Andrew Ling

Project Manager, Forge Group, Australia

Graduated in 1987

Andrew Ling is a Project Manager for Forge Group Ltd based in Australia. He manages multi-million dollar Design and Construct projects and his line of work has seen him working worldwide in a variety of roles. He worked as Operations Director for the construction of The Pearl Islands in Qatar – a string of man-made islands in the Arabian Gulf developed as a planned mixed-use community. Andrew studied a HND in Civil Engineering at Birmingham Polytechnic (now Birmingham City University), graduating in 1987, following which he went on to achieve the status of Chartered Professional Engineer – the highest level of engineering industry recognition.

Andrew developed his CV working in the UK for nine years following graduation, working on various projects, before relocating to New Zealand where he worked for 11 years as a project co-ordinator, director and manager. He then moved to Qatar where he worked on multiple projects in Qatar, Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Syria and Libya, before relocating to Australia in 2009, where he lives and works today.

His course enabled him to spend two periods of six months based on site gaining practical experience which he says was the best part of his study.

He said: “Being a sandwich course, I had the opportunity to gain practical, on site, industry experience. I believe that this increased my value to future employers. The course gave me rounded basic knowledge of both design (the consulting environment) and construction (the contracting environment). Having spent my two placements in a contracting arena, I elected to pursue my first full time job in the consulting arena. This meant that I had a thorough understanding, and experience of, both sides of the construction fence. I have always found this beneficial, especially in my current role where I am managing both consultant design staff as well as direct contracting staff.

“While at Birmingham, I was exposed to the civil engineering trade magazines, most notably New Civil Engineer Magazine. The scale and complexity of foreign projects featured in the magazine was always of interest. When the UK construction industry went into depression in the late 1990s, I decided to pursue overseas opportunities where the industry was more stable, plus the fact that offshore projects on my CV are a significant enhancement to career advancement.

“The course and my job have a complete day to day relationship. Everything I studied is of relevance to what I undertake in my current position. The teaching was excellent and provided excellent technical and practical foundation.”

Andrew says the best thing he did was undertake an overseas posting, and recommends working internationally to students. Of his career to date, it is the opportunity to live and work in multiple overseas countries on world class projects and mentor junior staff that he has most enjoyed and is most proud of. His intentions for the future are to continue in his present role, living in Perth, Australia.