A new chairman has been appointed for the Northumbria and Cumbria branch of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.
Chris Edmunds, chartered surveyor and fellow of CAAV, became the new chairman at the association’s 104th AGM.
Founded in 1910, it is the UK’s specialist professional body representing, briefing, and qualifying those who advise on agricultural, rural property and business matters.
A member of CAAV, Chris became a fellow in 2012 building on a career which began in 2009 on placement with Davidson & Robertson – a firm of rural surveyors and consultants operating across the North of England and Scotland.
Chris has worked across Cumbria and South West Scotland for almost a decade, setting up the D&R Cockermouth branch in 2015. A year later he was promoted to director of the company and now also heads the firm’s Cumbria office and development team.
Chris said: “Our role as professionals is often one of the trusted advisors to our clients and our practical experience and knowledge give us a unique position in the advice we can offer. It is a skillset that is likely to be needed even more in the future by businesses in our region looking at the challenges and opportunities they face.
“We are all too aware of the huge changes ahead in our rural world – from subsidy changes, through to planning and development along with renewables. Linking many topics is the drive towards net zero and land use. As rural surveyors, we need to be looking in a strategic way, our role is going to be central to the management of these changes along with our clients other advisors.
“Along with our new Vice Chair Tim Sedgwick, we will be looking to run a series of CPD events for both the east and west of the branch and, now that COVID restrictions are lifting, we will be encouraging all young valuers and probationers to engage with us more.
“One of the biggest opportunities we want to grasp, is the chance to re-engage with schools to increase the profile of a career as a rural chartered surveyor. Very few people outside the industry really understand what we do. Inspiring secondary students to explore surveying opportunities is the first step on that ladder – something that needs to be encouraged.”
