2002 to date

2005 [May] to date

Director Denis McNicholl Technology Ltd; Independent Geotechnical Consultant practising in project management, tendering strategy for difficult sites, geotechnics, prevention and remediation of construction failures.
Lecturing in geotechnics, risk management and allied subjects in UK, Asia and Australasia
Geotechnical Adviser, GSE Group Avignon, working on overseas projects, providing ad-hoc advice and guidance on geotechnical and earthworks during tender and execution of international D and B projects. Recently working on projects Romania, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, France, Poland, and China. Also occasionally in other countries.

1998 - 2003

Director, Wardell Armstrong China Limited – Responsible for carrying out consultancy projects from the Hong Kong office in China and Hong Kong SAR.

1991 - 2002

Partner, Wardell Armstrong - - Head of Construction Engineering Group. 

1980 - 1991

Hong Kong Government

1984 - 1991

Hong Kong Government - Hong Kong Housing Authority – Corporate management responsibilities One of five divisional heads managing a £600M p.a. construction programme. 

Head of Engineering - Responsible for all civil, structural and geotechnical aspects of £600M p.a. capital works and £100M p.a. maintenance programmes; land surveying and laboratory services. Very large developments (individual contracts up to £30M with excavation of 3M cu.m.) and several reclamations including sea walls 40+m. deep.  Foundation programme, £50M per annum, included deep basements and several difficult Karst sites.

Chief Civil Engineer (1980 - 1984) - responsible for all civil and geotechnical aspects of the HK$300M p.a. programme.  Civil engineering schemes included very large site formation schemes in mountainous terrain on the edge of the urban area. [Promoted from senior engineer’s post in Government’s Geotechnical Office]                     

Committee Work

1995 - 1997

Chairman of CIRIA Steering Group for research project on Engineering in Glacial Tills. CIRIA is a Government Sponsored Construction Industry research Body.

1994 - 1997

Elected member of CIRIA's Programme Advisory Committee for ground engineering.  1995 became Vice Chairman. 

1990 - 1991

Project Director for Hong Kong Government sponsored £300,000 study into quality management practices in the Hong Kong construction industry

1990 - 1991

Project Manager, Hong Kong Housing Authority: Construction Performance Assessment Scoring System.  Devised scheme for assessing contractors' performance and for awarding preferential tendering opportunities.  Project management of study, design of prototype scheme including computerisation and full-scale implementation in a £600M p.a. building construction programme.

1984 - 1991

Alternate Chairman of performance review committee overseeing building contractors.  Chairman of review board for civil and piling contractors and for selection of engineering consultants.

1986 - 1991

Hong Kong Government Committees: Member of Government Committee on Quality Assurance.  Member of Government Committee researching marine and land sourced fill for new Airport and Ports initiatives and of the Government's Advisory Support Committee for Science and Technology.

Selected Project Experience

2008 to date

2008

2005 - date

Advising TEVA UK Limited an international Pharmaceutical company , on the development of a new facility being constructed on reclaimed land in Yorkshire
Providing advice on Risk Management and control of old tailings dams and waste structures for IMERYS and SLR Geotechnics
International Development projects.

Working as part of a management contractor’s team advising on construction techniques and geotechnical processes on difficult sites. Currently working on a 24,000 sq.m medical facility in Tatabanya northern Hungary. Helped to complete 60,000 sq m. project in Zagreb in 7 months. Recently working in China on 120,000 sq m engine plant in Wuhan and 2 no 50,000 sq.m projects in Shanghai

2002 –2005

Wardell Armstrong and various Confidential clients: Project management.
Advising on the Development of difficult sites. Investigating construction failures of various types, preparation of reports and occasional presentation of expert evidence.

2004

Applied Technology Group Singapore: delivered training Courses in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Brisbane

2004

Galliford Try: Investigating failures of a 12m high fill slope in Warwickshire and preparation of expert report. Evidence accepted in adjudication and Galliford was awarded damages

2004

Henry Boot Developments Ltd: Successfully presented expert evidence on risk associated with Gypsum dissolution. Evidence uncontested.

2004

Clifford Chance & Multiplex– Wembley National stadium : Investigation of defects in materials and building systems

2003

UK Foreign Office and Government of St Helena
Advice, consultancy and training on managing landslide risks

2002 –date

Various Clients and Universities: Lecturing in risk assessment, geotechnics and project management includes Trinity College Dublin & Stellenbosch South Africa. Also includes 5 week project in St Helena.

2001

Hong Kong Housing Authority :

[I] Study on the use of PFA in high rise buildings

[ii] Studied scheme for assessing and remediating defects in buildings.

1997 -2001

Hong Kong (SAR) Government: Study of safety management practices in USA, France, UK, HK and China. Personal assignment was establishment of site working practices in France and UK through site visits and audits.  Preparation of new Technical Memorandum and Draft Code of Practice.