The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

Mick Donaghy
  • 4.6 (5)
  • CAREERS

The Take Off is a Specialist Quantity Surveying Podcast showcasing the journey's of Quantity Surveyors Globally. Each week, your host, Mick Donaghy will interview a leading Quantity Surveying Entrepreneur or Leader within the Built Environment to share their story. Our goal is to educate, inspire and offer advice for Quantity Surveyors navigating the globally construction industry. As we all know, construction is a people business and we as people are fundamentally, imperfect. Which is part of the reason why we all love stories. The Highs, the Lows and the continued Battle to be Better.

  1. 1 JUNE

    EP 166 | Leadership, Loyalty, and Letting Go—A Raw Chat with Neil Watson

    When Neil Watson moved to Australia, he had no job, no network, and no shortcuts.Now he's a Director at Savills Australia & New Zealand. On this week’s Takeoff Podcast, Neil unpacks:🔹 Restarting his career at 30🔹 Going from QS to project lead🔹 Building relationships over chasing titles🔹 Why six months on-site changed everything It’s honest, practical, and proof that patience does pay off. 👤 Connect with Neil here: Neil Watson🚀 Powered by GedonExecutive.com #TakeoffPodcast #ConstructionLeadership #GedonExecutive #CareerRestart #QS #AustraliaConstruction

    43 min

  2. 18 MAY

    EP 165 - The power of Making one Hard Decision and sticking to it

    What happens when your dream dies before you’re even 25? Lachlan Stuart—men’s coach, ultra-endurance athlete, and founder of The Man That Can Project—shares his transformation from a lost ex-rugby player to a global leader in men’s mental health and performance. You’ll hear:  The mindset shift that changed his life  How selling supplements sparked personal reinvention  What 58 marathons in 58 days taught him about pain, purpose, and leadership  The real cost of chasing success the wrong way  Why most men don’t need more advice—they need direction Whether you're in a season of growth, burnout, or recalibration, this conversation will meet you where you are—and challenge you to take full ownership of your life. Listen now and get ready to redefine what you're capable of.  Sponsored by GEDON Executive We place elite PreConstruction and PreControl™ talent across Ireland, the UK & Australia.  Connect with Lachlan Stuart Website: www.themanthatcanproject.com Instagram: @lachlanstuart LinkedIn: Lachlan Stuart

    1h 7m
  3. EP 164: Stop Guessing. Start Delivering — with Megan Smith, Adrian Budiono & Dan Butterick

    4 MAY

    EP 164: Stop Guessing. Start Delivering — with Megan Smith, Adrian Budiono & Dan Butterick

    In this roundtable, we go deep into project deliverability — how to actually get things built on time, within budget, and without the usual chaos. I’m joined by three absolute guns in the quantity surveying game: 👉 Megan Smith (DCWC) 👉 Adrian Budiono (Genus Advisory) 👉 Daniel Butterick (RPS) We talk about how QSs can make or break a build, why you should never tender without a clean cost plan, how to spot risk early, and the brutal truth about Australia’s design-delivery misalignment. If you're building anything over $1M, this episode is worth every second. Brought to you by GEDON — for companies who take construction delivery seriously. Want to level up your cost strategy? Visit the link. 🎙️ Reach the guests: Megan Smith – LinkedIn Adrian Burdiono – LinkedIn Dan Butterick – LinkedIn Follow the show, drop a review, and tag us on socials if something hits. We know it will! #QuantitySurveying #Construction #ProjectDelivery #CostManagement #TakeOffPodcast

    1h 7m
  4. EP 163 | 50 Years of Lessons with Colin Addley from Addmore Services

    20 APR

    EP 163 | 50 Years of Lessons with Colin Addley from Addmore Services

    From the Burj Al Arab to billion-dollar resorts in Las Vegas, Colin Addley has spent over five decades shaping skylines across the globe. In this episode, the Founder & President of Admore Services joins us to unpack the real cost of delivery, the offshore model vs. traditional recruitment, and how to build high-performing QS teams—without compromising quality. 🌎 With experience across the UK, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., Colin brings hard-earned lessons in -quantity surveying - project management - scaling teams internationally. 🚀 We talk: Quantity surveying from the 1980s to now How to manage projects across five continents What outsourcing gets right (and wrong) Why experience still matters in the age of AI 🔗 Connect with Colin AddleyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinaddley/Website: https://addmoreservices.com/ — 🎧 Brought to you by GEDONCheck them out: www.gedonexecutive.com

    1h 8m
  5. EP 162 - The skills gap is worse than ever with Rachel Bermoy from Büteros

    6 APR

    EP 162 - The skills gap is worse than ever with Rachel Bermoy from Büteros

    🚀 The engineering skills gap is real—and it’s only getting worse. Graduates coming out of uni? Zero real-world experience. Companies losing top talent? Because there’s no proper training. AI taking over? Not a chance—human mentorship is still king. In this episode of The Take Off Podcast, I chat with Rachel Bermoy, founder of Buteras, about how we fix this mess. We get into: 🏗️ Why the industry is failing young engineers 🎓 How real mentorship & training can change everything 🤝 Why connecting retired pros with new talent is a game-changer 💡 AI vs. human judgment—who wins in engineering? 🚀 Rachel’s move from engineer to entrepreneur & what she’s building If you’re in engineering, construction, or just trying to figure out your next move, this one’s for you. 🔗 Listen now! 🎙️ Sponsored by GEDON Executive Recruitment  GEDON helps top firms find the best talent in construction & engineering worldwide. 📩 Need the right people? Contact info@gedonexecutive.com #TheTakeOffPodcast #Engineering #SkillsGap #Mentorship #WorkforceTraining #Construction #AIinIndustry #CareerGrowth

    1h 2m
  6. EP 161 - Improving the view of Estimating & Cost Management in Australia with Reiss Draper, Mathys Olivier, Tony Avsec & Matt Miles

    23 MAR

    EP 161 - Improving the view of Estimating & Cost Management in Australia with Reiss Draper, Mathys Olivier, Tony Avsec & Matt Miles

    Most people still don’t understand the true value of a QS. In this roundtable episode of The Take Off Podcast, Mick Donaghy is joined by some of the best in the business: 🎙 Mathys Olivier – Director, Slattery🎙 Tony Avsec OAM – National Cost Planning Manager (Defence), Built🎙 Matthew Miles – Director, Melrose🎙 Reiss Draper MRICS – Associate Director, MBMpl Pty Ltd Get ready for a incredible conversation on: 📉 The QS skills gap—why the industry is struggling to train the next generation🏗️ The future of estimating—how AI & tech are reshaping the profession💰 The problem with cost management—why clients still don’t ‘get it’📚 Education & mentorship—fixing the talent pipeline before it’s too late As experienced QS professionals retire in droves, who’s stepping up to fill the gap? This episode is a wake-up call for the industry—whether you're a QS, estimator, or just want to understand why cost management is so critical. 🎙️ Sponsored by GEDON Executive RecruitmentGEDON connects top talent with leading construction & cost management firms worldwide.📩 Need expert QS professionals? Visit www.gedonexecutive.com #QuantitySurveying #Estimating #CostManagement #QS #Construction #SkillsGap #AIinConstruction #CareerGrowth #TheTakeOffPodcast

    52 min
  7. EP 160 - Is construction STILL operating like it’s the 1970s? With Ralph Montague, from ARCDOX

    10 MAR

    EP 160 - Is construction STILL operating like it’s the 1970s? With Ralph Montague, from ARCDOX

    For an industry worth $12 trillion, construction is shockingly inefficient. Projects run late. Budgets get blown. 30% of materials end up in skips. Meanwhile, manufacturing? ✅ Faster. ✅ Cheaper. ✅ More efficient. So why is construction STILL operating like it’s the 1970s? In this episode, Mick sits down with Ralph Montague, co-founder of ArcDox and BIM Heroes, to talk about how Building Information Modeling (BIM) is forcing the industry to evolve—whether it likes it or not. They cover: 🏗️ Why contractors resist efficiency (and how it’s costing them money) 📉 The global skills shortage—why construction is desperate for digital talent 🤝 Why collaboration—not competition—will drive the industry forward 💰 How companies actually using BIM are making more money The industry is changing. The question is: Are you adapting? Or getting left behind? 🎧 Listen now: [Insert Link] #TheTakeOffPodcast #BIM #ConstructionTech #DigitalTransformation #Efficiency #PreControl

    59 min

  8. 2 FEB

    EP 159 | What's behind our big move to Ireland with Mick Donaghy

    a New Start in Ireland 🇳🇿➡️🇮🇪 In this episode of The Take Off Podcast, powered by GEDON, Mick shares why he left Australia and moved back to Ireland. He dives into: 💰 The skyrocketing housing costs in Australia & New Zealand 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 How family values influenced his decision 🌍 The advantages of being closer to Europe for business & lifestyle 🔍 His vision for GEDON and the future of recruitment with ‘Pre-Control’ If you’ve ever faced a big career or life decision, you’ll relate to this one. 📲 Listen now: [Insert Link] 💬 Have you ever moved for a better future? Drop your thoughts below! 👇 #TheTakeOffPodcast #GEDON #MovingAbroad #HousingCrisis #ConstructionCareers

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Take Off is a Specialist Quantity Surveying Podcast showcasing the journey's of Quantity Surveyors Globally. Each week, your host, Mick Donaghy will interview a leading Quantity Surveying Entrepreneur or Leader within the Built Environment to share their story. Our goal is to educate, inspire and offer advice for Quantity Surveyors navigating the globally construction industry. As we all know, construction is a people business and we as people are fundamentally, imperfect. Which is part of the reason why we all love stories. The Highs, the Lows and the continued Battle to be Better.

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