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 over 30 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 is now over 25 years old, 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.

Ronan Harlin

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 BSc. (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 and has significant experience across the full range of professional services but generally specialises in the field of professional services including preparing, responding to and negotiating settlements to Schedules of Dilapidations, and pre-purchase / pre-acquisition surveys principally on commercial properties. Ronan has also been involved in the project management and contract administration of significant on site projects involving both commercial and residential buildings. Ronan is an active member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and currently serves on the Building Surveyors Professional Group Committee. He is also actively involved on the interview panels in which Graduate Building Surveyors participate with a view to achieving their professional Chartership.

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 / surveying industry for over 30 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, and prior to joining VOB in January 2014; Trevor worked in the Property Management industry where he was responsible for the management of large-scale multi-unit residential developments. Since joining VOB, Trevor has been involved in a wide range of domestic and commercial Building Surveying services. This includes Measured Surveys, applications for Planning / Fire Safety / Disability Access Certificates, Tendering, Contract Administration, Assigned Certifier and Project Managing both large and small-scale projects. Trevor was appointed General Manager of VOB in 2017, where his role expanded to include Business Development, Tendering and Procurement for VOB, and overseeing and scheduling workload for the Surveyors. Trevor continues to have an active role in general Building Surveying, with an emphasis on Project Management of large Fire Safety Audits and associated Remediation Projects, along with Conservation Projects.

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.

Noel Traynor

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying Noel joined the practice in 2016 after graduating with a BSc. (Hons) in Building Surveying (First Class Honours) from Dundalk Institute of Technology and is a Registered Building Surveyor. Noel is also a qualified Carpenter & Joiner and has over 20 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, schedules of dilapidation, measured surveys, condition surveys and project supervisor for the design stage (PSDS). Noel specialises in defect analysis, conservation, building investment funds, and contract administration along with lead consultancy and construction monitoring.

Barry McDonald

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying MSCSI Barry graduated from the University of Ulster Jordanstown in 2003 and has worked for Val O’Brien & Associates over 11 years split over two terms 2007 – 2015 and 2021 to the present day. Barry completed the Assessment of Professional Competency in 2009 and is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) as a Registered Building Surveyor under the Building Control Act, 2007. Barry has significant experience in a wide range of building surveying specialisms, including commercial and residential building surveys, BCAR (S.I. 9 of 2014) and the role of the Assigned Certifier. Barry also has broad experience with project management of construction projects at all stages from concept, planning, design, tendering and contract administration services. Barry frequently assists our clients with dilapidations issues, defects analysis and repair works. Outside of work, Barry enjoys a busy family life and is involved with the GAA and other sporting clubs in his area.

Nathan Adair

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

Eoghan Duffy

BSc. (Hons) Building Surveying Eoghan joined the practice in June 2023, having graduated from Dundalk Institute of Technology in May of 2023 with a BSc. (Hons) in Building Surveying. In his time here he has gained a broad range of surveying experience including commercial and residential surveys, measured building surveys, dilapidation surveys, schedule of condition reports, fire safety remediation works, land registry mapping and reinstatement cost assessments. Eoghan is currently enrolled in the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) process and is working towards obtaining his chartered accreditation and registration.

Denisa Hojda

Denisa joined the company in 2021 in a secretarial / admin support role.

Fiona Sloggett

Fiona joined Val O’Brien & Associates in 2000, bringing considerable administration experience to the company. Fiona previously worked in London for PR firm GCI Group, as PA to the MD and prior to that as PA to the MD of London architectural firm, Alain Bouvier Associates. Over the years with Val O’Brien & Associates, Fiona has been responsible for general office management, and she also carries out the role of accounts manager.

Leanne Spain

Leanne joined the company in August 2005 in a secretarial / admin support role and is now a valued member of the accounts team. Leanne previously worked as a studio assistant in Henry J. Lyons & Partners Architects.