Construction and QS Conference

Opening Welcome

SCSI President opens the Conference and welcomes delegates. 

The Future of Investment

Session Title: Irish Market Outlook – Capital Markets, Funding, and Performance Expectations
This opening session will provide a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future projections for the Irish capital markets, including funding strategies and performance benchmarks.

Speakers:
Colm Lauder, Founder of Lauder Teacher – a global strategic communications consultancy renowned for its expertise in real estate. Colm holds an MPhil in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Valuation Surveying from the Dublin Institute of Technology. He was recently listed among the Sunday Business Post’s 100 most influential people in Irish property. 

Caroline Timmins  is an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage where she is currently the head of the Affordable Housing Division and has responsibility for affordable housing policy, residential viability schemes and tackling residential vacancy. 

Cost Drivers and Infrastructure

This session will examine the primary cost drivers impacting infrastructure development in Ireland, incorporating both domestic and international perspectives.

Speaker: 

Tomas Kelly, leads the AECOM cost management team in the Ireland regions outside of Dublin and also fulfill the internal performance management role across all disciplines within the AECOM Ireland Buildings and Places business. Tomas has been heavily involved in the publication of the AECOM Ireland Annual Review for over 10 years.

Reporting and Procurement

Reporting and Procurement

This session will highlight ongoing initiatives to enhance procurement efficiency, proactively address disputes, and improve reporting standards through the adoption of digital tools and international best practices.

Speakers:

Kevin Brady, APNA (Session Chair) Kevin has worked in the construction industry in Private Quantity Surveying Practice since 2006 with APNA. Kevin has attained a wide range of experience in construction cost control and property, with particular expertise in cost management and analysis, restoration & refurbishment works, fit out and process auditing services. Kevin is involved with a number of Professional Groups within the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) including Quantity Surveying, House Building, and Tender & Construction Indices.

Philip Kaheru Philip is the Managing Director/ senior quantity surveyor at Ethereal Associates Limited, a project management and quantity surveying consultancy firm in Kampala, Uganda. He begun the consultancy firm in 2018. Philip was elected as the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda (ISU) representative to the International Cost Management Standards (ICMS) in 2018 and is the current Chairman, ICMS board of trustees 2025 – 2026.

Mark Wearen, Kroll Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FSCSI/FRICS) and Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor (MCInstCES) working in the area of Construction Disputes with a focus on the provision of Independent Expert and Project Advisory Services. Mark is an experienced Expert Witness in Construction Quantum and Quantity Surveying matters with over 35 years experience in the construction industry and have testifying experience in various dispute forums including international arbitration and the High Court and also in mediation, conciliation and adjudication.

Coffee Break

Regulations and Process in Digital Industry

More info to follow 

Rubble to Rails: The Cork South Docks Sustainability Project

The demolition and redevelopment of the R&H Hall silos on Kennedy Quay in Cork represents one of the most ambitious construction recycling efforts in the region to date. Undertaken by O’Callaghan Properties, the project exemplifies how large-scale urban redevelopment can prioritize sustainability, heritage conservation, and circular economy principles.

Speakers: 

Brigid Browne from Fortress Planning is the chair of this session. Brigid is a Registered and Chartered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Engineers Ireland. She is the owner and managing director of Fortress Planning.

Martin Murphy is a founding director of Murphy Matson O’ Sullivan Consulting Engineers. Martin previously worked under the guidance of Mr. Niall Fitzsimons from 1998 until March 2011, a leading Irish consulting engineer .Martin is a chartered engineer with an honours degree in Engineering from Dublin Institute of Technology and is a fellow of Engineers Ireland. Martin has gained a wide knowledge and experience, mainly in the Cork/Munster and Dublin region, in the commercial, residential and medical building sectors. 

Joe Keane has been a project director with O’Callaghan Properties since 2005. A quantity surveyor by profession, Joe was previously the managing partner of a private surveying practise and has a wealth of construction experience. Joe has worked on many major projects across Ireland and the UK including but not limited to Liffey Valley shopping Centre, Mahon Point shopping centre, and most recently the cork city docklands regeneration projects including the completed Navigation Square office developments 

Dr Colin Rynne (BA, Phd, MIAPA)  is a Senior Lecturer in theDepartment of Archaeology, UCC and Director of the Historic Building Survey Unit, UCC. He is the author of several books, which include Industrial Ireland 1750-1930: an archaeology (2006, 2014).

Conference Ends