MANIFESTO
It is a complete honour to be standing again as a candidate for President Elect of our unique and forward-thinking Institute and discipline. Since standing in 2024, I have grown and flourished within our Institute, gaining greater understanding of the role and preparing myself for this new opportunity.
Now in CIAT’s seventh decade, I am looking to build on our past heritage and look to the future, offering fresh ideas and new opportunities for our members through my ‘Three Pillars of Promise’.
My professional career journey started with a HNC apprenticeship, progressing to university, where I joined CIAT as an Associate member in 2013, and then as a Chartered Member in 2019. Personal career highlights for me have included the Architectural Technologist of the Year Award from CIAT in 2021, and last year becoming a Partner at my firm. During this time as an Associate member, I believed that one day I would fulfil my dream of serving you, our members. I now feel the time is right.
I am often asked, “what makes you the right candidate for this position?” Well, I am an experienced public speaker with a proven track record of promoting CIAT in an array of public forums. From serving as a facilitator at the world-renowned London Festival of Architecture (LFA), to speaking regularly at Build It Live and Futurebuild. I also often attend schools, colleges and universities to promote the benefits of CIAT. I believe this demonstrates a wealth of experience and ability to engage at a community level, with our membership, other professional and governance bodies, but just as importantly, to new career starters and members. I also chair the South East Regional Committee and the AT EDI Taskforce, as well as being a Professional Interview Assessor for CIAT.
I believe anyone who stands for this position must be prepared to devote their working and personal time to bettering the Institute and pushing the boundaries of our profession, to act as a voice of our membership, and to promote our professional standing to the communities we serve. I am a strong-minded individual who is fair and transparent and always willing to assist, going far above expectations.
As CIAT transitions into the next decade, I have reflected on our history and the achievements we have made, such as the granting of the Royal Charter, our overseas education programmes, growing international membership, and evolving taskforces run by our members.
What are the coming challenges I see with our changing industry?
Naturally there is apprehension around the potential changes in legislation, with protection of title and function of the Architects’ Act. Changes in regulation since the tragedy of Grenfell Tower, the housing crisis and the underfunded government planning system to name but a few; yet we are an integral part to these challenging topics, and we should continue having a seat at the discussion table.
How do I envisage serving you, our membership?
Should I be elected, I will serve our membership through my ‘Three Pillars of Promise’: ‘to Promote, to Nurture and to Serve’. These pillars are integral to my belief of how we can secure and stabilise CIAT for future generations.
Promoting CIAT continues to be pivotal to ensuring the security and stability of our unique Institute. Our members are key to advocating for and educating the construction industry and the general public in the benefits of engaging with Architectural Technologists to deliver safe, sustainable, and memorable projects.
I therefore seek to strengthen our promotional channels by the formation of an ‘Ambassador Network’ formed from our existing membership, volunteering to serve their Centre or Region. This initiative will function similarly to the already successful aspiration Group, but with the sole aim of promoting the Architectural Technology profession to Regional communities, the wider public, and design and construction professionals. The network will look to further bolster the support of the aspiration Groups to promote CIAT at schools and younger professionals in their regions.
Nurturing our existing membership is pivotal to strengthening our national and global position within the architectural sphere. We must continue to improve and adapt the support to our members, regardless of their professional positioning in our Institute. I would like to see a cohesive approach to working with students and Associate members to progress their professional journeys. This would be facilitated through close collaboration with the existing Membership Department, taskforces, and aspiration Groups. I see these improvements being executed through regular Regional and Centre ‘clinics’, which will serve to offer drop-in sessions to learn of the benefits and support progressions, whilst also creating a dedicated mentoring programme to aid progression and feed back to the Membership Department.
I promise to serve our membership and ensure that CIAT provides a lifeline to its members. I see this through extending the new Ambassador programme to offer dedicated help and support to individuals. I also intend to rebuild our international membership and provide greater assistance for these members by offering refreshed autonomy and opportunities through a dedicated International Taskforce, to offer a greater voice to our global members.
Importantly, I will also deliver on a new initiative, to highlight mental health awareness and the wellbeing of our members and the wider construction industry. Having suffered with my own mental health illness in 2017, I am acutely aware of the isolating experience they create. Whilst our industry is developing strategies, we need to bolster these further and promote healthier working environments and lifestyles. I see this being offered through our new ambassador programme by providing an invaluable network of support to our individual members.
Furthermore, I will continue to support the outstanding work of the Architects’ Benevolent Society, and all they do to support design industry professionals, building on the successes and strides our Past President, Eddie Weir PPCIAT FCIAT, is making with them.
In conclusion, I stand to professionally serve you, our membership, with the delivery of my ‘Three Pillars of Promise’, ‘to Promote, to Nurture and to Serve’, should I be elected.
Tom Gray
MCIAT Chartered
Architectural Technologist
CIAT South East Region 10 Chairman
