Our Team

Val O’Brien

Managing Director
BSc. (Hons) MSCSI MRICS Dip. Proj. Man.
Val set up the practice in 1997. Prior to this Val was the manager of the building surveying department in Lisney and worked in the UK for a leading firm of Chartered Building Surveyors. Val qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1989 and has 27 years post qualification experience. Val is the longest serving building surveyor member in the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Val is an active member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and is a past chairman of the building surveying division. Val’s area of speciality is in the field of landlord and tenant with a particular emphasis on the responsibility for repairs and the preparation and defending of schedules of dilapidations. Val is also a specialist in defect analysis and building pathology. Val has given a number of seminars over the years on dilapidations and building surveys. Val is a regular contributor to the Irish Times Property Clinic column on Thursdays and has set out practical advice to the readers’ enquiries. Val is also a spokesman for the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and features regularly on National TV and radio programmes. The practice will be 20 years old later this year and Val has built up a strong and dedicated team and continues to train and grow the team to meet our client’s needs. Val is a great believer in teamwork and puts the success of the practice down to the reliability and dedication of all the staff.
086 2500 692 val@vob.ie

Ronan Harlin

Associate Director
BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying MSCSI MRICS
Ronan joined the practice in 2000 having previously worked with Thornton & Partners from 1995 to 2000. Prior to this Ronan had worked in an onsite capacity with Pierse Contracting Ltd. and McInerney Contracting Ltd. on various large private and public building and civil contracts. Ronan studied and completed his B.Sc.(Hons.) Degree at Dundalk Regional College and completed a subsequent Diploma in Building Surveying from the College of Estate Management in Reading (UK). Ronan qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor in 2007. Ronan specialises in the field of professional services including landlord and tenant surveyors and pre-purchase / pre-acquisition surveys on both commercial and residential properties. Ronan has also been involved in the project management of significant projects involving both commercial and residential building contracts.
086 836 4557 ronan@vob.ie

Dermot Kerr

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying
Dermot graduated from Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2001 with a BSc. in Building Surveying. He gained employment for a year as a Site Engineer working on a number of large scale developments in the Dublin area and gaining valuable insight and experience in a variety of different aspects of construction during this time. In May 2002 he joined Property Claims Direct Ltd. where he specialised as an Insurance Loss Assessor for the following three years. In June 2005 Dermot joined our company where he has since been involved in the entire spectrum of Building Surveying services currently provided by us and is regarded as one of our most valued employees.
086 388 7650 dermot@vob.ie

Michal Bernacki

MSc Civil Engineer
Michal has a masters degree in the field of Civil Engineering specialising in the Theory of Structures. He is a member of Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers. He joined the firm in 2006 having previously worked as a Site Engineer on some large projects such as Doppelmayr cable car, hydroelectric power station, steel bridges, stone towers, retaining walls and town sewers in Poland. Since joining the company Michal has been involved in land surveying, setting out, measured surveys, planning applications, preparation of 2D and 3D technical drawings, design of steel, concrete, timber and masonry structures, site inspections and company computer network administration. He is proficient in the use of various engineering software packages and surveying equipment such as total stations, GPS instruments, levels and laser instruments. The variety in Michal’s educational background and work experience means that he has a range of skills which can be applied to a number of projects. Michal’s strengths lie in precision, accuracy and professionalism.
086 807 2006 michal@vob.ie

Aidan McDonald

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying MSCSI MRICS
Aidan joined the practice in 2008. Graduating from the University of Ulster @ Jordanstown in 2008, he successfully completed his assessment of professional competency in 2011 becoming a Chartered Building Surveyor. Aidan is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a past Young Chartered Surveyors (YCS) Building Surveying committee member. Aidan has significant experience in a wide range of Building Surveying specialisms, including Preparing, responding to and negotiating settlements to Schedules of Dilapidations, Commercial and Residential Building Surveys, Contract Administration, Preparing, Reviewing and Agreeing Schedules of Condition for Commercial Leases and Defects Analysis.
086 088 5251 aidan@vob.ie

Rory Flaherty

BSc (Hons.) Building Surveying
Rory joined the practice in 2007 after graduating from Dundalk Institute of Technology with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Building Surveying. Rory has experience in a wide range of domestic and commercial Building Surveying duties, including contract administration, commercial and residential building surveys, defect analysis, condition surveys, planning permission, fire safety and disabled access certificate applications and property mapping. He has also previously worked as a Site Engineer with J.J Rhatigan& Company on the construction of Heuston South Quarter Dublin and on construction works in Sydney, Australia. Rory is currently undertaking his APC for membership of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
086 816 2995 rory@vob.ie

Trevor Halpin

BSc (Hons.) Building Surveying
Trevor brings a wealth of practical experience as a Building Surveyor to the practice. Trevor has worked in the construction industry for over 20 years, and worked as a building contractor on both residential and commercial projects; across the spectrum of new builds and renovations. Since qualifying as a Building Surveyor, Trevor has worked in the Property Management industry where he was responsible for the management of large scale multi-unit residential developments – prior to joining the practice in January 2014. Since joining the practice, Trevor has been involved in a wide range of domestic and commercial building surveying services. This includes measured surveys, Planning Applications, Fire Safety Certificate Applications, Specifications, Schedule of Works, Tendering, Contract Administration, Assigned Certifier and Project Managing Building Contracts. Trevor has also been involved in undertaking dilapidation surveys, condition surveys, snag lists, insurance claims and re-reinstatement valuations.
086 8729294 trevor@vob.ie

Noel Traynor

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying
Noel joined the company in June 2016 after graduating with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Building Surveying (First Class Honours) from Dundalk Institute of Technology. As a qualified Carpenter & Joiner, Noel has over 11 years’ experience in the construction industry. Since joining the company, Noel has been involved in a wide range of Building Surveying duties, including commercial and residential building surveys, defects analysis, measured surveys, condition surveys, reinstatement cost assessments, dilapidation surveys and project management. Noel is currently undertaking his APC for membership of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
086 326 2364 noel@vob.ie

Nathan Adair

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying
Nathan joined the practise in June 2016 after completing a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying at the Dundalk Institute of Technology. Since joining the company, Nathan has experience in a wide range of building surveying duties including, commercial and residential surveys, measured building surveys, dilapidation surveys, schedule of condition reports, defect analysis, land registry mapping and reinstatement cost assessments. Nathan is currently undertaking his APC for membership of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).

Fiona Sloggett

Fiona joined Val O’Brien & Associates in 2000. Fiona works part time doing accounts for the company. Fiona previously worked as a PA for PR Company, GCI Group in London. Fiona enjoys music, swimming and following sport especially soccer.

Gillian Whelan

Gillian joined Val O’Brien & Associates in February 2003 in a secretarial / PA role. Prior to that she worked in Lisney Auctioneers Building Surveying Department for over 3 years and in Agilent Technologies as PA to the General Manager for 4 years.

Leanne Spain

Leanne joined the company in August 2005 in a secretarial / admin support role having previously worked in Henry J Lyons & Partners Architects for over a year as a studio assistant.

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