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The president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), who “temporarily” stepped away from his role at the start of April under a cloud of speculation, has been reinstated after admitting having an affair with a woman he mentored who had told RIBA she had experienced racism in architecture.
Alan Jones, who became president in September 2019 amid allegations of institutional racism and of attempts to stifle criticism from a black female architect who also stood for the post, admitted he had initially not been honest with RIBA about the incident, which he described as a “serious failing”.
RIBA said it had carried out an investigation into the matter, which concerned “an individual known to but not a member of RIBA”, and had resolved it “fairly and proportionately”, although it did not provide details on what steps had been taken.
While Jones describes the woman “as a person who had become frustrated in her attempts to enter our profession”, the Guardian can reveal that she had not only told RIBA of discrimination she had faced while attempting to become an architect, but had submitted a 64-page report about inequality within the profession to then RIBA president Ben Derbyshire dated 26 March 2018.
In the covering letter she stated that she had, until that point, not received “any help or support from the RIBA or any of its Organisations/Advisory groups but have instead been left isolated from the profession”.
According to the author, the detailed and heavily researched report was written to highlight “the issues faced by those groups most systematically disadvantaged and who are currently underrepresented within the architectural profession”, and demonstrate “the need for urgent action to enable the architectural profession to truly be an inclusive profession; meeting its strategic plan 2016-2020”.
Her report said she believed “the only way forward is for the RIBA to take the lead on equality, diversity and inclusion-related matters”. It pointed out that while women made up 49% of architecture students, only 26% of registered architects were female, and while 19.7% of students were from an ethnic minority only 6% of registered architects were BAME.
Jones restarted his role as RIBA president on Monday after writing a letter to members apologising for his conduct, “which was not of the standard you have a right to expect of me”.
He added: “Some time ago I came into contact with a person who had become frustrated in her attempts to enter our profession. My intention was to help and support her, however gradually we became friends and later the relationship became close for some months.”
Jones, who runs an architectural practice, Alan Jones Architects, in County Antrim, said the matter “came to a head” in March and he told his wife and RIBA, which led to RIBA sending the Charity Commission a “serious incident report”.
He admitted that when he had been asked about the matter in December 2019 he “did not give a full and frank account of events”, adding: “This I plainly should have done. I have now apologised to those concerned for this serious failing and have undertaken to the RIBA Board that nothing like this will happen again.”
In a statement, RIBA said Jones had disclosed matters in his private life concerning “a relationship with an individual known to but not a member of RIBA”.
RIBA said it had instructed the law firm Browne Jacobson LLP to conduct an independent investigation. “As a result, and in line with RIBA’s Code of Conduct for Council members, the matter has been resolved fairly and proportionately and Alan Jones has apologised. Alan Jones will resume RIBA Presidential duties from Monday 15 June 2020.”
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