My latest job was in Dubai with Emaar Properties, where I worked as Senior Project Manager.

Developer of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, Emaar Properties is one of the world’s most valuable and admired real estate development companies. With proven competencies in properties, shopping malls & retail and hospitality & leisure, Emaar shapes new lifestyles with a focus on design excellence, build quality and timely delivery.

As Senior Project Manager I was in charge of the delivery of 20 residential towers at Dubai’s Creek Harbour. Being the Client Representative on site I managed the Consultants, Contractors and all major stakeholders for each of the projects; delivering over 1500 residential units in parallel, from post-contract award until handover to end users.

My main focus was to expedite all decision making, avoid delays from all parties and ensure the projects were delivered to the highest quality within budget. The procurement strategies varied for each project, making it very challenging to sort out all commercial issues on time to allow the works to proceed on site without delays; involving sometimes the procurement of free-issue materials, concluding provisional sums, placing direct orders to facilitate cashflow, and managing several nominated subcontractors for each project.

Another big challenge on this job was managing numerous changes of all nature, avoiding delays to the works on site and completing all the processes for Emaar Properties’ change management system. The management of the budget remained within my scope of works so finding opportunities for value engineering was also a big part of my scope of works.

During this period I had under my supervision over 6000 staff and labours.

Projects involvement:
Creek Gate, Dubai Creek Harbour
Creek Rise, Dubai Creek Harbour
Creek Beach, Dubai Creek Harbour

Before working for Emaar Properties I started my career on the “Client side” with Sweid & Sweid, working as Development Manager.

Sweid & Sweid is an award-winning Dubai-based boutique developer targeting niche development, investment and build-to-suit opportunities. The developer focuses on three core competencies: in-depth market knowledge, detailed technical expertise, and a dedicated investor base.

During my time at Sweid & Sweid, in my role as Development Manager, I led the delivery of two projects, Banyan Tree Residences and The Edge, both in Dubai. My job was to lead the projects from concept design to handover to end users, while liaising with all major stakeholders (Investors, Operators, Consultants, Contractors, Lawyers, Authorities, etc).

Having as a core company competency the attention to detail, the biggest challenge on these projects was the change management; to ensure the project remained moving while implementing a high volume of changes and at the same time controlling the cost and time. While working on these projects I had the opportunity to liaise with prime stakeholders; namely Visa, Oracle, Banyan Tree Hotels & Residences, Mc Graw Hill Education, Snapchat and Costa Coffee.

Projects involvement:
Banyan Tree Residences – Hillside, Dubai
The Edge Building

Prior to moving into the Developer side, I worked as Main Contractor under Samsung’s Contracting Division.

While working for Samsung I had the opportunity to get involved in Project Management, as well as in the technical team, working on tender proposals and leading the sustainability department.Samsung C&T Corporation is one of the best international construction companies in the world since it’s inception in 1977. Record breaking Samsung C&T has built Burj Khalifa in Dubai (world’s tallest tower – 828m), Petronas Tower & Bridge in Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan.

While working on the Project Mangement department my role was as Design Manager; and I was involved in several leisure and entertainment projects at Dubai’s City Walk by Meraas Development. As a Design Manger I led the Consultants during design stage and followed up the design implementation during construction. Liaising with all the Project stakeholders I ensured the technical coordination of the design works and further construction works, Quality Assurance/ Quality Control, Progress Reporting, Authorities approvals, Tender process coordination, and Design Team Coordination.

Since several of these projects were related to International Intellectual Properties (namely Cirque du Soleil, Mattel, Microsoft, Capcom and Konami), big part of my role was liaising with the IP holders and making sure their requirements were implemented in the design; and ensuring their final approval was obtained before commencement of operations.

Projects involvement:
Laguna Waterpark, La Mer Dubai
Cirque du Soleil Theatre, City Walk Dubai
Hub Zero DXB, City Walk Dubai
The Green Planet, City Walk Dubai
Play Town by Mattel, City Walk Dubai

Before moving into Project Management, I was part of Samsung’s technical team at Abu Dhabi HQ, in my role as Senior Architect/ Sustainability Specialist (2011 – 2013). I led the preparation of the technical proposals for tender and worked on market research within the MENA region to further develop Samsung’s market penetration.

While working on tender proposals, my involvement included the overall coordination of the bids and specifically the development of the sustainability part of the proposals. The bids were prepared in coordination with Samsung’s Seoul Head Quarters and the team based in Abu Dhabi. I led all Client presentations for the proposals within the MENA region.

Another aspect of my job was the market research, which greatly supported the tendering department by providing key information about each market within the MENA region. For this research I travelled within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, researching on local competitors, potential partners and potential Clients on each market. Visiting all major stakeholders within the construction industry, I analysed the potential strategies to further develop Samsung’s involvement in each specific market.

Projects involvement:
Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi
Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (Midfield Terminal Building), Abu Dhabi
Heart of Doha, Qatar
Masdar Head Quarters, Abu Dhabi
Al Ain Stadium & Mixed Used Development, Al Ain

My first job in Dubai was as Consultant, working as an Architect for Aedas Architects.

Aedas Architects is a Hong Kong award-winning international practice. and one of the largest and leading architectural design practices in the world.

During my time at Aedas I worked on the design development of two mega-projects, The Blue City and Masdar City. Both developed in Revit, being the first mega-projects to be developed in BIM. My job involved coordinating multidisciplinary teams and running projects from detailed design to construction documents.

Projects involvement:
The Blue City, Oman
Masdar City in Abu Dhabi  

I also worked based on site ensuring the implementation of the design during construction. My main tasks involved liaising with the Client, Contractor and Sub-consultants; issuing Site Instructions, answering RFIs, reviewing shop drawings, performing site inspections, and coordinating full packages (signage, landscape, etc.).

Projects involvement:
U-Bora Towers, Business Bay Dubai
Boulevard Plaza. Downtown Dubai

Before moving to Dubai my latest job in Uruguay was with boutique design & build architecture practice, GC: Arquitectos.

With over 30 years of experience in high-end residential and commercial projects, GC:Arquitectos is a very well established architecture practice in Uruguay.

While working in Uruguay as a Project Architect, I was responsible for leading projects from schematic design until handing over to end users. I developed the full design documentation and obtained Authorities’ approvals throughout the whole design phase. I prepared and awarded the subcontractors’ packages and followed the implementation of the design during construction; including procurement of materials, ensuring the project was delivered with the expected quality and within the programme, and liaising with the Clients.

Projects involvement:
Terrazas de las Americas II
Rivera Family Villa
Carrasco Family Villa
Terrazas de las Americas I
Family Villa
Terrazas de Jardines
Polo Club Family Villa

Working free lance I focused on full design documentation, coordination with sub-consultants, cost estimation and Authorities’ approvals. I also followed up the design implementation on site ensuring the quality, time and budget were as planned.

Projects involvement:
Manantiales Summer Villa (detailed design)
Terrazas de la Pedrera Hotel (remodelling)
Parada-Castro Residence  (remodelling)
Zingara Store Concept Design
Darko Lighting Company Portfolio