Although I have a longstanding history of evidenced global construction site practices and teaching construction and / or engineering-related degree courses, as a Chartered Building Surveyor, I was always fascinated with building defects, challenging the mindset that if older buildings were built to last, then why were they significantly failing in their rapid demise and deterioration? This curiosity led to looking specifically at quality in construction, the management and reporting of it, with the intention of building better and safer buildings and in doing so, lessening rework costs and subsequent construction claims.
My research seeks to understand current construction quality management reporting and to provide a comparative analysis of those practices in Ontario and the UK.
Although much is written about construction quality management in the UK, there is very little detail about this in Ontario, as despite it being part of the Commonwealth, there is no legal or contractual requirement to provide same in mainstream construction.
I have over 18 years' extensive experience, knowledge and skill set pertaining to the built environment sector (Building Surveying, Construction Technology and Contracts, Procurement and Tendering) on various Mega Projects throughout the UK, Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, providing high-calibre consultancy services and in-house teaching, training and development workshops.
I am a Chartered construction professional (FCIOB) and was the first female elected CIOB Trustee from the North of Ireland since 1834. I serve as the Executive Director of Hollywood Associates, specialising in Commercial, Contract Administration and Claims Consultancy Services, with services provided throughout the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Canada.
In undertaking a PhD, this offers me the opportunity to take my experience and expertise and to reflect on that in what I have learned and hope to contribute to the construction industry.