RICS chartered quantity surveyors making a positive difference in Australia and around the world
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24 March 2025
Governments around the world have been making significant investments in infrastructure and also dealing with the ongoing issue of housing affordability and shortages.
With an overall infrastructure spend of $112 billion in Australia there are critical shortages in quantity surveyors, construction project managers, building control surveyors (certifiers) and land surveyors.
We asked one of RICS’s most dynamic quantity surveyors in Australia, Lewis Skittrall FRICS, Commercial Manager at Sarah Constructions in Adelaide, to take time out of his busy schedule to share his views on RICS, what it represents and why it’s important in the Australian context.
So why RICS?
When deciding on my university application, I wanted a career that offered flexibility and variety rather than the repetitive nature of a standard desk job. Surveying appealed to me because it provided the chance to work in diverse locations and on different projects each year, ensuring that no two years would be exactly the same.
The course I chose was accredited by RICS, which aligned well with my long-term goals. After completing my degree, the possibility of working internationally was very appealing, and I wanted to keep that avenue open. The RICS qualification offered the perfect stepping stone to achieving that and it continues to open doors for me globally today.
The choice has really paid off as my day-to-day responsibilities vary widely and can include overseeing the financial performance of projects, assessing and mitigating risks for both ongoing and new projects and identifying opportunities for optimisation.
There are elements of legal and contractual arrangements or leveraging relationships with key clients and stakeholders to ensure outcomes that are mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
Essentially my focus is on balancing profitability with strong partnerships, ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining financial health and mitigating risks.
Lewis Skittrall FRICS
What does RICS mean to you?
Being an RICS Fellow and an RICS chartered quantity surveyor means upholding the highest standards of professionalism and expertise in the field.
For me, achieving the MRICS was my first goal after I graduated.
It’s comparable to a lawyer passing the bar or a doctor completing their residency. I really feel like it’s an important benchmark of excellence that only a select few reach each year.
I take immense pride in this accreditation, which is the foundation of my training and practical knowledge.
My role requires a deep understanding of both the technical and contractual sides of construction projects, to help assist and train our project teams and becoming an RICS chartered quantity surveyor has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to perform these tasks with confidence and precision.
How has RICS helped you in your career?
Being a chartered surveyor has opened numerous doors for me throughout my career. Beyond advancing my career in the UK, being a chartered quantity surveyor has allowed me to work internationally, particularly in Australia.
One of the key advantages of being a chartered surveyor is that employers in Australia recognise the high standards and professionalism associated with this qualification.
It gave prospective employers confidence in my abilities and provided me with a platform to demonstrate my expertise in a new market.
The qualification signifies that you have met rigorous professional standards, which opens up opportunities for advancement and mobility. Additionally, being part of the RICS network connects you with like-minded professionals who share similar values, which can be invaluable for networking, mentorship, and career growth. It's more than just a qualification—it's a community of professionals dedicated to excellence.
The most exciting thing that you are seeing in your field today?
The Adelaide Aquatics Centre Redevelopment team at my firm, Sarah Constructions, have been putting their focus on the use of BIM tools and techniques to enhance the time, cost and quality of the project including the use of photogrammetry using drones.
It involves the drones following a pre-mapped flight path taking 600 images which are then stitched together and geolocated for conversion to a point cloud integrated into the model environment.
This is allowing us to verify the installation positions of as built services enabling us to conduct additional quality checks to ensure that there hasn’t been any human error prior to the construction project progressing to the next stage. This is helping us avoid costly rework and identify any errors early.
Using BIM tools and techniques to enhance the time, cost and quality of the project including the use of photogrammetry using drones.
We’re also using this technology to plan site logistics. It’s proving particularly useful for planning crane lifts well in advance. The technology allows us to include the crane in the model environment incorporated into the fabrication quality structural steel model and drone point cloud. This is a huge time and cost saver as we can ensure the crane fits in the proposed area while ensuring our crane pad base preparation is properly completed.
This technology is also providing a crucial means by which office-based staff can view and understand more about the build sequencing process for such a large infrastructure project.
How do you see RICS chartered surveyors contributing to the future of construction?
RICS chartered surveyors with their global outlook, connections and focus on global best practice are well placed to help lead the construction sector in Australia, APAC and around the world.
Our members have so much experience, enthusiasm and such an impressive network of people and thought leadership to draw inspiration and knowledge from that I feel that we are the natural custodians of the future of construction. We can’t help but lead and pioneer best practice and more productive outcomes for our clients and the community that we ultimately serve.
About Lewis Skittrall FRICS
A specialist professional in commercial management, Lewis leverages his extensive industry experience in both Australian and overseas markets to implement a strategic approach to enhance commercial and operational delivery. Integrating a robust operational background with comprehensive commercial knowledge, Lewis systematically evaluates opportunities for process improvement, aiming to optimise the efficiency of project teams. His contributions span from macro-level time management considerations to intricate individual personnel management, thereby advancing business process management practices within the industry. Lewis is the chair of the RICS South Australia Member Engagement Group and a member of the RICS Australasian Regional Advisory Board.
