Personal bio
I have 45 years’ experience in the Building, Construction and Engineering Industries and have worked through the Construction Industry from Carpenter to senior management positions within some of the largest construction organisations in Australia. During the first 20 years of my career in the construction industry, I worked in roles ranging from working on the tools, to responsibilities ranging from the delivery of individual major construction projects to the management of complete business units for major construction organisations.
During the last 25 years since launching SJA, I have worked extensively for both clients and construction contractors on live major construction projects in the provision of expert witness services.
I have provided witness expert services on some of the largest building, construction, engineering and infrastructure projects across Australia together with major projects in New Zealand, Macau, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom including major:
roads / motorway projects;
rail projects;
water projects;
tunneling projects;
mining projects;
building projects - all sectors;
ports & marine projects;
communications projects;
oil & gas projects; and
energy including renewable energy projects.
Since launching SJA, I have also played an active role in the Client-Side Project Management of hundreds of live construction projects via SJA’s Project Management Division including the day-to-day Project Management of construction projects and also acting in the role of Superintendent.
I am an accomplished construction expert specialising in the areas of quantum analysis, forensic delay analysis, disruption analysis, quality of product and construction process / project delivery. I have provided expert witness services in relation to Arbitrations (including International Arbitrations), Expert Determinations, Mediations and has authored expert reports and testified in most legal jurisdictions including the Supreme Courts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
I am a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Project Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building, a Member of the Resolution Institute (formally the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia), a Member of the Society of Construction Law, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a member of AACE International.
I am also a Certified Practicing Project Manager with the Australian Institute of Project Management. I hold a current Supervisor’s Certificate in accordance with the building licensing requirements of the NSW Office of Fair Trading and a Builder - Project Management License with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). I am also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Property Council, and the Master Builders Association.
I am also a qualified and practicing Mediator & Conciliator, Expert Determiner and graded Arbitrator.
Experience
1999 – present
Managing Director, SJA
I am the founder and Managing Director of SJA Construction Services (SJA) and formed the business in 1999. During the past 25 years, I have been directly involved in many hundreds of building, construction and engineering projects across Australia, and abroad. These assignments have included the provision of Client-Side Project Management Services, General Construction Advice, Construction Expert Advice, the preparation of Expert Reports and the provision of Expert Witness services in most jurisdictions dealing with issues that include:
Assessment of Quantum: Expert advice, reporting and Expert Witness services related to the estimation of construction costs in relation to disputes valued into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Assessment of Delay and Disruption: Expert advice, reporting and Expert Witness services related to construction planning and programming including forensic delay and disruption analysis.
Quality of Product: Expert advice, reporting and Expert Witness services related to Defect inspections and reporting including the identification of defects and estimation of rectification costs.
Project Delivery - Expert advice, reporting and Expert Witness services regarding issues relating to the provision of Client-Side Project Management Services and the process of delivering major construction projects.
With a multinational network and a track record spanning 25 years, SJA is a leading advisory and delivery services firm specialising in Advisory Services, Planning & Programming, Project Management and Quantity Surveying.
1997-1999
NSW / ACT State Building Division Manager, Abigroup Contractors
Reporting to the Managing Director and accountable for all functions of the Building Division including business development, pre-contracts, operations, administration, cost control and reporting for multiple projects at any given time up to and in excess of $100 Million. Responsible for all personnel employed in the building division.
1995-1997
NSW / ACT State Building Operations Manager, John Holland Construction & Engineering
Responsible for the successful delivery of multiple building projects at any given time in the NSW / ACT region valued up to and in excess of $200 Million. Accountable for all functions of building operations including project delivery, administration, cost control and reporting.
1989-1995
Assistant Project Manager - Project Manager - Senior Project Manager and then Construction Manager, John Holland Construction & Engineering
Responsible for the successful delivery of individual building projects ranging from $40 Million to $75 Million (present value). Accountable for all functions of the project including project delivery, administration, cost control and reporting.
1988-1989
Building Foreman to Site Manager, Baulderstone Hornibrook
Convention Centre Darling Harbour, $416 million (present value)
1987-1988
Building Foreman, Barclay Mowlem.
Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour $226 million (present value)
1985 to 1987
Quantity Surveyor - Estimator - Building Supervisor, Washington Gray Homes
Cost control and purchasing. Responsible for the estimation of construction costs and variations for all projects completed by the company.
1982 to 1985
Apprentice Carpenter to Tradesperson to Supervisor, Premier Improvements.
Served last year of Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship.
Responsible for facility management and supervision of the organisation’s workforce.
1979 to 1982
Apprentice Carpenter, W.T. Mison Constructions.
Served first three years of Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship.
Specialisations
Steve is an accomplished construction expert with specialisations in the following areas:
Quantum: estimation of construction costs including entitlement
Time: forensic delay analysis
Quality of product: defect inspections and reports including quantification of rectification costs
Construction process/project delivery: issues relating to construction process, project procurement, project management and contract superintendence.
Industry Sectors
I have managed, provided project advisory services or expert services in relation to the delivery of major Construction projects in the following sectors:
Major Building /construction (all sectors)
Major civil engineering projects
Major infrastructure projects
Major rail projects
Water projects
Mining projects
Telecommunications
Energy including renewable energy
Oil & Gas
Qualifications
Graded Arbitrator. Professional Certificate in Arbitration, with the Resolution Institute (Formally Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia).
Accredited Expert Determiner with the Resolution Institute (Formally Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia).
Accredited Mediator with the Resolution Institute (Formally Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia).
Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management).
Commerce Degree, Management Major, University of Western Sydney (six years’ part time).
Industrial Safety Certificate, Penrith College of T.A.F.E. Received College Statement, certificate number - 183442.
Advanced Management Certificate, (three years’ part time), Penrith College of T.A.F.E. Passed in Credit Grade. Certificate number - 016158.
Building Foremen, Clerk of Works Course (three years’ part time) Blacktown College of T.A.F.E. Passed in the Credit Grade receiving awards from the Master Builders Association, James Hardies and T.A.F.E. for achieving the highest marks in the school of building. Certificate number - 117272.
Craftsman Certificate of Proficiency (Carpenter & Joiner) as issued by the Director of Apprenticeship - Dept. Of Industrial Relations. Certificate number T8216318.
Carpentry & Joinery Trade Course, (three years’ part time) Blacktown College of T.A.F.E. Passed in the Honors Grade. Received awards from Blacktown T.A.F.E. for achieving third place in the School of Building. Received the apprentice of the year award (School of Building) from the Rotary Club of Blacktown City. Certificate number - 37037.
Associations
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Project Management
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management
Member of the Resolution Institute (Formally Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia)
Member of the Society of Construction Law
Member of the Australian Property Council
Member of the Master Builders Association of NSW
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Member of AACE International