Victoria Hills to lead CIOB, focusing on growth and sustainability in construction
Victoria Hills is set to take the helm as the new chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), succeeding Caroline Gumble, who will leave the role in July 2025 to lead The Welding Institute in Cambridge. Hills, currently chief executive at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), has been credited with steering the institute towards a more outward-facing and dynamic organization since she joined in 2018. Her tenure saw enhanced engagement with stakeholders and a more prominent voice for planners in government policy, alongside steady membership growth and a strong delivery against RTPI’s corporate strategy.
Steve Nitman, chair of CIOB’s board of trustees, welcomed Hills with high expectations, emphasizing her depth of experience and the opportunity for a progressive future for the organisation. Hills herself highlighted the significant opportunity the CIOB offers to enhance professionalism in the construction sector, which she described as an exciting frontier. She intends to focus on delivering growth in the built environment while pushing forward sustainable development goals, raising professional standards, driving innovation, influencing policy, and nurturing talent within CIOB’s global membership.
Hills expressed particular appreciation for her predecessor, Caroline Gumble, under whose leadership CIOB experienced transformative change. Gumble, who has served as CEO since August 2019, led the organization through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstered its reputation as the largest global professional body for construction management. Her tenure also involved a successful business transformation that strengthened CIOB’s strategic position and member support. Gumble’s move to The Welding Institute marks a significant transition; the institute’s chair praised her appointment as a timely opportunity to guide it through a period of technological advancement and increasing environmental responsibility.
The announcement of these leadership changes reflects a period of dynamic evolution at CIOB, with Hills poised to build on the solid foundations laid by Gumble. Sector insiders note that Hills' background in planning and her proven ability to engage and grow profession-based organisations make her particularly well-equipped to address the complex challenges of the construction sector today, including sustainability and innovation. Meanwhile, CIOB members can expect focused support to navigate future challenges and opportunities, particularly as the sector strives to improve quality and deliver societal benefits.
With the recruitment process for Gumble’s successor well underway and Hills scheduled to transition to her new role, the industry is watching closely to see how these leadership shifts will shape the future of one of construction’s key professional bodies.