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SPECIAL FEATURE
Efficient Project Management
in Global Infrastructure
John R. Brells, Senior Vice President and MD, Hill International Singapore
In an exclusive
interview to ICA, Mr.
John R. Brells, Senior
Vice President and MD,
Hill International
Singapore, spoke on
the need for a
comprehensive solution
for infrastructural
growth, comprising of
project management,
dispute redressal,
claims resolution and
handling labour
agreements. Here are
the excerpts:
ICA: How is Hill International different
from other project management companies?
Mr. Brells: We set ourselves apart because
we were not originally formed as
a PM firm but rather as a construction
claims consultancy firm. Hill was
founded in 1976 as a claims consultancy
firm when Irv Richter recognized
that many owners and contractors of
major construction projects were
spending too much time in litigation.
The company was built on the premise
that many construction claims could be
avoided, mitigated or resolved utilising
the appropriate expertise.
This experience gives us a unique
understanding of what can go wrong
on a construction project. Hill uses this
knowledge to identify potential trouble
spots on a project before they develop
into serious issues and recommends
or initiates prevention action
through various processes. This background
coupled with the best professionals
in the business, allowed us to
move into providing project management
services. We are now a firm of 80
offices worldwide and some 2100 staff.
ICA: Where do you see the core competency
of Hill International coming from?
Mr. Brells: First in diversity and quality
of staff. Our staff are comprised of
architects, project managers,
schedulers, engineers of all disciplines,
contract administrators, QS’s, accountants,
financial analysts and attorneys.
Secondly, in the full spectrum of
services that we are able to offer our
clients. Those services range from program
and project management for owners
and developers, contract administration
advice, claims preparation/
defense, to our construction consultancy
risk management services.
Thirdly from our worldwide
major project experience from the
Palm Islands in Dubai, Petronas Towers
in Malaysia, Dubai/JFK/Doha
airport projects, Channel Tunnel in
the UK, to all the infrastructure,
●See page 7
6 ICA Volume 2 Issue 7 2008