HKA installs leadership team for integrated Asia Pacific business

22 September 2022 Consultancy.com.au

Global consulting firm HKA has installed a new Asia Pacific-wide leadership team, hot on the heels of the firm’s decision to unite its Oceania and Asia practices into a single, 150-strong integrated business.

The new executive team is led by Benjamin Highfield, who most recently served as Head of Asia and now oversees HKA’s operations and team in nine offices across seven countries.

Highfield is flanked by a six-strong team comprising Alistair Mein, Amelia East, Jonathan Humphrey, Kourosh Kayvani, Nicky Batt, and Shamila Neelakandan.

HKA's Asia Pacific Leadership Team

Earlier this week, HKA brought together its Oceania and Asia teams to capitalise on “several synergies”, said Global CEO Renny Borhan. “The synergies between the units have been apparent for some time. With our new investor onboard [Pai Partners] it is the perfect time to bring the regions together, and it’s the next step in HKA’s evolution as a business.”

Highfield added: “The merger of our Australia, New Zealand and Asia practices has created a stronger team in terms of experience, ambition and ability to provide services at various levels. It enables us to grow and enhance our service offerings for clients, and colleagues can enjoy the benefits of working together across the wider region.”

London-headquartered HKA specialises in risk mitigation, dispute resolution and litigation support within the capital projects, construction and infrastructure sectors. The award-winning consultancy works with law firms, contractors, corporates, operators and other professional services firms.

An overview of the Asia Pacific leadership team:

Benjamin Highfield
Function: CEO of Asia Pacific
A claims and disputes specialist with over 15 years of major project experience in the construction industry, Highfield advises clients on commercial and contractual matters, as well as claims management and dispute resolution.

Alistair Mein
Function: Head of Operations
Mein is a senior advisor with over 20 years of experience on major infrastructure projects, organisational development and transformation programs, as well as the planning and oversight for major urban renewal projects. Most recently, he was the Head of Oceania.

Amelia East
Function: Head of Advisory
East is a qualified solicitor in New Zealand, England and Wales and has nearly 20 years of industry experience in construction, infrastructure, water, and energy. She has worked across a broad range of commercial, financial, infrastructure, transport and implementation projects in global companies, central and local government.

Jonathan Humphrey
Function: Head of Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages
Humphrey is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in forensic accounting. He has been appointed as an expert more than 50 times in commercial and investment treaty cases, dealing with matters of damages and quantum.

Kourosh Kayvani
Function: Head of Forensic Engineering, Architectural & Technical
Kayvani is a Chartered Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience. As a technical expert, Kourosh has been cross-examined in litigation and has delivered expert reports for disputed projects and structural failures in steel structures, long-span roofs, industrial processes and infrastructure.

Nicky Batt
Function: People Director
Batt has more than 25 years of experience as a people leader in operational human resources and organisational development in Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and globally.

Shamila Neelakandan
Function: Head of Construction Claims & Expert Services
Neelakandan is a dual-qualified lawyer with 25 years of legal, contracts and commercial experience in the construction industry. Her experience includes tender negotiations, procurement, commercial strategy and claims management.

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