GP trainees cannot extend their training and must pass the MRCGP examination to remain in the workforce. Valerie’s actions helped safeguard the NHS’s commitments to increasing GP numbers. Given the potentially negative impact of the unprecedented pandemic, she considered this a significant achievement.
During her time at the College, Valerie oversaw significant transformational change while ensuring organisational stability throughout the pandemic years. Working with College Chair Professor Martin Marshall, she led efforts to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the College and general practice. She also developed a strong focus on employee engagement and raised the profile of the RCGP’s international work, including through speaking engagements at World Health Organization and United Nations conferences. In 2022, Valerie was awarded an MBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to general practice and ethnic minority communities.
Valerie said, “Being Chief Operating Officer of the RCGP has been a highlight of my career. It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated team of GPs and staff. I am proud of all we have achieved in supporting the College’s 54,000 members and the patients they care for.”
Valerie left the RCGP to become RIBA’s first female Chief Executive Officer. She was well positioned for the role, bringing experience as a Chief Executive Officer who had held senior leadership positions in large, complex, multidisciplinary organisations, with responsibility for multi-million-pound budgets and the management of up to 700 staff in the UK and internationally. Her experience also included working collaboratively with European and international organisations and committees, serving as an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director, and focusing on team development and coaching. She had a consistent record of facilitating and delivering cost control, operational efficiencies, restructuring, downsizing and improved service delivery. She also brought proven expertise in successfully establishing start-up organisations and turning around failing departments and organisations. In an interview, Valerie shared her thoughts on how her previous experiences had prepared her for her role at RIBA.
“My previous experiences have prepared me for my current role at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). While I am not an architect, I feel I bring with me a strong sense of just how important homes, places and spaces are to people’s lives, their power to offer security, facilitate growth, level playing fields, empower individuals and strengthen communities. Just as I was inspired by the expertise and dedication of the healthcare professionals I represented while Chief Operating Officer at the Royal College of General Practitioners, I am equally struck by the talent, ingenuity and creativity that is evident among RIBA’s members.
The service that architects offer society is incredibly important. It is both a daunting and exciting time to be leading an organisation like RIBA. Whether it’s the housing crisis or the poor condition of our schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure, it seems the built environment is rarely far from the headlines. I believe that good design has never been more critical to our lives. For our part, RIBA continues to campaign to put placemaking at the heart of a properly resourced planning system. And we are committed to ensuring that the industry is equipped with the standards and guidance it needs to minimise its climate impact.
The development sector also has a fundamental role to play in meeting the UK’s severe housing need, regenerating our most hard-pressed communities, and delivering a net zero future. A major mindset shift is needed to ensure that we are reinventing and reusing existing buildings wherever possible, avoiding the need to demolish and start fresh.”
In addition to her professional work, Valerie is passionate about supporting others and giving back to the community. She has been a dedicated volunteer since the age of 16 and a champion of ethnic minority communities. Over the years, she has delivered Black History lessons as a volunteer for children living in council-run care homes, participated in anti-apartheid activities, mentored university students and served as a trustee of charities. These included an organisation assisting individuals recovering from mental illness to find employment and a charity supporting women fleeing domestic violence.
Valerie also chaired the Woolwich Creative District Trust, leading a multi-million-pound regeneration programme in an area experiencing significant deprivation. As equality lead on the board of Network Homes, she significantly increased the number of diverse applicants to its leadership programme. She is also Chair of Wandle Housing Association in south London, whose vision is to provide homes to be proud of and services that can be trusted.
The Royal College of General Practitioners also benefited from Valerie’s knowledge and passion for equality and inclusion. She explained, “I became Co-chair of the GP Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic members (BAME) group at their request, and in the following Royal College of General Practitioners Council elections, BAME representation increased.”
When asked about the challenges she had faced throughout her career, Valerie’s response reflected the continued need for change. “The biggest challenge in my work has been experiencing unconscious bias and microaggression in previous jobs,” she said. “I have been confident to ‘call out’ such instances.”
It has been an honour to share Valerie’s story. Her extensive career exemplifies what is possible through dedication, leadership and a commitment to making a difference. Her work to support others through volunteering, mentoring and professional leadership further demonstrates her commitment to giving back to the community. We look forward to seeing how she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.
