Day in the life - Ryan McPherson
Ryan is a highly experienced construction professional who has worked on rail, civils, infrastructure, health, highways and mechanical and electrical projects in the United Kingdom, Middle East and Australia ranging up to AUD$2.4bn in value.
In this piece, Ryan talks about life as a Senior Contracts Consultant with Systech, his typical day, working internationally and the advice he would give to others looking to start a career with Systech.
Why did you join Systech?
Having worked alongside Systech on a major project in Glasgow, I was impressed by the calibre of personnel and standard of claims work Systech produced, which was a major attraction to become part of the business. This coupled with the opportunity to travel and work around the world on major projects was a no-brainer and the kind of prospect I could not turn down.
What was the attraction of working in Australia?
My initial attitude when I joined Systech was that I was open to be based anywhere in the world having previously worked in the Middle East. The opportunity to live and work in Sydney was one I didn’t overly consider until it was proposed and I’m so grateful I made the jump.
For someone who likes to be around the city at night but spend the weekends at Bondi or Coogee beach it’s a one of a kind location. Or alternatively, after work on a Friday you can travel to places like Byron Bay and the Gold Coast in a matter of hours. With the current constraints the world is facing Australia is certainly the place to be and the construction industry is booming with no end to the number of major projects.
What work do you do for Systech?
As a Senior Contracts Consultant, I have found myself in a variety of roles providing support and assistance to various tier one construction companies. At present I am commercial lead for the head contract on a major rail project in Sydney
What is your typical day?
I’ll try to work out around 6am before work, with varied levels of success! The commute to my current project is roughly 25 minutes on the train from Surry Hills to Parramatta. A typical day would include advising our client on commercial matters and different strategies to maximise value recovery under the contract. After work I have started to make an attempt at playing golf.
What are the challenges?
The main challenge is managing the various disciplines, from the engineers to forensic delay analysts, to ensure we have accurate evidence to demonstrate and present our client’s claims. However, at Systech, I believe the variety of projects and environments provide an accelerated learning curve that has enabled me to adapt to any circumstance.
What training and support has Systech given you?
Systech has continually supported my development having sponsored me to do the LLM in Construction Law and becoming a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
The experience of working alongside Systech colleagues who hold a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the presentation of claims and producing expert reports has been invaluable to my learning.
What words of advice would you offer someone thinking of working for Systech?
Sign the contract! If you’re someone who is willing to work hard and enjoys travelling, Systech is the company for you. Throughout my time in Australia, Systech has provided me with the support to ensure my transition from the UK was seamless
How has working for Systech helped you achieve your career goals?
Working with Systech has enabled me to enhance my reputation within the Australian construction market much quicker than had I worked directly for a contractor or client. After three years of working on various major infrastructure projects I have been able to create a large network of construction and legal experts.
What has been your greatest achievement working for Systech?
It’s always great to have repeat clients who specifically request my assistance because of my past performance on their previous project.
Also, I have earned the responsibility to build and manage a successful Systech team from within the project. For example: I have increased my Systech team by 400% since joining my current project. This is testament to my client’s appreciation of the quality of our team and high value service we offer. So, I suppose my greatest achievement is that I have earned the respect and trust of my clients and my employer.
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