The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

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.

The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Mick Donaghy, with 173 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mick Donaghy hosts The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast, a business show with 173 episodes published.

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  The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

  EP 173 | The realities of moving to australia as a QS

  Dec 14, 20251 hourS0

  <p>What’s it really like moving to Australia as a Quantity Surveyor?</p><p>In this episode of The Take Off Podcast, Mick breaks down the reality of relocating overseas to build a career in construction — from starting out on site and improving communication skills, to navigating different construction cultures across Europe and Australia.</p><p>The episode explores the pressures of early career decisions, the value of hands-on site experience, and why mastering construction fundamentals still matters in an industry increasingly shaped by AI. Mick also reflects on working on globally significant projects, including stadium developments at FC Barc...

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  The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

  EP 173 | Alberto Fernandez – Senior Cost Engineer at Amazon on Stadiums, AI and a Global Career in Construction

  Dec 7, 202557 minS0

  <p>From small family contractors in Spain…<br>to working on the Camp Nou redevelopment for FC Barcelona…<br>to leading cost strategy for Amazon across Europe and beyond.</p><p>In this episode, We're joined by Alberto Fernandez, MRICS chartered quantity surveyor and Senior Cost Engineer at Amazon, to talk about a truly global career in construction – and how AI is about to reshape the industry.</p><p>Alberto shares how early days on site with a labour–owner taught him the realities of construction, why he left Spain during the financial crisis to improve his English in Australia, and how...

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  The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

  EP 172 | Joey Hidalgo – Founder & CEO of The Measuring Company on Engineering, Entrepreneurship & Estimating at Scale

  Nov 30, 202548 minS0

  <p>What happens when an electrical engineer, estimator, and salesperson becomes a construction tech founder?<br />You get The Measuring Company — and one of the fastest-growing remote estimating models in Australia.</p><p>In this episode, Joey Hidalgo, Founder & CEO of The Measuring Company, breaks down his journey from the Philippines to Australia, the flaws he saw in traditional estimating, and how he built a global team delivering measurement, estimating and procurement support for builders and subcontractors.</p><p>Joey shares:</p><p>Why most builders lose profit long before a job starts</p><p>The true bottlenecks in estimating te...

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  The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

  EP 171 | Joseph Stewart, Director of JS Held - A Deep Dive Into Quantum expert Work

  Nov 24, 202553 minS0

  <p>What does it really take to become a quantum expert in construction?</p><p>In this episode of The Take Off Podcast, Joe Stewart, Director at JS Held, shares how he went from a 16-year-old university student in Scotland to a trusted figure in dispute resolution and expert witness work.</p><p>Joe breaks down:<br />⚖️ The real difference between QS and expert roles<br />📋 How adjudication and arbitration actually work in practice<br />🧠 Why mastering fundamentals still matters in expert work<br />🤖 The power — and danger — of AI in claims and analysis<br />📉 Why tier-one contractors are pulling back from high-risk...

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  The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

  EP 170 | Orla Kellehan - Chartered Quantity Surveyor at John Sisk on a Life as a Female QS, Mother & Leader in the Global Construction Sector

  Nov 16, 202556 minS0

  <p>Can you build a high-level career in construction without giving up your personal life?</p><p><br />Orla Kellehan, Senior Quantity Surveyor at John Sisk & Son and chartered member of the SCSI and RICS, proves you can.</p><p>In this episode of The Take Off Podcast, Orla shares her 20-year journey through Ireland and Australia </p><p><br /></p><p>— from her early days juggling part-time study and site work, to becoming a respected voice for flexibility and inclusion in the industry.</p><p><br /></p><p>We dive into:</p><p>The realities of being a woman an...

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