Michelle McMillan is promoted to Director for Canada
Why did you choose to specialise in the resolution of construction disputes?
I am a Civil Engineer by education. One of my first assignments was working on the Owner’s team for the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, at the time the tallest buildings in the world. I just naturally fell into the role of negotiating disputes on the project and my project manager suggested this might be a career path for me. I have now been loving working in the dispute resolution area of construction for over 25 years, so I guess it was good advice.
Why did you choose to join the Driver Group?
There are so many reasons as to why I decided to join in 2020, but on the top of my list was the people I would be working with, underpinned by the company values and ethos. The Driver Group genuinely has some of the most talented people I have worked with to date. They are not only technical, project and claims specialists, but they are also experts at collaboration and communicating knowledge. The company’s ethos, “Worldwide Expertise, Delivered Locally”, means that we combine our industry knowledge with a real understanding for the intricacies of our local markets. This enables us to give our clients the best possible service and outcomes.
Your promotion to Canadian Director, what are you looking forward to?
I am excited to take on the challenges in my new role, but I have big shoes to fill. Kevin O’Neill who was my predecessor, was the second employee of Driver Trett Canada when we entered into the Canadian market in 2014. Following in Kevin’s footsteps, I’m looking forward to leading our diverse and talented Canadian team and continuing to expand our local and global presence.
What do you enjoy the most?
Outside of my daytime responsibilities, I enjoy teaching at the University of Calgary as part of their Project Management Certificate program. I enjoy learning from and teaching others.
Approaches to resolving constructions claims in Canada have evolved over the past 25 years, and I hope to continue working with the construction industry to resolve construction disputes quickly, fairly, and in the most cost-effective ways possible.
Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you.
Prior to my career as an Engineer, I spent many years studying to be a classical singer. However, I promise to never respond to my cross-examinations in song.