Maxwell Tonkin

Professional Details

Profile

Max is a Chartered Professional Engineer with more than 45 years experience in building and engineering projects, including 25 years in contract development, contract administration and dispute resolution.

From 2001 until 2005 Max was General Manager, Procurement Systems in the NSW Department of Commerce (formerly Department of Public Works and Services, now Department of Finance, Services and Innovation). The Department managed a very extensive building and engineering capital works program for the State. Max was responsible for tendering and contracting systems for construction projects. He provided advice to the Minister and Department officers on all aspects of building and engineering construction contracts, including contracting strategies, commercial terms, selection of service providers and contract administration. From 1995 to 2001, Max was Manager Contracts, responsible for the management and resolution of construction contract disputes by mediation, expert determination, arbitration and litigation. Since leaving the public service, Max has specialised in statutory adjudication of contract disputes.

Max is a senior adjudicator, accredited under the Building and Construction Industry Security Payment Act 1999 (NSW), equivalent Acts in Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and South Australia, and the Construction Contracts Act 2004 (WA). He has completed more than 550 adjudications since 2003 dealing with payment claims of up to $350 million involving complex legal, engineering, building and commercial issues.

In May 2013, Adjudicate Today appointed Max to the role of Chief Adjudicator, NSW. In that role, Max mentors newly accredited adjudicators and provides on-going guidance and assistance to adjudicators at all levels. Max is also the principal trainer for Adjudicate Today and has undertaken adjudicator training programs under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Acts in NSW and Victoria.