SPEECH BY 2M INDRANEE RAJAH AT SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS AND VALUERS (SISV) INAUGURAL AWARD CEREMONY

Good afternoon. I am happy to join everyone here today at the inaugural Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) – Quantity Surveying Division’s Award Ceremony.

Today, we celebrate the achievements of our quantity surveyors (QSes) to honour their behind-the-scenes contributions to Singapore’s built environment.

Importance of Quantity Surveyors

QSes play an important role in the smooth delivery of development projects. Beyond managing budgets, QSes also ensure the efficient allocation of resources and provide advice to clients on areas such as risk management and contract administration.

As Singapore embarks on the next phase of nation building, from renewing our towns and infrastructure to building more homes within our communities, we will need to continue relying on our BE professionals, like yourselves, to help turn our ambitious development plans into reality.

Embracing Transformation

The built environment is also undergoing rapid transformation. Going forward, we need to continue to evolve the way we plan and build in Singapore. Digital estimating tools, data analytics and integrated project management platforms are changing how costs are planned and how ops and delivery decisions are made for projects.

As technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and robotics, mature, we must be agile to seize the opportunity to harness them. Leveraging on their capabilities will allow us to improve our workflows, enhance decision making and deliver better project outcomes.

Many of you will be familiar with how time-consuming it can be for QSes to come up with cost estimates of “star rate” items. The industry average rate is five man-days of iterative quotation sourcing, validation and computation.

However, with the use of AI, this timeline can be shortened. For example, by implementing AI-assisted workflows, LCH Quantity Surveying has reduced the time spent to an average of just 2 hours for straightforward cases. The time saved has allowed their QSes to provide more value-added services, such as procurement strategy advisory and value engineering services, to their clients.

I am glad that many of our QS firms have embraced new technologies and championed transformation in their areas of work.

BCA has also made co-funding available through the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and the Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) Grant to support our firms.

As more existing workflows get automated, we must reimagine the QS profession and rethink how we can provide greater value-added services to clients.

QSes will need to move higher up the value chain to stay competitive in the new landscape. This could include providing more integrated services with other BE professions, strategising project risk management, providing dispute resolution support, amongst others.

Roles, functions and business models would also need to be re-evaluated to stay ahead of the curve. I encourage everyone to push the boundaries and always be on the lookout to seize the opportunities as they emerge.

Nurturing the Next Generation

As we transform the QS profession, we must also ensure that we continue to attract and grow a strong pipeline of BE professionals to take our industry forward. I am glad that SISV has been stepping up its outreach efforts and introducing more secondary school and Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) students to the work of BE professionals.

SISV has also been working with our IHLs to develop “Specialist Contracts and Cost Engineering” specialisations for students in BE-related courses. However, we must double down with our efforts if we are to be successful in attracting the best and brightest talents.

For instance, the profession could better educate parents, teachers and students on the important work of QSes, the skills and aptitude required, and the remuneration and career progression opportunities available.

QS firms also need to design quality internship experiences, offer attractive remuneration and rewarding career development opportunities to draw in, groom and retain talents. I call upon all our QSes to support SISV’s efforts.

Whether it is mentoring younger colleagues, hosting interns or reaching out to prospective talents, your contributions go a long way in strengthening the profession.

Take for example, Mr Stanley Chang from Rider Levett Bucknail (RLB). Having benefited from mentorship by senior QSes, Stanley has since grown into a seasoned practitioner, with extensive experience of working on complex projects both in Singapore and abroad.

Today, he pays it forward by volunteering actively as an ambassador for the profession and mentoring his juniors. Over the past few years, he has conducted sharing sessions at more than 15 secondary schools and has inspired many to join the BE sector.

Thank you, Stanley and many others who have stepped up to contribute. I look forward to more QSes joining us in making the BE careers the careers of choice.

Conclusion

Let me conclude. To support the next bound of national development, all of us will need work together to embrace technologies, reimagine the QS profession, and strengthen our talent development efforts.

I would also like to congratulate to all award winners for your remarkable achievements.

Thank you and have a good day ahead.