Steering Committee

Many years ago, I was working as a freelance commercial, contracts or project manager. On two occasions, I was employed by claims consultants JR Knowles, who were justifiably regarded as the experts on construction claims. I must have done something right, because at the end of the second job, they invited me to work for them on a full-time basis. I enjoyed this type of work, so I accepted the offer.

I have to admit that whilst I had a basic idea of claims in those days, I was a long way from being an expert. I did, however, have the distinct advantage of working alongside some very knowledgeable people and had access to the JR Knowles knowledge base so I set about educating myself. During this time, I worked hard to develop my craft and as I was dealing with claims and related issues on a daily basis, I quickly became proficient at preparing and responding to claims and produced some good work.

Fast forward several years. I was working for a project management consultancy on a very large project that had gone wrong. One of my responsibilities was to review the contractor’s many claims. Looking at the claims, I was amazed that this respected contractor, who had constructed many large and iconic projects, seemed unable to produce claims which contained even the most basic requirements for awards to be made. When I considered the amount of money being claimed, this was even more unbelievable. It occurred to me however, that whilst I had been fortunate to obtain a good education on the subject during my JR Knowles days, most people in the industry did not have this benefit and seemed to be making things up as they went along. To me, this indicated that there was something seriously wrong with the industry and consequently, I decided to help people in such a position by sharing my knowledge of claims through my book, Construction Claims and Responses.

Later, it occurred to me that people involved in claims came from three broad categories – people who had gained a high level of proficiency through experience, those who had a working knowledge, but wished to improve their knowledge and those wishing to gain practical experience in the first place. Claims had by now become a specialist subject and could justifiably be regarded as being a sub-profession within the industry. I consequently considered that those people who had gained a level of expertise should be recognised as having done so in the same way that a quantity survey may gain recognition through membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. And that’s when the idea for the ICCP was born. Today, we are growing community of like-minded professionals working to raise the standards of construction claims on an international basis.

I have been involved in the construction industry since my early teens as my father was a carpenter and joiner and later a QS, Chartered Builder, and construction company owner. So, in the mid-60s I was already holding one end of my father’s measuring tape on-site, obviously when safety wasn’t such a hot topic as it is quite rightly now.

So I suppose it was natural that I followed in my father’s footsteps and studied to become a QS myself. I later found that those teenage site experiences plus stints as a bricklayer’s labourer were invaluable stepping stones along my career path.

In those years I have worked in private practice for some of the most historically significant employers in the QS sphere and also hopped over the fence into the contracting world. In so doing I have managed to enjoy a very varied and exciting journey through many corners of the industry from prisons to pump houses, high rises to hotels, reclamation to residential, piling to palaces, district cooling to dredging, hospitals to helicopter bases in countries from the U.K. to the Far East. It has been a great privilege and now I have finally added rail to my CV too!

Whilst in this region I have been heavily involved in the administration and development of the RICS starting in Saudi Arabia in the early 90s and being co-founder, with Sophie Llewellyn, of the RICS UAE Group at The Club in Abu Dhabi almost 20 years ago in May 2003 in the year that Sheikh Mohammed announced his vision to sell property to foreigners which sparked the biggest construction boom in the region to date.

And due in no small part to the influence and legacy, as I am sure Andy will agree, of the late great Roger Knowles, arguably one of the most influential pioneers of the construction claims industry, I have spent the best part of the last 25 years here in this region specialising in claims. So it brings me great pleasure to have been elected to this committee and I hope I can use my experiences to grow and develop this special institution in cooperation with my fellow committee members.

My career has been dedicated to the successful resolution of high-value disputes in infrastructure projects, particularly under FIDIC-based contracts. I currently lead the contract management division at DFCCIL, overseeing multibillion-dollar railway infrastructure projects. I am actively engaged in defending claims exceeding $1 billion, with 48 ongoing disputes, including those before Dispute Adjudication Boards (DABs) and international ICC arbitrations. My work not only focuses on resolving disputes but also proactively mitigating risks through early dispute avoidance mechanisms, which aligns with ICCP’s goals of fostering a more efficient and collaborative construction claims environment.

I am honored to contribute my knowledge, experience, and vision to the Executive Steering Committee and support the institute’s objectives as it continues to drive positive change in the construction industry.

I am pleased to join the Steering Committee because I strongly believe in the Institute’s mission to raise professional standards in construction claims management globally.

Over the past 23 years, I have developed extensive experience in contract administration, claims management, and dispute resolution for high-value EPC, energy, and infrastructure projects across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. I have led claims under FIDIC, NEC, ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, and MDB frameworks, providing advisory and leadership support to EPC contractors, developers, and investors.

Joining the Committee offers a unique opportunity to contribute strategically to the development of ICCP’s global footprint and knowledge base. I bring a practical understanding of the challenges faced by practitioners in multi-jurisdictional and complex EPC projects, and I am keen to help the Institute shape guidance, training programs, and best practices that are globally relevant and technically robust.

My approach will focus on knowledge sharing, mentorship, and practical resource development for ICCP members. I aim to support the growth of professional networks, facilitate international collaboration, and encourage emerging professionals in claims management and dispute resolution. I am also committed to leveraging my experience in cross-border projects to provide insights into emerging risks, contractual trends, and effective dispute mitigation strategies.

My goal is to strengthen ICCP’s reputation as the leading international forum for claims and dispute resolution practitioners and to help members access practical knowledge, training, and mentoring opportunities.

My career in the Industry has included senior positions in major Middle-Eastern government Clients, prestigious Consultants, and major international Contractors. I’ve started my own practice ProADR a few years ago, which specializes in providing assistance in matters of Contract Management, Claims, Dispute Avoidance and Resolution in the Middle East (Qatar in particular) and around the World as well. I am a Civil Engineer and holder of two post-graduate degrees as well from UK on Construction Law, an accredited Adjudicator, a chartered construction manager, and a fellow of many international organizations on Contracts, Claims and Project Management. I have recently won the FIDIC 2021 Contract Users’ Award among very respected finalists in various categories.

My main objective is to develop and present to the Steering Committee ideas and methodologies that pave the way to make ICCP a worldwide-known organization with thousands of members across the globe. I believe ICCP deserves much higher recognition in the Industry.

As a Fellow of the Institute, I have greatly benefited from the resources, community, and expertise that the ICCP has to offer, and I am pleased to contribute further to its growth and success as a member of the Executive Steering Committee.

My commitment to the ICCP is driven by my passion for contract management and dispute resolution. These are areas in which I have dedicated much of my career, and I am eager to contribute to the Institute’s mission of advancing the profession and supporting its members. Serving on the Steering Committee provides an incredible opportunity for me to give back to the community and help shape the future direction of ICCP.

I have been involved with the construction industry for over 25 years’ and I have a passion for understanding complex construction projects and to developing entitlement on behalf of my clients. My experience covers time and quantum related matters and I have represented clients as an advocate as well as being appointed as Expert.

I am actively involved with professional institutions such as RICS, CIOB, CIArb, Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors and Academy of Experts and I have become involved with Constructing Excellence by advising on their panel about “organisational resilience” along with being a STEM Ambassador.

I am keen to share my knowledge and experience and to develop the construction professionals of tomorrow. I am already a mentor for ICCP members and I am proud to be on the ICCP committee. I welcome the opportunity to share my knowledge with the ICCP and its members.

I have been involved with the ICCP since its inception. Having spent 15 years’ in operations and marketing roles in the construction industry, joining my Father, Andy Hewitt, on his mission to create a new professional institute for construction claims professionals felt like a natural fit and it is a journey which I am proud to be part of.

In addition to supporting the Steering Committee and Regional Representatives to ensure they can be effective in their roles, I am primarily responsible for the day-today management of institute activities and ensure that our members remain at the heart of all decisions we make.