INTERVIEW: Jamie Kessack, Greenway Associates
We are delighted to welcome back Jamie Kessack as our new Projects Director. A familiar face at Greenway Associates, Jamie brings more than three decades of experience, including his involvement in the early cost planning of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Jamie Kessack
GA: Jamie, welcome back to Greenway Associates! For those who may not know, you previously worked with us for just over 10 years, but left in 2015 when you had the opportunity to work on some fantastic projects for an international charity. What drew you back to Greenway Associates after all this time?
Jamie: Yes, that’s right. My wife and I had an opportunity to support a charity on some significant international construction projects, and having the circumstances to “lock and leave,” we left, and what we thought might be a sabbatical for a year or so turned into a decade! But all good things must come to an end, and when contemplating the next “chapter,” we had no hesitation in linking up with our dear friends at Greenways again. The company has created a fantastic environment within which to work, where everyone genuinely calls each other friends, which makes it a special place.
GA: You bring over 30 years’ experience in the industry. What changes in quantity surveying and cost consultancy have you noticed?
Jamie: For sure, the technology we use and the role we perform. When I started back in the early 90’s, we used dim paper, scale rulers and fought over a PC. Now, of course, we are maximising technology when it comes to quantification and data. Automated software and BIM have increased efficiency within the profession. Notwithstanding this, one cannot overemphasise the need for those entering the industry to understand how things go together — actually seeing the construction process with their own eyes — which is key to effective cost estimating. The role of the quantity surveyor has evolved over time too. Where the profession was a production line of creating SMM bills of quantities, managing traditional tenders and the like, the modern QS needs to provide timely input into a project team with early cost and procurement feasibility studies, risk management, value engineering, inflation forecasting, currency fluctuation forecasting and life cycle costing. We’ve truly become an invaluable partner to clients and stakeholders alike.
GA: One of the most significant projects in Greenway’s history is the Grand Egyptian Museum. You were involved from the very beginning, even travelling to Cairo to meet local contractors. Did this experience contribute to your ability to combine work and travel?
Jamie: The Grand Egyptian Museum was a truly special project and one of my first international projects with Greenways. I suppose travel has always been in my family’s blood (my father working at Heathrow all of his life, and my mother a stewardess back in the day), but to experience different cultures as part of my work has been enriching. Looking back, GEM formed the foundation of many of our approaches to large-scale, landmark international museum and visitor attraction projects. Understanding culture, local market conditions and the like helped us form an approach to cost planning, market research and procurement that has benefited countless projects since.
Jamie visiting the original site of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2009
GA: You’ve spoken before about the challenge of cost planning landmark museums. Is there something you will be working on that you can apply your skills in this area to?
Jamie: What we enjoy about landmark museum projects is that the client and design teams are always looking to push the boundaries of what is possible, so that the visitor experiences something new. I know I speak for everyone at Greenways when I say that we pride ourselves in keeping up to date with the latest technologies, processes and what the industry is providing. This information enables us to contribute to the design teams we work with, to squeeze the maximum out of budgets.
GA: More recently, you’ve been working in an oversight role on behalf of clients. How does that perspective differ from a traditional consultancy role?
Jamie: Good question. The oversight role I have performed in recent years, effectively being on a board of directors who represent the client, has required a different focus to the traditional consultancy role I was used to. As a consultant, we typically provided information that allows a client team to make informed decisions.In an oversight role, as part of a group with delegated responsibility, we are making those decisions — so this requires strategic thinking and long-term planning and direction. Interpersonal skills are also vitally important to inspire and encourage everyone involved on the project, helping them achieve their full potential. Living in a foreign country for a number of years opened my eyes even more to how culture, language and local business approach impacts a project delivery. I’m looking forward to bringing this experience to the international projects we will be working on in the future.
GA: You’ll be playing a leading role across both hospitality and cultural projects. What excites you most about the work Greenway is doing in these sectors right now?
Jamie: The most rewarding aspect of any project is not the building or the experience, but the people you get to meet and work with along the way. The sectors Greenway work in are some of the most creative and culturally diverse and attract such talented and interesting people. So, I’m excited to be working with amazing people from the past and establishing new relationships with those I haven’t yet worked with.
GA: Finally, after such a long connection with the practice, what does Greenway Associates mean to you personally?
Jamie: It is a practice really close to my heart. Having initially joined over 20 years ago, where at that moment it was Mark Greenway and myself, along with our office manager Margaret, to witness it now successfully building on those foundations, thriving, and attracting PM & QS talent is special to see. What Greenways do, the way they do it, and the reputation they have gained is something the whole team is genuinely proud of. I’m looking forward to working with the team and continuing to build on those fine foundations.
Jamie Kessack (L) with founder of Greenway Associates Mark Greenway (R) during their work on the Grand Egyptian Museum over 20 years ago.
Feel free to schedule in an appointment for a catch-up with Jamie here.