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Ruth Reed has become the first female president of the RIBA, which this year celebrates its 175th anniversary.

She is the 73rd RIBA president, a position previously held by Sir G. Gilbert Scott and Sir Basil Spence among others. Reed takes over the two-year elected presidency from Sunand Prasad, who becomes RIBA immediate past president.

Currently course director and design tutor at the Birmingham School of Architecture, Reed is also a partner of planning consultancy, Green Planning Solutions.

She said: "There is no doubt that the state of the architectural profession today is very different to that of two years ago; the economic recession has affected each and every practice and practictioner regardless of their size or geographic location.

"One of my key priorities is to ensure that the institute continues to fully support and promote the profession, and work through this difficult time. I will be working with members across the country on sharing best practice, in order that we retain our world class profession and emerge stronger to meet the challenges of the new economic climate.

I am proud to be part of a change within the profession to recognise and encourage the skills and careers of women in the sector

"I am proud to be part of a change within the profession to recognise and encourage the skills and careers of women in the sector; I hope that by example I will encourage more women to remain in architecture.

"The profession as a whole needs to widen its membership to include architects from all social, racial and economic backgrounds to represent the diverse nature of our society."

Reed's career has been expansive with terms spent designing for a national house builder, for a large commercial practice and for a housing association; the latter busy role combined with motherhood.

In 1992, she went on to set up her own predominantly self-build architecture practice in Wales and in 1997 she designed and constructed her own house.

Reed has been involved in the teaching of architecture since 1993, and has served the profession most notably as president of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (2003-2005) and as RIBA vice president of membership.