Expert profile
Highlights
- Over 25 years of project and engineering experience.
- Acted as a dispute resolution practitioner on over 35 occasions.
- Specialises in forensic investigation of multi-disciplinary engineering and design disputes.
- NEC Accredited Project Manager and FIDIC Certified Contract Manager.
- Broad sector experience through all phases of the construction process.
- Bilingual in English and Afrikaans.
Industries
Buildings | Transportation Infrastructure | Mining & Metals | Power & Utilities
Expertise
Francois Spies is a construction project management professional with over 25 years of experience. He has assisted the named technical expert on several occasions.
Francois acts as a dispute adjudicator, arbitrator, and mediator. He is a certified expert witness with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He has supported experts at international mediations and arbitrations in mining and engineering disputes relating to execution phase design and construction, mining operational matters, and business case risk transfer and liabilities, with values of up to $300 million.
Francois specialises in forensic investigations of engineering and design issues, including risk, commercial, contract, claims, and dispute management. He is knowledgeable and trained in international arbitration rules such as LCIA, UNCITRAL, AFSA, and AoA.
Background
Francois has a background as an employer, contractor, and consultant in EPC and EPCM project models and has led heavy engineering projects through all construction phases. His hands-on project experience covers multi-disciplinary engineering and design, project planning, estimating, budgeting, cost control, procurement and contract management, construction, and commissioning. He has been involved with international greenfield, brownfield, and live site projects, including operational readiness planning, de-bottlenecking, and performance ramp-up of operations.
Francois is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Association of Arbitrators, and the Institute of Construction Claims Practitioners. He has completed the advanced professional award in expert witness evidence training, and is a registered and accredited project manager, certified contracts manager, accredited risk management professional, and a BSi lead auditor. He is also an accomplished presenter and ICE-approved NEC3 and NEC4 tutor, having presented multiple training courses.
Qualifications
PMP
PMI-RMP
RICS Certified Expert Witness
NDip Electrical Engineering
AoA – Mod 5 Construction Law Specialisation
BSi Lead Auditor
FIDIC Certified Contract Manager
NEC3 and NEC4 Accredited Project Manager
Pr.CPM
Professional Memberships
FCIArb, FAArb (SA), FICCP, MAPM, SCL (Africa)
