Ruth Reed has become the first declared nominee for the 2009 RIBA presidency.

Reed is a course director at the Birmingham School of Architecture and a former president of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. Until 2006 she ran Reed Architects.

She spent five years on the RIBA council, and was until last year the institute’s vice president for membership.

Reed is the only candidate to have thrown her hat into the ring, although it is understood that Andrew Hanson, the chair of RIBA London, is considering a bid.

Candidates have until 14 May to submit their nominations, before a president elect is announced in September. The successful candidate will succeed Sunand Prasad next year.