Neil Margesson

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC is a Dubai Government utility company proving district cooling services across Dubai. My responsibilities include:

• Management of an annual construction budget of approximately USD 400 million for ongoing construction of District Cooling Plants, Chilled Water Networks, Energy Transfer Stations, Controls and Instrumentation
• Management of Contracts & Tendering Department with 30 staff consisting of Commercial Managers, Lawyers, Quantity Surveyors, Procurement Officers & Administration Staff
• Supervision of the tendering and appointment of Construction Design Consultants, Contractors for Construction Projects, Legal Consultants
• Supervision of the commercial management of construction projects from Pre-Tender Phase through to Final Account Stage
• Supervision of the Procurement Department for procurement requirements of an in-house operations and maintenance department carrying out maintenance on 75 district cooling plants across Dubai
• Management of contractual claims and dispute resolution process for construction projects
• Negotiating with suppliers to reduce costs and achieve stable supply chains.
• I assisted with preparing the company for an Initial Public Offering in December 2022, when the company was floated on the Dubai Financial Market.

This company carried out multidisciplinary construction projects across civil engineering infrastructure, rail infrastructure, building, oil and gas, petrochemical, pipelines across India, South East Asia and the Middle East. I managed the group wide contracts department to protect the group's interests commercially and contractually. Achievements included:

• Drafting and implementing claim strategy on oil and gas pipeline in Myanmar, a power station in Indonesia, and a gas pipeline and process plant in Indonesia.
• Closing out of a settlement agreement on a legacy claim for a SGD 650 million mixed-use casino and leisure development in Singapore. Agreement resulted in a SGD 56 million payment.
• Introduction of a new tender risk assessment system.
• Management of strategy for 2nd phase of a SGD 150 million arbitration on a SGD 300 million expressway project.
• Detailed assessment of claims totalling HK$ 700 million relating to a HK$ 1.7 billion MTR station in Hong Kong.

The construction division of this company carries out civil engineering and building construction projects across Indonesia. I was responsible for contractual and commercial management of projects across Indonesia. Major achievements included:

• Prepared and negotiated the principles of a complex claim relating to discrepancies in tender specifications for blast proof glazing at new Australian Embassy project.
• Implemented system for cash flow calculations & strategy for hedging against currency fluctuation on a multi-currency project for a new Australian Embassy (Project paid in 5 different currencies).
• Active role in advising site management team on commercial strategy for closing out claims & final account on a project for new manufacturing facility for Caterpillar.

This is a marine civil engineering construction company constructing harbours, quay walls, revetment walls, cable stay bridges, marine piling, marinas, jetties, offshore intake/outfall pipelines. Major achievements included:

• Implementation of a new project cost reporting system providing visibility of forecast final costs, revenue and gross margin.
• Successful negotiation of favourable terms and conditions of contract for design and construction of 1.5 km long Hodariyat Cable Stay Bridge project in Abu Dhabi.
• Successful negotiation of price and terms and conditions of contract for offshore pipeline with an international dredging contractor.
• Successful drafting and negotiation of Joint Venture agreements with Murray & Roberts Marine, Bam International and VSL Middle East for various joint venture projects which were successfully delivered without internal dispute.
• Active role in drafting and negotiating an agreement for the novation of a large marine works subcontract when the Main Contractor was terminated and replaced by a new Main Contractor.

Project Senior Quantity Surveyor on a construction project for construction of a Synchrotron Particle Accelerator project at Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK

This company specialised in construction of curtain walling and aluminium and glazing works on high rise projects across the United Arab Emirates. I was responsible for the commercial and contractual management of all projects

This is a major building construction company in South Africa. I started as a Trainee QS and progressed to Senior QS. I worked on projects in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Comoro Islands and Mauritius carrying out general QS duties