Haroon is a chartered quantity surveyor with more than 18 years of experience in the construction industry, as part of his current role at HKA he leads the Construction Claims and Expert Service Line across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region comprising a team of over 200 consultants. He is dual qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and as a barrister; therefore, well placed to provide advice and opinion in relation to the most complex of construction disputes.
Haroon has experience in all forms of dispute resolution and excellent knowledge of the JCT, NEC, FIDIC, the Saudi Public Works Contract, and the Saudi Aramco standard form contracts.
Haroon specialises in the quantification of construction cost claims, and he supports
clients across various market sectors, from power, oil and gas to major buildings and infrastructure projects. He has been named in the Who’s Who Legal (WWL) Construction Expert Witnesses list for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Haroon holds a masters in both law and quantity surveying. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Haroon was awarded HKA’s 2014 Worldwide Consultant of the year award for his achievements and has been named one of the top 100 most influential construction leaders in the Middle East by Construction Week.
Middle East & Africa World Regional Board Members
Specialist Advisor - Africas
Judy Rugasira Kyanda is a highly accomplished and experienced CEO in the real estate industry, with a strong commercial acumen and technical expertise. With a remarkable career spanning over 25 years in both the East African and United Kingdom markets, Ms. Rugasira has established herself as a results-driven and decisive ... leader. Currently serving as the Managing Director of Knight Frank Uganda Ltd, she leads a team of 120 professionals specializing in Property and Facilities Management, commercial and residential agency, and Valuation and Advisory service lines. As a Chartered Surveyor, Ms. Rugasira holds an honours degree in Land Management (BSc.) and an MSc. in International Real Estate, both from the esteemed University of Reading, United Kingdom. Her exceptional academic achievements also include Distinction in the Diploma in Shopping Centre Management from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where she emerged as the top student for the class of 2013. In recognition of her significant contributions, Ms. Rugasira was honoured as one of Africa's Most Influential Women in Business and Government in 2014. This prestigious accolade, awarded by CEO Communications based in South Africa, exemplifies her exemplary leadership demonstrated through a rigorous research and selection process. Read More
Partner and Global Board Member , DLA Piper
As a Partner in one of the World’s largest law firms, Suzannah's work on disputes across the Middle East spans construction and engineering in energy and processing facilities; hard infrastructure; social infrastructure and complex world first- type developments. She acts for contractors, engineering companies, specialist ... sub-contractors, and developers. Suzannah primarily handles disputes in arbitration (ad-hoc as well as those in major international and Middle East based institutions) and everything which comes with that including strategy setting, engaging in mediation and negotiations and reporting to client's boards. Suzannah is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and has been based in the Middle East since 2010. She is well known as a thought leader in the construction industry. Alongside the RICS World Regional Board, she has participated in the UAE Construction Think Tank, and the British Business Group Construction Focus Group. Suzannah is ranked in Chambers & Partners, a Leading Individual in Legal 500, and a Thought Leader in Who's Who Construction. She is praised for her "strategic thinking, good risk appraisal and construction industry knowledge". Market sources say: "There's nothing that can faze her." Suzannah is an elected member of DLA Piper’s International Board and appointed to its Global Board. Read More
Managing Director, GAT
Dr Tarek Madany BEng, MRICS, FTAQEEM, FRA, CBE, PMP, CVA, MBA, DBA is Managing Director at Global Appraisal Tech (GAT) and is a RICS Registered Valuer, CBE & FRA Senior Licensed Asset Appraiser. With over 17 years of experience, Dr Tarek has worked in Consulting, Business Development, Valuation, and Project Management ... for several multinationals and consulting firms. Utilising a solid engineering foundation and an aptitude for business and strategy. He is now the managing director at Global Appraisal Tech (GAT), one of Egypt's top asset valuation firms, leading teams in real estate appraisals, machinery and equipment valuation, project management and feasibility studies. Under his direction, GAT has appraised hundreds of projects. Some were development, commercial, residential, plant and equipment assets, and operating hotels, hospitals, factories, and more. Dr Tarek is a member of the RICS MEA World Regional Board and the RICS Egypt Market Advisory Panel. He is a Faculty Trainer for valuation courses in the RICS Academy, a councillor, and an assessor for the RICS APC. Dr Tarek is also an Adjunct Professor at the American University in Cairo (AUC), teaching courses in Valuation, Inspection, Building Pathology, Ethics, Strategic Real Estate Management and more. Read More
Managing Partner, Balfaqeeh Law
Fatima Balfaqeeh is a UAE-certified advocate specializing in arbitration, mediation, and business consulting. Her critical thinking skills and ability to provide innovative solutions are matched by her commitment to building strong and trustworthy relationships with clients on a personal level. Fatima is an Adjunct Lecturer ... in Law in Middlesex University Dubai and has over 20 years of experience working in government and semi-government entities in Abu Dhabi, where she led contract and procurement functions with a focus on dispute avoidance and corporate governance. She has extensive experience in commercial, legal, and operational matters across various sectors, including construction, finance, and banking. After pursuing a law degree, Fatima became a certified independent arbitrator and commercial mediator. She is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a member and Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). Fatima is a highly respected advisor in the ADR, legal, and governance fields and holds many posts with national and international organizations. In 2018, Fatima founded her consultancy, which later evolved into a fully-fledged law firm operating in the UAE. Read More
Managing Director, AQUILA
Louise Rodrigues MRICS is a Development Real Estate executive with over 23 years’ experience specialising in Luxury Leisure & Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, Commercial Mixed-Use and Master planning. As a well regarded global professional, Louise has led development project teams in London since 2000, the Middle ... East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh) since 2008 within global organisations and local government developers before launching her own project management consultancy in 2018. Louise is a strong advocate for the industry as a whole and is dedicated to gender equality and supporting the next generation of development and built environment leaders. Passionate about lifelong learning and continuous improvement, she is currently undertaking an Executive MBA at Said Business School, University of Oxford. Louise follows economics, business strategy and the Middle East real estate investment market, and currently works as Managing Director of AQUILA, her own consultancy. Read More
Senior Director, Currie & Brown
Craig joined Currie & Brown in Glasgow, UK and was fortunate to work on many types of projects across different sectors – from healthcare to retail, from new builds to refurbishments. Craig moved to the Middle East region when he transferred to Currie & Brown’s Dubai office in 2008. Initially he was a Senior ... Cost Manager and has in this timeframe progressed up to Senior Director in January 2022. Craig has always been instrumental in supporting Currie & Brown’s graduates on the RICS APC programme. He is involved in the roll-out of the Currie & Brown programme throughout the Middle East and acts as counsellor to a number of APC candidates. Craig was appointed onto the RICS MEA World Regional Board in 2020. Read More
Managing Partner, Latitude Five
Ivan Cornet is an international professional with over twenty-five years of extensive experience in European and Emerging Markets, specialising in real estate, urban infrastructure and structured finance. Currently serving as the Managing Partner at Latitude Five, an investment and advisory firm operating in North and ... Sub-Saharan Africa, Ivan plays a pivotal role in guiding institutional investors, developers, and operators in emerging and frontier markets. His responsibilities include offering market intelligence, identifying off-market opportunities, and spearheading the structuring, execution, and management of commercial and financial transactions. Ivan is recognised as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS - UK), and holds the designation of IFC EDGE Expert for Green Buildings in Emerging Markets. His educational background includes a business law degree and a Master in European Business Law (LL.M) from the University of Brussels. Additionally, he earned an INSEAD Master in Business Administration (MBA) and holds an Islamic Finance Qualification from CISI (London) and Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (Beirut). Ivan is also a member of the bar in Brussels and Paris. Ivan also assumes senior executive positions within various African real estate and investment companies. Read More
Omnium International Ltd.
Nicky works for Omnium International Ltd., an RICS regulated Project and Cost Management practice, serving the Middle East, Europe and the UK from five international branch offices. The experience to date includes pre & post contact services within Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, Central and North America ... on schemes reaching US$ 53 billion. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nicky has a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, a Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Management and a PgCert in International Arbitration. He is a Fellow of the RICS and one of the few RICS Certified BIM Managers. Nicky is a strong supporter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, promoting sustainability, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of life. Often invited to share knowledge at various industry events or as a trainer on QS / PM related topics, he is also passionate about innovation and the digitalisation of the construction and real estate sectors. His motto is “Don’t be the same, be better”. Read More
A chartered quantity surveyor, arbitrator, adjudicator, and commercial mediator with over 30 years’ experience in engineering, construction, project management, contract management and dispute resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, and Australia. As Operations Director of Kentz Corporation PLC, Joseph was responsible ... for both commercial and operations management of all African mega-construction projects, portfolio + US$ 500M, inclusive of Oil & Gas, Power, Mining & Infrastructure projects. Key Clients served included Sasol, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, GE Power, Vale, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Eskom, Transnet, Anglo American to mention a few. More recently recruited as expert consultant to Eskom for the new build capital power program to provide improved real time management oversight, assurance and project controls on all Group Capital projects including new coal megaprojects, hydro schemes, overhead line infrastructure and gas power delivery projects. Joseph is highly experienced in contract strategy, project management, preparing/evaluating/defending of claims both from customer and contractor perspective including dispute avoidance and resolution. He has a thorough understanding of the NEC, FIDIC and client bespoke forms of contract. He has demonstrated extensive leadership capability in engineering and construction sector with specific focus on project execution, mentoring, training, and upskilling. Jospeh is a Fellow or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, a Fellow of the Association of Arbitrators (South Africa), an accredited project manager trainer with NEC Contracts, London. Read More
Tribunal Member, Tax Appeals Tribunal
Bernadette who holds a Masters Degree in Valuation & Property Management, is a Chartered Surveyor and Registered and Licensed Valuer in Kenya with 40 years’ experience in Real Estate Valuation and Consultancy in SSA with specialisation in valuation of Wildlife Conservancies and Conservation Easements and an expert ... in valuation related disputes. Bernadette is Board Member International Valuation Standards Council- IVSC representing SSA where her role among others is to promote Valuation Standards in SSA. Currently Bernadette is a member of Tax Appeals Tribunal where together with other members hears and determines tax related disputes in Kenya. Prior to joining the Tribunal she was the RICS Partner Development and Public Affairs Manager in Sub Saharan Africa up to December 2023. Bernadette also served as the Director and Head of Valuations at Knight Frank Kenya where she was involved in valuations in most of the African Countries where Knight Frank was not represented such as Seychelles Mauritius Ethiopia Eritrea South Sudan Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo. Bernadette is passionate about Real Estate Valuation and Consultancy and in her career she has trained and mentored many young professionals who aspire to take up a career in real estate in East Africa. In this regard and in appreciation of her successful career, she was awarded Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) by the President of the Republic of Kenya in 2006. Read More
Valuation Lead, Roshn
Shamas Khan is a real estate professional with over 16 years of experience in appraising and managing real estate across the EMEA region. Shamas has spent over a decade working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he has contributed significantly in various capacities to the growth of the real estate sector. Currently ... serving as the valuation lead at Roshn, the Kingdom’s national developer powered by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), he oversees the valuation of the land bank and conducts appraisals on sites considered for acquisition. Prior to joining Roshn, Shamas led the valuation department at Colliers KSA, splitting his time between the Riyadh and Jeddah offices. During this period, he led numerous high-profile valuation assignments, working with leading real estate and financial institutions including PIF and associated entities, Cenomi, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and JP Morgan, and was instrumental in driving the department's growth. Shamas is also a member of the Investment Committee at Wahed, a sharia-compliant investment platform, where he evaluates potential investment opportunities presented by real estate and technology startups and entrepreneurs seeking funding. Read More