Ireland

NAWIC was launched in Ireland in 2009 by Susan Bryson and has grown from strength to strength ever since.   A wide variety of events are held on a monthly basis ranging from legal seminars, site visits and engineering and architectural presentations.

Susan recently handed over the Chair of NAWIC Ireland to an architect Elizabeth Wheeler.  Elizabeth has been involved in NAWIC with Susan since the launch in 2009 and Susan was delighted Elizabeth accepted the role.  The replacement of a lawyer with an architect to the role ensures that the organisation will continue to be a multi disciplinary organisation representing all of the professions in the construction industry.

We would like to introduce you to the 2011/2012 committee

Elizabeth Wheeler, Chair

Tel: 00 353 1 6674740

Elizabeth is a qualified architect working as office manager of Michael Slattery Fire Consultants.

It was through the Construction Law course in Trinity College that Elizabeth met Susan Bryson who encouraged the establishment of NAWIC Ireland.

“It is through NAWIC that I gained a wider understanding of all the different sectors involved in building projects.  Coming from one particular field of expertise people tend to be slightly blinkered.  NAWIC offers its members the opportunity to find out more information from the fields of law and dispute resolution as well as engineering and architecture.  As an architect, I am no stranger to building sites but NAWIC have provided useful knowledge on the new government forms of contract.  It provides the ideal platform for learning in this continually changing world of construction legislation”.

At NAWIC, we aim to provide our members with lectures or site visits once a month.  For the architects, these lectures/visits have been recognized by the RIAI in terms of CPD points and can be classed as unstructured points.

In her personal time, Elizabeth is a keen runner and skier and in addition to chasing around after her two little boys, she writes a monthly column for EatMagazine and writes a daily food blog at www.wheelerandcompany.com

 

Una McQuillan, Deputy Chair

Una is from Belfast and spent many years studying and working abroad before returning to Ireland. She now runs the award-winning architectural and interior design practice, McQuillan Architects (http://www.mqa.ie), based in Dublin, with alliances in the UK and USA. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree B.A. (Hons) from the University of Kingston-Upon-Thamas in England, a Bachelor of Architecture B.Arch (Hons) from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England, completed her professional studies in University College Dublin and was elected a Member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (MRIAI) in 2001. She has also been registered in the Register for Architects under the Building Control Act 2007 and may legally use the title Architect. She is an Architect Accredited in Conservation Grade III, a Member of Integrated Project Management (IPM) and is currently studying for her LEED Green Associate qualifications.

Una's Management and PR expertise has made her a natural commentator and media presenter, becoming the co-presenter to the architecture TV series, "About the House", for Ireland's national television station, RTE1. Una also regularly comments in the Irish press on interiors, architecture and the construction industry. She is also a very keen golfer and skier, believing that sport and business are closely aligned in terms of integrity, honesty and win-win.

She was delighted to be invited onto the Committee of the Irish branch of NAWIC, expecially due to the fact that after having been involved in all different Chambers of Commerce, Small Firms Associations and the like in Ireland, UK and the US, that this is specifically tailored to assisting women in the construction industry, as its title says. Her goal within the group is to assist women to support each other in what is traditionally, such a competitive environment and to raise standards of how we achieve certain things better and quicker.

 

Susan Bryson

Tel: 00 353 1 6145214    

Susan is a partner at Mason Hayes & Curran where she specialises in construction law. Susan focuses mainly on contentious issues in construction.  Susan represents a wide variety of clients including employers, contractors,sub contractors, public bodies, banks, insurers and design team professionals in relation to all aspects of construction disputes. Susan specialises in particular in the Education section and advices all of the educational management bodies as well as primary and third level institutions in relation to building projects.

Susan met Paula Boast at a conference in London a number of years ago and following that chance meeting, agreed to introduce NAWIC to Ireland. NAWIC was proven extremely popular to date in Ireland. “I immediately saw NAWIC as a perfect forum for people working in the construction industry to meet other people working in different capacities within the construction industry. It provides an excellent networking opportunity but more than that offers the chance to forge strong relationships with people it might otherwise be difficult to meet. My involvement in NAWIC has given me the chance to do many interesting things such as site visits to T2 and the Aviva Stadium and meet many interesting people that I would never have met otherwise.” Susan also believes that NAWIC offers a platform for focusing on and highlighting the positive aspects of the Construction Industry in Ireland which has been severely challenged during the last few years. “There are still many excellent people working in construction in Ireland and there are excellent projects and opportunities. My aim is to give people a chance to see those people and projects.”

In her personal time Susan is a keen skier and sailor. Susan is a big rugby supporter following Ireland first and foremost but known to wear both the Leinster and Munster strip from time to time. The rugby trips are not as frequent now that she has a little fan from Ethiopia to take care of (also the proud owner of both the Munster and Leinster strip).

 

Fiona Forde

Fiona is a practising Barrister specialising in Building and Construction law. A Mechanical Engineer, Fiona is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious construction work. Fiona trained in London with the legal team of a large international consulting engineering firm before becoming the Legal Adviser to their Irish offices. Called to the Irish Bar in 2002, Fiona lectures on the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration in Trinity College Dublin.

Fiona is a passionate foodie and has trained in cookery schools in Ballymaloe, Tuscany, Bologna and Paris.

 

 

 

Sharon Robinson

Tel: 00 353 1 6144712

Sharon is a Senior Project Manager with Seamus Monahan & Partners. Sharon has a BSc in Quantity Surveying, a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering. She studied Quantity Surveying at the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa, and began her career in a Quanitity Surveying role working on the Contractors side but quickly moved into Project Management where she has gained experience in a wide range of  projects.

Her starting PM role in Ireland was with McDonalds Restaurants of Ireland, and has in recent years worked on a number of office fit-outs, retail tenant coordination, industrial development monitoring, and various commercial projects.

Sharon is a keen squash player and was selected to represent Ireland in the Ladies O35 Home International Competition held in Cardiff in April 2010.

 

Marian Regan

Karen Killoran

Tel: 00 353 1 6180324                                              

Karen is a construction lawyer at Arthur Cox and advises clients on all matters relating to construction and engineering, both contentious and non-contentious. She has extensive experience of all forms of dispute resolution having advised and represented employers, contractors and consultants in a range of disputes.  She is also experienced in advising on and drafting contract documents for construction and engineering projects.  Karen has recently advised clients in respect of disputes arising out of significant infrastructure projects in the wastewater, pharmaceutical, marine and energy sectors.  Karen holds a diploma in Arbitration from University College Dublin.

Karen became a member of NAWIC, Irish branch, during 2009, its inaugural year, and was so impressed by the standard of events organised (in particular the site visits to many of Dublin’s iconic developments) that she didn't need much persuasion to become a committee member in 2010.  “NAWIC has grown from strength to strength in Ireland in the past 2 years and provides a wonderful forum for sharing knowledge and developing contacts across the spectrum of the construction industry”.

In her personal time, Karen enjoys the outdoors, in particular skiing, surfing and hiking.  Karen is also a language, travel and theatre enthusiast.

 

Emma O'Brien

Tel: 00 353 86 3811874

 

 

Emma is a Chartered Surveyor and an Associate with Arup. She leads the Cost Management section of the Planning and Programme Management Practice of Arup Ireland. Currently she is focused on growing Arup's cost management offering in Ireland and ultimately Europe. 

 

She works for a wide variety of clients, in both the private and public sectors. She has 25 years experience and over the course of her career she has been involved in all stages of the construction process and project negotiations and procurement, tender analysis, adminstration, management and cost control, through to final evaluation. She has also worked on both sides of the industry.

 

She has particular interest in legal arena and has participated in conciliation, arbitration and High Court proceedings in the recent past. 

 

Emma is also a member of the Quantity Surveying Divisional Committee of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and a trained assessor of candidates for chartership.

 

Emma joined the NAWIC Ireland Branch in 2011, after being impressed with the standard of events which they organised. She is delighted to be involved with an organisation that facilitates contact across all of the many facets of the construction industry, porviding a unique forum and also excellent networking opportunities.

 

Emma recently took up running and has completed three 5km races to date. She is also passionate about cooking and loves entertaining friends with dishes she has created herself.  She is also currently learning to speak Dutch.  

  

Kathy O'Leary

 Kathy is the Safety, Health and Environmental Manager and CSR Manager of BAM Contractors.

BAM Contractors is one of Ireland’s largest Construction Firms who are involved in Design/Build, Construction and PPP projects throughout the island of Ireland. BAM Contractors specialize in civil engineering, building, rail and FM. Kathy is a qualified Civil Engineer and is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland. She holds a BSC in Occupational Safety and Health Management and a Diploma in Environmental Management.

 

 

 

Rachel Kenny

Rachel Kenny is a Senior Engineer in Arup.  She is a Chartered Engineer with Engineers Ireland.

Rachel is currently working on a project in Copenhagen but keeps her place on the regional committee for when she returns.

She has worked on the project management and delivery of a number of major road and rail projects and has significant experience in civil engineering. Having worked in both the Public and Private Sectors, Rachel has developed an awareness of the priorities of all the parties involved in construction projects.

Rachel also holds a Diploma in Arbitration from University College Dublin as well as a Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration from Trinity College Dublin.

“What is different about NAWIC is that its membership encompasses the entire range of professions that work in the construction industry. This provides members and attendees at events with an alternative perspective.”

When not working for Arup or NAWIC, Rachel participates in sailing, surfing, yoga and several other activities. Rachel is also a fluent French speaker and takes every available opportunity to travel.

 

Claire Crone

Tel: 086 199 5299

Claire is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and a member of the SCS and RICS.  Claire joined the NAWIC committee in the summer of 2009, as she wanted to contribute to this worthwhile organisation.  Claire appreciates that NAWIC grants members the opportunity to mix with like-minded people, and that it allows insights into each others’ professions & disciplines, which makes it unique. 

Claire is currently taking some time out in her native South Africa but will be returning to the regional committee later this year.  In recent times Claire successfully set up The Finishing School; teaching etiquette, deportment & grooming.  Her clients range from teenagers to professionals & business owners.   Claire’s experience & perspective, makes her ideally suited to teaching ‘people skills’ to professionals & contractors in the construction industry. 

Over the past 11 years Claire worked for Professional QS firms, a mechanical contractor and contracted to a consulting firm; working on landmark projects such as The National Gallery Millennium Wing, and Elan Pharmaceuticals,  Intel’s FAB 24, A&E Extension at Our Lady’s Children’s hospital, to name a few.

Claire worked for Rogerson Reddan Cost consultants, construction & project managers from 2003 to 2010, and became an associate director in 2006.  Whilst working Rogerson Reddan, Claire cost managed two large Construction Management projects from start to finish [Mixed use development over basement €34m, ‘Environmentally-friendly’ housing development €10m].  In the traditional QS roles, Claire has a wide range of experience, in both private and public sectors, working with New Government, RIAI, and Construction Management Contracts. 

When Claire finds the time for hobbies, she paints in acrylics, scuba dives, and is a keen rugby and cricket supporter.