Property Industry Ireland (PII), the Ibec group that represents businesses working in the Irish property and construction sector, has elected Tom Phillips as its new Chairman.

With extensive experience in town planning and urban designing, Mr Phillips will bring a wealth of knowledge to the role. He is Director of Tom Phillips + Associates, the largest town planning practice in Ireland and he replaces Aidan O’Hogan, Director of Property Byte who was PII Chairman since 2013.

Speaking on his election as Chairman, Tom Phillips said: “In five short, but turbulent years, under the chairmanship of Aidan O’Hogan and previously under Kieran McGowan, PII has gone a long way to becoming the most respected and influential cross-sectoral property organisation in Ireland. The range of our members’ professional backgrounds is extraordinary, facilitating the development of policies to support a clear vision for the establishment of a dynamic and sustainable property sector.

“As a planner, I have found membership of PII incredibly important as a means of facilitating discussion about trends in the property market with colleagues with different perspectives and experiences right across the sector. As the political parties develop their property policies, PII will work with them to support strategies, policies and solutions to the wide range of problems that still exist right across the sector.

“As Chairman, I want to expand the range of PII’s evidence-based research activity, deliver more networking events and help achieve an Irish property sector that is genuinely sustainable and innovative, and a built environment that is world-class.”