More than 85 participants took part in the Masterclass event in Abu Dhabi focusing on risk assessment, managing change, delay and disruption within the construction industry.

The event, organised by construction consulting firm Hill International in partnership with The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), was held at Abu Dhabi’s Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri on November 20 and 21.

The Masterclasses were established in 2000 with Hill International and the CIOB and are now run in six countries throughout the world, with other countries to be added for 2008, the organisers said in statement.

“We have trained over 1,050 delegates so far; the Masterclass course is carefully tailored for each location in which it’s held,” said Stuart Wilks, senior manager at Hill International UK, “The interest in the subjects of Delay and Disruption in the construction industry are reaching unprecedented levels which is reflected in the impressive number of attendees that have participated today.”

“The UAE is growing at an incredible rate, but the need to involve foreign investors and large international contractors will inevitably mean that there is likely to be a growth in claims that would, in the past, have been settled amicably by local parties with long-standing commercial relationships,” said Hill’s Construction Claims Group Vice-President and Executive Director William Kennedy.

Speakers at the Abu Dhabi Masterclass included “Delay and Disruption in Construction Contracts” author Keith Pickavance, Head of 2tg International Arbitration and Projects Group Michael Black; Craig Shepherd; Angus McFadden and Hill International Executive Director Geoff Bewsey.

“Delay and Disruption is unfortunately an inevitable feature of even the best run construction projects. If properly managed delay and disruptions need not result in major disputes, that’s why the Masterclass was initialised to contribute to the determination and evaluation of delay and disruption claims in UAE projects,” said Hill International Executive Director Geoff Bewsey.

“The Masterclass provides an up-to-date briefing of the issues affecting the construction industry in the UAE, as well as an opportunity to network with others in the industry and discuss topics of concern,” said Pickavance.

“I believe that the Hill Masterclass is an important event. It provides an opportunity to meet, and make, relationships with important participants in the regional engineering and construction industry. I have also been privileged to hear several of the speakers on more than one occasion and I never fail to learn something new,” said Black. – TradeArabia News Service