About the Webinar:
The profession of the Architect is often romanticised by the media. From the individualistic genius who defies convention in Ayn Rand’s 1943 novel The Fountainhead, to the egotistical maniac who ignores the client’s requirements in Monty Python’s Architect Sketch, the profession is perceived as glamorous and mysterious at the same time. Architects are portrayed as people who wear black, wear bow ties, have a disdain for clients who do not understand their art, spend time sitting at a drawing board or admiring a model (an architectural model, that is), and wear hard hats while pointing vaguely at something in the distance. In reality, the practice of architecture is far more serious.The Architect carries heavy obligations and responsibilities, with sobering consequences should the Architect fail to fulfil them. Apart from owing a duty of care to the client, the Architect has an added responsibility unique to Singapore – that of the qualified person (QP). The QP plays an important role as Agent of the State to effect policy, and to protect national and public interests.

Webinar participants will be able to watch and listen to (via computer audio, recommended for security reasons, or telephone line) the video presentation and Q&A discussion on their screens, as well as participate in the Q&A discussion by sending in your questions to the moderator via text using the built-in Q&A function.

Catherine Loke obtained her Bachelor of Planning & Design in 1989 and Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) in 1992 from the University of Melbourne. She has worked briefly in Melbourne & Kuala Lumpur, and in Singapore since 1993. She has been a Registered Architect since 1998 and partner in Lander Loke Architects since 1999. As a practitioner, Catherine believes in hands-on involvement and gives personal attention to the projects undertaken by her firm. Over the years this has given her in-depth skills, knowledge and experience in the complete process of delivering a wide variety of projects (residential, commercial and industrial), from design and documentation to contract administration and code compliance, as well as the use of technology to enable more effective delivery. Catherine is currently the First Vice-President of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and also serves as Chairman of the Small & Medium Architectural Practice Committee, Architects' Appointment Committee and the SIA Minor Works Contract Working Group. She regularly speaks on practice and building contract matters at the annual SIA Practice Convention and SIA Continuing Professional Development seminars. Outside of SIA, Catherine served as the Chief Examiner for the Professional Practice Examination under Section 15.(2)(a)(ii) of the Architects Act (Cap.12), from 2014 to 2016. She was also a member of the BCA BIM Legal & Contractual Workgroup in 2013. She has previously given talks at the Society of Construction Law, and is currently Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, teaching architectural practice.

 

Edwin Lee is one of the founding partners of Eldan Law LLP. Practising for more than 25 years, Edwin is accredited by the Singapore Academy of Law as a Senior Specialist in Construction Law. He is also cited as a leading Singapore construction law practitioner in Euromoney’s Guide to the World's Leading Construction Lawyers (2017). The Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2017 has cited him as “an authority on domestic construction adjudications”. Edwin sits on the SMC Construction Adjudicator Accreditation Committee, which oversees the selection and assessment of adjudicators. He has conducted hundreds of adjudication cases, variously as counsel, adjudicator and review adjudicator. Edwin is also an accredited adjudicator in Malaysia. Edwin has also argued many of the landmark construction law court cases. As an active advocate, he ranks as the construction law advocate with the highest number of reported court judgments. Apart from his active legal practice, Edwin is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the National University of Singapore, Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and a trainer for the Building & Construction Authority on Construction Law. Edwin is the co-author of Confidentiality in Arbitration (2007), a general editor of the annual Singapore Construction Adjudication Review, and the Construction Law editor for the Singapore Academy of Law’s online journal SAL Practitioner. He is the author of the book Building Contract Law in Singapore (2016, 3rd Edition).

 

About the Chairperson:
Ar. Darren Benger – Director, VivATA Pte Ltd; Council Member, Society of Construction Law (Singapore)

Darren received his Bachelor of Architecture degree with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide, Australia in 1995, and registered with the Board of Architects, Singapore in 2001. Darren received the Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration (GCIA) from the National University of Singapore in 2008. Since 1996 Darren has resided in Singapore, and he is currently a Director of VivATA Architects Pte Ltd. Darren is Past Chairman of the Society of Construction Law (Singapore). Darren is also a Fellow member of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. Darren's involvement in the Singapore Institute of Architects includes election to Council for the 2007/08 to terms, and he has actively participated in various SIA committees, including involvement in the Building Contracts Committee since 2007/08, and the ADR Committee since 2008/09 (as chairperson since 2012/13). Darren is also on the SIA Panel of Expert Determinators. Darren has contributed as lecturer/tutor to the building contracts module of the Architectural Practice course for the National University of Singapore - School of Architecture since 2009. Darren has served as an expert witness in various Court cases and arbitrations, including one of the first experts 'Hot Tubbing' cases in the SGHC.