The RICS has its first woman president in a history spanning 146 years.

Louise Brooke-Smith is due to give her inaugural speech today during the RICS governing council meeting in London.

Alongside her presidency of RICS, she will continue to be involved with her Birmingham-based planning and development consultancy Brooke Smith Planning.

Brooke-Smith succeeds Michael Newey.

During her year-long presidency she will focus on three core areas: diversity, Africa (she has worked for the UN on projects across Africa and India) and her professional specialisms – planning and land economics.

Her election was marked with a full-page newspaper advertising campaign at the weekend targeting younger people, including women, to consider surveying as a career. The RICS has a widely acknowledged image problem of being an organisation where most members are men who are getting on in years.

Brooke-Smith said: “Chartered surveying is a globally recognised profession and we must ensure that it is open to all, whatever their background or gender.

“We are a proud industry but have lagged behind others in terms of making the most of a diverse workforce. That’s why I’m delighted that RICS ‘Surveying the Future’ campaign will be a pillar of my presidential term and will help drive change across industry to ensure we attract and retain the very best talent.”

She emphasised: “I have been elected on my individual merits and not because of my gender.

“While it might have taken some years, someone has to be first and I am extremely proud that it’s me. We have a female senior vice-president, Amanda Clack, and UK and Ireland world regional chair, Fiona Grant, so I hope I am the first of many women who will help shape the institution.”

Brooke-Smith is a visiting fellow at Sheffield Hallam University and holds an honorary doctorate for services to surveying from Wolverhampton University.