Barend is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with more than 15 years’ experience providing cost management and commercial advice across the UK, Middle East and South Africa. He has worked on major residential, hospitality, commercial, mixed-use and regeneration projects, with particular experience in luxury and super-prime developments.
Barend studied Quantity Surveying before qualifying as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in 2016. His experience spans the full project lifecycle, from early feasibility studies, benchmarking and cost planning through procurement, tendering and value engineering to post-contract cost management and final account negotiation.
Prior to joining Rohan Short in 2026, Barend worked on a number of complex, high-profile developments in the UK and Middle East. His London experience includes a super-prime residential scheme in Mayfair incorporating extensive five-star hotel, spa, leisure and private amenity facilities, together with a major civic regeneration project in Whitechapel involving the restoration of the Grade II listed former Royal London Hospital building, and the addition of a new build extension. He has also led the commercial management of an ultra-luxury villa development in Dubai comprising 88 villas, a sales centre, public realm and supporting infrastructure, as well as a landmark luxury hospitality development in Abu Dhabi.
He has particular expertise in cost planning, procurement strategy, value engineering, tender analysis, change control, risk management and financial reporting, with experience across both pre- and post-contract stages.
Barend brings a commercially focused and pragmatic approach, with a strong track record of managing complex projects and working closely with clients, design teams and contractors to maintain cost certainty and support informed decision-making.
