People Spotlight: Meet Vincent Liebenberg

Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting a cost manager from our Buildings + Places business in the Netherlands and providing an insight into their inspiration and work. 

Vincent Liebenberg has around 20 years of experience working across multiple sectors including infrastructure, theme parks, residential and hospitality projects across the globe including in London, Dubai and Egypt. He and his team of quantity surveyors and cost managers are responsible for the management of project and internal cost and commercial tasks, and provide both pre- and post-contract services in public sector, mixed use, commercial, residential, and industrial projects as part of project management-construction management or only construction management services. 

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry. 

From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a sector that would provide me with a varied and challenging career — and more importantly, the opportunity to work internationally. My original plan was to pursue medicine, but my older sister sparked my interest in a career in construction when she decided to study quantity surveying. After completing my degree in South Africa, I immediately moved to London to begin my career. 

What I really enjoy about this sector is the variety of work; you can choose to specialize in a specific sector, or you can move across sectors and locations. I thrive off variety and challenge, so I knew from the beginning the latter approach would suit me better. 

As you jump between financial and contractual issues on projects, you must adapt and be like a chameleon. I really like moving across sectors as it allows you to find your sweet spot. Diversifying within a new field as an individual also helps stimulate growth and most likely you’ll be on a steep learning curve.  

What has been great at AECOM is the opportunity to work with our Centres of Excellence across the globe. This ensures a truly collaborative approach and positively impacts the success of a project. Being able to draw from specialist design, high-rise, urban development, sustainability or new technology teams, to name a few, allows us to offer our clients the expertise which might not be available in a domestic market. Similarly, sharing improved strategies, risk assessments, and situational awareness in real time strengthens the business lines across AECOM. 

What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why? 

It’s hard to pick just one, so there are two I’d like to highlight. The first being the YVIE Complex, which was the reason I joined AECOM. It’s an incredibly complex landmark project in Amsterdam-Noord, the Dutch capital’s coolest neighbourhood.  

Once complete, the YVIE complex will be a foremost venue for conferences and other events in Europe. Situated in the fast-growing Overhoeks district in Amsterdam-Noord, the YVIE complex contains a residential and hotel tower that will be the third tallest building in Amsterdam. It is a real privilege to have the opportunity to contribute to a project of this scale that will transform the city’s dynamics. 

I’ve also enjoyed the challenge of the project. Our scope spans project, contract, construction and design management, health and safety oversight, planning, cost control, and quality control. We are also managing design and scope changes, claims assessment, negotiation of revised contract terms, closing final accounts, overseeing the contractor’s schedule, and tracking milestones against onsite progress. 

This project survived the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, as well as exceptional inflation and, consequently, time delays. It’s a “feather in the hat” for the project team and our client to have overcome the compounded impact of these unprecedented events. 

The second project I want to highlight is short and fast-paced compared to the YVIE Complex project. Our cost management team was approached to conduct an asset appraisal for a client in Singapore. Our client lead was based in London, and I supported from the Netherlands. It’s a great example of a triangle of collaboration across three different geographies. Projects like this provide variety and hone dormant skillsets. A lot of the projects that I work on have long lead times, so I really enjoyed having something new and quick to turn around. This project is proof that the pandemic evolved the way we can collaborate on remote projects of any scale, as it gave me the opportunity to work with different colleagues and clients across the globe.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. 

I would again like to highlight the YVIE complex project, which aims to make Amsterdam Central a destination point. People commuting to the YVIE complex will approach the development by ferry, which provides a perfect photo opportunity with the cityscape in the background.  

It’s a project that looks at future mobility, aiming to improve the daily commute, and create a get-together point on the other side of the city. It will transform the area, improving the quality of life of the community and bringing new people to the location to visit, work and live. This project is an enabler of future footfall to a new region masterplan, which can only happen if you have anchor attractions. 

Share a piece of career advice. 

Find a career that will suit your character, as this will ensure its longevity and your enjoyment. For me, that’s a career that provides a variety of working environments, balancing being in the office and on site. 

Finally, as per a quote from Sir Richard Branson, I’d suggest sticking to the edge rather than becoming conversant in the middle. It will, more likely, lead you to take on new responsibilities and aid your career progression.