The members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have elected Muyiwa Oki, a 31-year-old manager at the firm Mace, to be the organization’s next president, after a highly contested race. Oki becomes president-elect September 1, and will take over the two-year leadership position from current president Simon Allford in September 2023. “This is an exciting time for RIBA as we shape a leaner, more agile organization to support our global membership and engage all those with an interest in architecture,” said Allford in a statement.

In June, RECORD covered a series of controversies at RIBA that made this year’s elections a hot-button issue for British architects. For many in the industry, the vote became a platform to call for significant changes in how RIBA tackles critical professional issues including addressing the climate crisis, worker rights, and low pay.