Part 2: Avoiding engineering pitfalls in Buildings & Architectural projects

Introduction

HKA and CIOB would like to invite you to join us for a seminar on avoiding engineering pitfalls in Buildings & Architectural projects. Hear from our engineering and architecture experts on the most common causes of disputes and ways to mitigate them. 

The process of realising a building project is fraught with risks due to uncertainty. Fortunately, there are timeless principles that can help us navigate the complexities of a project, avoid pitfalls and bring about successful completion.

Our expert speakers will cover the following key topics including tips and examples:

• Risk of defects due to under-developed design, speed of construction
• Reducing risk of architectural issues, including the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Common areas and causes of disputes 
• Sustainability and future uncertainty of building projects

This seminar is part of a series on avoiding engineering pitfalls in construction projects.

Chair and panel moderator

Shamila Neelakandan
Partner, Head of Operations (Singapore & Malaysia), HKA

Shamila Neelakandan is a dual qualified Lawyer (Malaysia and UK) with 26 years of legal, contracts and commercial experience in the construction industry. She is also a Fellow with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is an empanelled arbitrator with the AIAC. Shamila commenced her career in 1996 as a lawyer focusing on dispute resolution in Malaysia before developing her career as a solicitor in the UK (Osborne Clarke). In 2007, Shamila moved to project consulting and has over the last 15 years successfully acted for clients in the power generation and water desalination, oil & gas, and rail & infrastructure sectors throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  

Shamila’s area of experience include tender negotiations, procurement, commercial strategy and claims management. She continues to undertake advocacy work in consulting services through presentations and case management services in dispute resolution proceedings. Shamila now heads the Malaysian and Singapore operations and has a profit and loss responsibility within the business for the local region.

Speakers

Cathy Joshi
Technical Director, HKA

Catherine Joshi is a Chartered Civil Engineer with more than 25 years of construction industry experience. She has been appointed as a technical expert on five occasions.

Catherine has been instructed on high-value arbitration cases involving structural, civil, architectural, fit-out and procedural disputes. She has provided input, as part of an expert team, regarding the design and construction a wide variety of building types and uses and has acted as named expert on an infrastructure project valued in excess of US$200 billion.

Catherine’s expertise includes providing opinion on alleged defects in materials and workmanship, including structural and fit-out works. She combines a track record of success in early dispute resolution with independent investigation and reporting on issues of quality, inadequate coordination between disciplines, non-conformance to design specifications and technical defects.

Catherine Loke
Partner, Lander Loke Architects

Catherine Loke obtained her B.Arch (Hons) from the University of Melbourne in 1992.  She is a Partner in Lander Loke Architects and Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. 

Known as a hands-on practitioner, Catherine is regularly invited to speak on architectural practice and building contract matters.  She has also served as expert witness on disputes over payment, defects, delays, boundary encroachment and regulatory compliance.

Catherine is the Founding President of The Circle for Human Sustainability and was First Vice-President of the Singapore Institute of Architects from 2018 to 2020. She was the Chief Examiner for the Board of Architects Singapore from 2014 to 2017 and was recently elected to serve as a member of the Board for the term 2022-2024. 

In recognition of her contribution to the industry, she was awarded the Women of the Built Environment Award at the RICS Awards 2020 Southeast Asia.

Should you have any questions on the seminar topic or registration, please contact CrystalLim@hka.com.