Lecturer attends international research conference

Posted 21 July 2015

Harper Adams Principal Lecturer, Mark Simcock, travelled to Australia to present a research paper at an international conference for chartered surveyors, recently.

Mr Simcock, who specialises in rural land management and valuation, attended the 21st Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) COBRA research conference, an opportunity for land, property and construction academics to engage and share ideas.

Mr Simcock, who is working towards a professional doctorate in the built environment at the University of Salford, shared the initial findings of his work in a paper entitled ‘Agricultural valuers and their use of comparable evidence in the UK’.

He said: “The opportunity to attend and present at the RICS COBRA conference was an excellent opportunity to network with academics from the land and property sector from across the globe. 

“It was clear that the profession faces some huge challenges and the higher education sector clearly has a role to play in providing the professionals capable of rising to these challenges.”

During Mr Simcock’s visit to the conference, he was able to meet fellow professionals practising in Australia, including Regional Director of CBRE Agri-Business, Danny Thomas; Michael Redfern of Preston, Rowe Paterson; and Gareth Sneade of FIFE Capital.

The event was held at the University of Technology in Sydney and welcomed delegates from 22 countries.

During proceedings, the RICS also launched its ‘RICS Futures: Our Changing World, Let’s Be Ready’ document, which outlines how the land and property profession can support the world as it changes.