Sunand Prasad, Founding Partner of Penoyre and Prasad Architects, has become the new President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Sunand is the 72nd RIBA President, a position previously held by Sir G. Gilbert Scott, Sir William Tite, and Sir Basil Spence, among others. He takes over the two-year presidency from Jack Pringle, who becomes Immediate Past President.

Mr Prasad said: "As it approaches its 175th anniversary the RIBA seems to me to be more relevant than ever to ensuring that society gets sustainable buildings and places designed to improve people’s lives in an increasingly connected world. I am looking forward enormously to the challenge of making the RIBA ever more effective, primarily through its most precious assets: the knowledge and commitment of its 40,000 members and its international reach."

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He added: "My priorities will be to expand the action already under way by the institute on climate change, to make stronger links with other professions in the construction industry and beyond so that we are a more powerful influence on government, and to make the RIBA the natural magnet for anyone, and especially young people, with a passion for architecture."

(CL/SP)