What is your background?
I graduated from Limerick Institute of Technology and Heriot-Watt University with a combined Bachelor of Science in Construction Economics and Management (Quantity Surveying) in the early 2000s.
I started working as a Quantity Surveyor ("QS") with large contracting organisations in Ireland, working on live projects (site hours generally 7:30 – 6:00 pm), managing and administering head contracts and numerous subcontracts. This was a real baptism of fire coming straight out of university, working long hours with a steep learning curve, but the experience was valuable. I then went from contractor’s QS to client-side PQS (Professional Quantity Surveyor), working on large-scale projects in Ireland and the UK.
After working as a QS for ten years, I realised that I enjoyed certain aspects and really disliked other aspects of the roles, which led me to go back to university and complete a Master's Degree in Construction Law and Arbitration. I then emigrated to Australia at the beginning of 2012 to pursue a career in Claims Consultancy and Dispute Resolution. I have been working at FTI Consulting in this field ever since.
What is your role about?
My role has grown over the years from task-driven to a more management-orientated position. The principal part of my role remains the same: managing teams and delivering quality outputs in the form of expert reports or claim documents for our clients. I am also involved in leading the CS business, which means addressing elements such as recruitment, marketing, business development, and administration.
Can you give an example of an engagement you recently worked on?
We were recently engaged as Quantum Experts on a large dispute concerning the construction of the West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong, the biggest underground train station in the world. It forms part of China’s high-speed rail network and links Hong Kong to mainland China. The contractor claimed significant additional costs and delays, which the principal disputed. The dispute centred around whether the contractor had adequately priced the package of works.
Our role was to provide an independent opinion on what constituted a reasonable tender price for the works, which involved understanding the scope of works, reviewing drawings, measurement of quantities, development of rates, and ascertaining appropriate allowances for preliminaries. Following the conclusion of work, the parties managed to settle the dispute.
Did you always know you wanted to work in this field?
To be honest, whilst in university, I had no idea this field existed. However, after spending some time working on live construction projects, it became apparent that disputes existed and appeared fairly often on large projects. Using the various elements of Quantity Surveying that I enjoyed in the disputes field and leaving behind the aspects I disliked really appealed to me. Therefore, I pursued a career in Claims Consultancy and Dispute Resolution in 2012 and have not looked back since.
What is most rewarding about your job?
Some of the most rewarding aspects of the job is producing a comprehensive report with robust analyses after receiving hundreds of documents for a complex matter (e.g. dispute) that has extensive cost or delay issues. It can seem overwhelming at the beginning, but the hardest part is just getting started. Another rewarding aspect is seeing staff develop to a stage where they are comfortable working autonomously.
What was a challenge?
As an emigrant with a young family without wider family support, balancing work and family commitments has always been challenging. In matters involving expert appointments, we generally work with court or arbitration-mandated timelines, which are always a challenge as they are usually set in stone. Therefore, it is important for us to cut our cloth to suit the timeline whilst still achieving the desired outcome.
How can you support a graduate’s professional development?
We understand the importance of providing proper mentorship and guidance to our graduate staff to ensure they become the next leaders and experts in our field. We also want our graduates to take on more responsibility gradually and grow into our roles. This can only be achieved by allocating time to mentoring and developing our graduates.
What advice would you give current students interested in working for FTI Consulting?
Embrace every day and approach each challenge with vigour, as it is never as hard as you first think. At FTI Consulting, we have a culture of owning your own career, which means there is no ceiling, and you are free to climb the corporate ladder as quickly or as slowly as you want. I would always encourage graduates to show initiative, be proactive, and be willing to put their hand up for new challenges. These attributes will ensure you learn quicker and, more importantly, develop the confidence to succeed.
The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, Inc., its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals. FTI Consulting, Inc., including its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a consulting firm and is not a certified public accounting firm or a law firm. FTI Consulting is an independent global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organisations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. FTI Consulting professionals, located in all major business centers throughout the world, work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and opportunities. Some services may be provided through FTI Capital Advisors (Australia) Pty Ltd AFSL # 504204. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation ©2023 FTI Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. www.fticonsulting.com