CHRIS ALBERTSON
Titahi Bay,Wellington
Summary
Senior Quantity Surveyor with 11+ years' experience delivering complex and multi-site commercial construction projects. Brings strong commercial governance, contractual clarity, client relationship management and people leadership. Experienced in mentoring project teams, improving forecast accuracy, and leading variation strategy and entitlement maximisation. Current focus within Naylor Love Wellington across, education and civic portfolios, with additional governance experience as Chair of Onslow College Board of Trustees.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Chair, Board of Trustees
01.2022 - Current
- Onslow College
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Naylor Love
Wellington
01.2021 - Current
- Provide commercial governance across multiple projects: cost forecasting, risk registers, variation/claim strategy and subcontract administration.
- Support PMs and senior site leaders with contractual clarity, programme interfaces and client reporting.
- Lead monthly commercial reviews; improve reporting accuracy and visibility of cost-to-complete and cashflow.
- Projects: Wellington Town Hall; Mana College Redevelopment; Wellington East Girls' College; City Gallery; Te Ngākau Loading Dock; Tauhara Geothermal Power Station; P&I works.
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Hawkins Ltd
Wellington
01.2014 - 01.2021
- Reported to Regional Commercial Manager; embedded within project management teams (e.g., Rolleston St Apartments).
- Led a QS team of three covering head contract, subcontracts and commercial delivery; trained and mentored QS cadets.
- Delivered multi-site work at Callaghan Innovation (Seaview), balancing four different client–consultant teams and two Client PMs.
- Portfolio mix: 13 projects under $5m; 4 up to $10m; 2 over $30m.
Owner/Builder
Albertson Construction Ltd
Wellington
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Hands-on delivery of residential construction and renovation with end-to-end commercial and subcontract management.
Carpentry Apprentice
J G Chamberlain Ltd
Wellington
01.2007 - 01.2009
Carpentry Apprentice
Armstrong Downes Ltd
Wellington
01.2005 - 01.2007
Education
Bachelor of Engineering Technology - Civil Engineering
Open Polytechnique
Wellington, NZ01-2032
New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health & Safety Practice -
01.2020
New Zealand Diploma in Construction - Quantity Surveying
01.2019
National Certificate in Carpentry -
01.2009
B Bursary -
Wellington College
01.1996
Skills
- Cost management & forecasting
- Contract administration
- Claims/variations
- Programme integration
- Resourcing
- Stakeholder engagement
- Client reporting
- Tender inputs
- Buildability
- Methodologies
- Cost planning
Governance And Community
- Co-Chair, Onslow College Board of Trustees, 01/01/22, Present
- NZ Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS), Wellington Committee Member
Hobbies and Interests
- Cooking
- Kenpo Karate
- Mountain Biking
- Home Renovation
References
Available on request.
Selected Achievements
- Strengthened relationship with RCP and WCC, becoming a go-to team to troubleshoot issues within the Te Ngākau precinct.
- Managed multi-site programmes and stakeholder interfaces at Callaghan Innovation across four concurrent sites.
- Mentored QS cadets and new QSs at Hawkins, contributing to capability uplift and consistent commercial discipline.
- As Onslow College Chair I rebuilt a fractured relationship with the Ministry of Education and secured funding for a new classroom block.
Core Capabilities
- Commercial & Contractual Oversight (forecasting, risk & opportunity management, claims & variations)
- Portfolio Leadership across multiple concurrent projects (education, civic)
- Client, Consultant & Stakeholder Relationship Management (e.g., RCP – Te Ngākau precinct)
- Operational Governance: programme, QA, resourcing and monthly contract reviews
- Mentoring & Development of QS/PMs; building high-performing teams
- Pre-construction support: buildability, methodologies, programming, tender inputs
Timeline
Co-Chair, Board of Trustees
01.2022 - Current
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Naylor Love
01.2021 - Current
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Hawkins Ltd
01.2014 - 01.2021
Owner/Builder
Albertson Construction Ltd
01.2010 - 01.2014
Carpentry Apprentice
J G Chamberlain Ltd
01.2007 - 01.2009
Carpentry Apprentice
Armstrong Downes Ltd
01.2005 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Engineering Technology - Civil Engineering
Open Polytechnique
New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health & Safety Practice -
New Zealand Diploma in Construction - Quantity Surveying
National Certificate in Carpentry -
B Bursary -
Wellington College