CONFERENCE HOME

FEES

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LOCATION & EVENTS

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Welcome Reception

Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel

Opening Speeches and Keynote Address

Ismail Essa - DRBF Representative for South Africa and Conference Chair
Jeremy Glover - President, DRBF Executive Board of Directors
Ann Russo - Executive Director of the DRBF

From Eisenhower Tunnel and Katse Dam - The Evolution of Dispute Boards

The Dispute Board process has a long rich history in the construction industry, originating in Colorado with the Eisenhower Tunnel, with many notable projects leading up to today.

Moderator: Joe Allegro - DB Practitioner and Past President, DRBF Region 1 Board

Romano Allione - DB Practitioner
Andy Griffiths - DB Practitioner

Break

Africa Roundtable: Opportunities and Challenges Implementing Dispute Boards 

This session will include representatives from all aspects of the DB process throughout the Africa region, including financiers, DB practitioners, contractors, and employers.

Moderator: Suzanne Rattray - Rankin Engineering Consultants

Frank Mvula - Procurement Manager, African Development Bank
David Ofosu-Dorte - Senior Partner, AB & David Law
Riaan de Necker - Managing Director, Roads & Earthworks Division, Wilsom Bayly Holmes Ovcon
Daniel Cherono - Civil Engineer
Bwalya Lumbwe - Managing Consultant, Incipio Construction Auditing and Project Management

Lunch sponsored by 

Building Bridges Through Institutional Support

The essential role of FIDIC, NEC, ICC, RICS, MCC and other organizations provide essential leadership in the implementation of Dispute Boards globally. 

Moderator: Ann Russo - Executive Director, Dispute Resolution Board Foundation

Alain Jacquet - Chairman, ICE-SA and NEC
(TBA), FIDIC 

Break

The State of Disputes
Assessing trends from research and identifying takeaways for the next chapter in Dispute Board application

Moderator: Shan Greer, Dispute Board Member and CEO, BVI International Arbitration Centre

Charles Blamire-Brown - International Arbitration Partner and London Head of Construction Advisory Disputes, Pinsent Masons LLP
Aisha Nadar - Runeland Law
Cathy O'Brien - Principal, O'Brien & Company
Vaughn Hattingh - Procurement Specialist
Yoko Takebayashi - Senior Deputy Director, Loan Procurement Policy and Supervision Division, Infrastructure Engineering Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Close of Day

Welcome Dinner and Al Mathews Awards Presentation

Pigalle Restaurant *registration required*

Navigating Construction Disputes in Mining Projects: Experiences and Strategies

Explore experiences and specific challenges encountered in the mining sector, with a look at the BHP Pilop Program in Chile, several contracts in Africa, and dispute resolution clauses in ECPM contracts.

Moderator: Giorgiana Tecuci - Partner, Tecuci Paltineanu

Marcela Radovic - Radovic & Asociados SpA
Harry Tolkiev - Senior Commercial Manager - Mining Projects, BHP
Philip Loots - Solicitor
Henry Musonda - Projects Director, KM Associates
Xavier Leynaud - Leynaud & Associes

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Efficient Resolution of Disputes

This session will demonstrate methods by which a Dispute Board may leverage AI tools to identify potential conflicts, provide advice to the parties, and to enhance efficiency in the decision-making process. Through practical insights and real-world applications that are discussed in the optional AI Workshop, the presenters will demonstrate real-time innovative approaches to DB procedures.

Dick Appuhn, -Dispute Board Member
Oskar Ljungqvist - Consulting Engineer
Samuele Semi - Contract Manager

DRBF Practice Guides: Improving DB Implementation

Key takeaways from the DRBF's latest Practice Guides covering essential topics such as Guideline for the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Dispute Boards, DB Member's Guide to Effective Site Visits, and DB User's Guide to Effective DB Member Appointments.

Moderator: Graham Easton - Dispute Board Member and Chair, DRBF Publications Committee

Oskar Ljungqvist - Best Practice Guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence by Dispute Boards
Joe Allegro - Best Practice Guidelines for DB Site Visits
Ian McIntyre - Best Practice Guidelines for DB Member Selection

Looking Ahead: The Next Frontier for Dispute Boards

Moderator: Ann Russo - Executive Director, DRBF

Jeremy Glover - President, DRBF Executive Board 
Joe Allegro - Past-President, DRBF Region 1 Board of Directors
Ian McIntyre - President, DRBF Region 3 Board of Directors
Marcela Radovic - President, DRBF Region 4 Board of Directors

Lunch sponsored by 

Optional Afternoon Outing: Group Tour to Robben Island