Our Team
After getting my degree in Spain as architectural technician, and later as civil engineer, I moved to Manchester (UK) back in 2012. There I started my connection with the quantity surveyor roll, working for a medium size contractor. Specialized mainly in refurbishment projects, I have worked with offices, schools, NHS health centres and hospitals. In 2018 I moved here in Denmark, working for Currie and Brown as project manager for an international client. After few months working for a UK based consultancy firm and later for Kosmos, I joined MOE Cost management department. There I have been working for almost 3 years in a variety of tasks, mainly at design stage but also at construction phase. Now I re-join Kosmos to hopefully help the team getting simplification, standardization, transparency and collaboration as the much needed foundations for the construction industry.
I’m motivated by how we can use and create value in construction project from data in the industry. From the very start of my career, I have had ICT and digitalization on my agenda. As a client consultant (bygherrerådgiver) I have been helping clients translate their digital needs into practical solutions and provide strategic advice on their digital setup for construction, handover and building operations. I have been a part of multiple projects and can see that the potential for managed structured data from digital quantity surveying (calculations of CO2, Cost etc.) is often not fulfilled. A potential that I have dedicated myself to fulfil now here in KOSMOS.
Benjamin has his background in the architecture industry, specializing in the early design phases of quality architecture projects. As a Construction Architect, Benjamin has hands on design phase experience - ranging from the outline proposal through to the client handover. His main tasks have been to navigate within the Danish building regulations and ISO standards, to ensure compliance between architectural design and any predefined regulations. He has experience working across multiple platforms used within the Danish construction sector, with most of the best practise software available. As an ICT-coordinator, Benjamin has experience making sure that the design teams have a shared platform to work from and how to take advantage of shared parameters within BIM-models.
After graduating with a degree in Quantity Surveying, I began working on various data centre projects throughout Europe, working for M&E contractors throughout the project execution phase. While working on these data centres for blue chip technology companies, it became clear to me that despite these companies being front runners in the development of new and innovative technologies, the construction methods being implemented on their sites were still very traditional. The massive scale of these projects has resulted in vast amounts of potential value creation being missed out on. Since joining KOSMOS, I have realised how much value can be created through the greater use of standardisation, digitalisation, and collection of quality data. I aim to continually bring this additional created value back to the client as I continue my career here at KOSMOS.
Cong Vu
Co-Founder / Chief Commercial Manager / Cost Manager /
+45 41761364
LinkedIn cong@kosmos.companyI believe that there are changes that are happening within the Danish construction industry in terms of commercial management of projects. The issuance of AB18, ABT18, and YBL18 is an inevitable result of a long process of globalization and modernization in the industry, which had clarified and identified clear demands and responsibilities in economy management in the project. Together with KOSMOS co-founders and colleagues, we share a belief that simplification, standardization, transparency, and collaboration are keys to improving how we deliver our projects commercially. Cost manager/Quantity surveyor would manage economy in a clear process, professional manner, and operating in all phases as a ‘stand-alone’ discipline, and at the same time have close collaboration and frequent dialog across other disciplines in project.
Click to read my story
Elia Gonzalez Salas
Co-Founder / Commercial Manager / Quantity Surveyor - BIM 5D specialist
+45 41760341
LinkedIn elia@kosmos.companyI envision a change in mindset that moves us to develop better practices even when there is not a latent problem. Having abundance won’t prevent us finding a better way to utilise the resources available. In the construction industry we generally work with alot of funding for our projects. This won’t let us lose sight when it comes to better optimisation of the investment, be it time, money or efforts. We would rather not waste it over time due to poor planning or lack of control, even if the budget can afford it. There is no need to find a problem when looking for better solutions. There is no need to waste resources if it can be transformed into a better return.
Click to read my storyI graduated from the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology with a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology and Construction Management in 2014. Later that year I moved to London to work as BIM Coordinator at Foster + Partners where I got to work on some truly amazing large-scale projects such as Battersea Power Station in London and Ferring’s new headquarter, Soundport, in Kastrup, Copenhagen. During my time as a BIM Coordinator I enjoyed the great design challenges and collaborative work that comes from working within BIM, but I decided that I wanted to add more substance to my career and I wanted to be more directly involved with the clients. I set out to pursue a career as a Cost Manager and prior to working at Kosmos, I worked as an Assistant Cost Manager with Gardiner & Theobald and Rider Levett Bucknall where I worked on a wide array of projects ranging from Hospitals, Hotels, Pharmaceuticals, Shared Workspaces, Offices, Multi Complexes, Metro Stations, Schools, Spas to Theatres where I worked across all RIBA stages from early planning, concept, technical design, construction to handover. I find it immensely rewarding being trusted and developing a personal relationship with the client where I guide, advice and ensure they have their expectations met, feel secure and informed throughout the duration of the project.
Freja has extensive experience in commercial management/cost management both as a consultant and contractor from the UK and Denmark. She has spent years working in the commercial management department in the UK and has recently relocated to Denmark. Working in the UK on projects from £1m to £35m, using traditional procurement, design and build and PPP. She has worked on post contract as a Quantity Surveyor setting up subcontract contracts, , claims management and valuations. She also has experience within the expert witness industry handling quantitative assessments and analysis on adjudication claims. This experience has strengthened her understanding and knowledge of contract management and the value in robust contract structures. All the above have added to Freja’s commercial strength and make her a valuable addition to any team
Heather Griffin
Lead Creative / Designer /
As an information designer, I believe the key to introducing best practice, in any industry, is through communication. My role in Kosmos is not only to develop and convey a strong and fully integrated brand but to also facilitate the communication of the strategic production processes developed and practised by Kosmos and their vision which will be fully accessible industry-wide. Heather has an MA in Design of Experiences from the Sandberg Instituut and a BA in Visual Communications from DIT.
My interest into the field of construction came when I realized how much the whole industry could evolve, with the right mindset. I believe there is a lot of opportunity to optimize, both in the way of using new technology but also by changing people’s way of thinking. I have been working in civil with execution, with my main tasks being developing claims for work which were not included in the main contract. What I observed most doing my years in execution, is that the preparation for meetings about “costs”, most of the times either were pushed, or people came unprepared. This problem often happened because people going to these meetings rarely knew what the claims were about. A solution to this problem could be using true professionals handling the cost, from start to finish, and making the whole process of cost management more digitized. It’s a long process to change a whole industry, of how things are done and the use of newer technology, but I believe it’s a step in the right direction both in the form of earnings for the industry as a whole, but also to make the industry a whole less stressful.
Click to read my storyComing from a mixed background between architecture, construction management, and business, I have learnt that successful projects of all kinds do not emerge from a single idea or person but require extensive communication on different levels to achieve the greatest possible effect. As a trained architectural technologist and a professional BIM coordinator specializing in Revit, I see that the potential of BIM as a catalyst for an integrated professional practice is yet far from being utilized fully. During the years of my professional experience, I have gained a significant amount of understanding regarding project design stages and had a chance to realize that the technical aspects of my role were far less crucial than the planning, coordinating, and managing skills. I think the information approach to the project is a design problem deserving the same care and attention as the project schedule and management plan. By the next decade, the challenges of design integration will multiply not only by the increasing amount of data but also by the growing complexity and interconnectivity of decisions made by multiple consultants. I hope to help solve these industry issues when working together with Kosmos.
Patrick graduated from the Cork Institute of Technology with a 2:1 in Quantity Surveying in 2017. Since then, Patrick has grown his experience in two significant industries working as a Cost Manager in both Mission Critical and Pharma-based projects based in Europe, working alongside high-profile clients. Patrick has vast experience working with multiple contractors/project leads and liaising with multi-office-based personnel in a highly client-focused position, communicating with numerous clients daily through various mediums. Patrick has strong problem-solving skills from analysing cost and contractual issues that arise daily and developing practical solutions that protect the Client's interest and maintain the project’s schedule. Patrick has progressed his knowledge with pre-contract experience, having gained the opportunity to work alongside high-profile clients based here in Denmark working for KOSMOS. Keen to develop a solid work base relationship and knowledge in the Danish Construction industry, working alongside like-minded individuals on new and exciting projects.
I have been involved in construction for over 30 years as a 'cost guy' for; sub-contractors, contractors, private investors, cost consultants and engineers. As an expat I've enjoyed seeing how the issues of budget estimates, business cases and cost control are handled in different countries and cultures. I've also enjoyed the opportunities to specialise in highly specific sub-fields (master planning, business cases, MEP and claims). The marketplace is always changing / evolving and there are always gaps in the market.
Ross Griffin
Founder / Chief Commercial Specialist / Quantity Surveyor /
+45 41761603
LinkedIn ross@kosmos.companyI have a vision where we alter current processes, procedures and change how we deliver construction projects in Denmark. I believe that construction is a simple process, but complicated by the lack of clear planning and focus. Imagine if we mirrored the automotive industry where we treat construction as a multitude of different production processes. They must be clearly understood and strategically planned. Each piece comes before the next and this is clearly understood, pre-planned and optimised. The cost of designing and constructing would reduce dramatically if we brought a more scientific approach to these deliveries. This isn’t a difficult task and has already started to happen with BIM, we are already building virtually, what if we took it to the next level where 4D played a more interactive roll?
Click to read my storyClients we have personally worked with
Clients of KOSMOS
After getting my degree in Spain as architectural technician, and later as civil engineer, I moved to Manchester (UK) back in 2012. There I started my connection with the quantity surveyor roll, working for a medium size contractor. Specialized mainly in refurbishment projects, I have worked with offices, schools, NHS health centres and hospitals. In 2018 I moved here in Denmark, working for Currie and Brown as project manager for an international client. After few months working for a UK based consultancy firm and later for Kosmos, I joined MOE Cost management department. There I have been working for almost 3 years in a variety of tasks, mainly at design stage but also at construction phase. Now I re-join Kosmos to hopefully help the team getting simplification, standardization, transparency and collaboration as the much needed foundations for the construction industry.
Benjamin has his background in the architecture industry, specializing in the early design phases of quality architecture projects. As a Construction Architect, Benjamin has hands on design phase experience – ranging from the outline proposal through to the client handover. His main tasks have been to navigate within the Danish building regulations and ISO standards, to ensure compliance between architectural design and any predefined regulations. He has experience working across multiple platforms used within the Danish construction sector, with most of the best practise software available. As an ICT-coordinator, Benjamin has experience making sure that the design teams have a shared platform to work from and how to take advantage of shared parameters within BIM-models.
After graduating with a degree in Quantity Surveying, I began working on various data centre projects throughout Europe, working for M&E contractors throughout the project execution phase. While working on these data centres for blue chip technology companies, it became clear to me that despite these companies being front runners in the development of new and innovative technologies, the construction methods being implemented on their sites were still very traditional. The massive scale of these projects has resulted in vast amounts of potential value creation being missed out on. Since joining KOSMOS, I have realised how much value can be created through the greater use of standardisation, digitalisation, and collection of quality data. I aim to continually bring this additional created value back to the client as I continue my career here at KOSMOS.
We need cost managers/quantity surveyors to manage economy in a clear process, professional manner, and operating in all phases of the project as a ‘stand-alone’ discipline that at the same time has very close collaboration and frequent dialog with all other disciplines in project. For that purpose, we – Kosmos, step in to provide commercial control to your projects. Should we start working together to settle any economic chaos?
During my career as a Commercial Professional, I have had amazing chances to experience and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. There have been so much to explore, and so much to learn…
… In 3 years working with the Japanese companies and Korean giant Samsung, I was so amazed by how structured, organized, detailed, and hardworking they are. Gradually I observed and adapted.
… In 2 years working and studying in Milan – Italy through a full scholarship program, specializing in sustainable architecture and engineering, I have had invaluable experience in learning and applying innovative process in designing and managing project.
… In 7 years working with Australian company (HBP) and Belgian biggest contractor (Besix), I was impressed by the way they manage projects in long term plan with clear strategy and defined process. By this way, I was with the team that delivered successfully a mega hospital Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi – UAE which had construction cost of ca. 1,5 billion USD.
… So far, I had worked in Denmark for 5 years with one of the largest consulting company (COWI), where I experienced totally new working culture where innovation, independence, trust, collaboration, teamwork are set to the whole different level. Joining Accelerator program – a COWIs global fast track for top talent boosting leadership and business mindset for 18 months, I got good insights into the Danish construction industry and it also encouraged me with new ideas to expand my competence in commercial management to contribute to the current market.
Regardless of differences in companies, countries, cultural backgrounds, there is always the same thing that I have been experiencing: Business needs to generate Profit. Therefore project needs professionals to look after economy. There are architect and engineer who are good at designing because they enjoy drawing and calculating, there are planners who are good at planning because they like time scheduling. We are commercial professionals who love working with numbers to the bones and keep project economy in control and balanced. Let us do what we are best at, and together we could deliver a successful project.
As a building engineer, I began my professional career working as a building permit inspector for the Madrid’s city council in Spain. I acquired a deep technical knowledge as well as great experience when working with public entities. I moved to Denmark to train in BIM strategies and more sustainable construction techniques as part of a civil engineering programme. I began to work as a quantity surveyor assisting the design team of one of the biggest engineering firms in the country to target the budgets with their project deliveries.
Since then, I have focused my career developing better practices to integrate the commercial control of projects into the organization’s BIM development. To do so, I have spent the last few years working not only during the design phase but also earlier in the feasibility stage and later in the execution phase. This is important in order to accommodate the input and output to the highest possible value. Recently I have been working as an advisor, offering my experience from the lead consultant field to all clients interested in a better practice when it comes to commercial management.
Project costs, alongside commercial management, and cost management are aspects of a project that can add huge benefits when carried out effectively. The second priority is the project’s scope having Health and Safety at the core.
It needs to be clearly identifiable with every person’s role and responsibility shown. Execution and schedule, depending on specific Clients’ preferences, follow suit. Having these fundamentals correct is the key to unlocking a well organised and effective project implementation. This is all well and good discussing and reading about, but it ultimately comes down to the drive and willingness of the entire team to carry any project over the line. As the world evolves and changes so rapidly, the construction industry as a whole is very slow to change and adapt to new and innovative ideas. Here at KOSMOS, I believe we are at the forefront of bringing new and exciting Commercial and Cost management systems to any Clients needs and responsibilities when carrying out commercial requirements for a project. With my experience in both Mission Critical and Life Sciences projects across Europe, having these structures implemented correctly at the beginning of a project’s life is crucial; with so many moving parts, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and lost in the noise and confusion. Thus far in my career, I have been fortunate to have worked alongside hard-working and like-minded individuals with a passion for construction and comradery for bringing conceptual design to reality.
When I reflect on my career as a commercial professional in the construction industry, it feels that my entire life was leading towards a career of this nature. I grew up in the west of Ireland on a dairy farm and this forced me to develop certain skills at a very young age. It is the nature of farming I suppose. I was thought to drive a tractor, milk cows, manage cattle, machinery and equipment all from the age of 7. This early learning gave me an insight into the core operations of a business. My father taught me that if you can’t do it yourself, then it is not worth doing at all. This was always a strong family motto. On the farm I was taught to be a man of all trades, to be the farmer, the blocklayer, the concrete finisher, the metal worker, the mechanic, the accountant, the business man, the sales person and the procurement specialist. All of these professions needed to be carried out by the farmer.
With this understanding I began helping my father to build foundations for cattle sheds. I learned to mix mortar, (with a shovel by the way) pour concrete slabs using a wheel barrow. It was this early education that ignited my interest in the construction process. So when I was in high school it was only natural that I had a preferred interest in practical subjects like woodwork, technical drawing, art, and metalwork. It wasn’t until later years that I realised there was a profession that combined construction with my love for managing money. One day after a career guidance meeting I was introduced to a profession called Quantity Surveying. It involved construction but more importantly the manging of money within the industry. At 16 years of age I decided that this is what I wanted to do after high school.
I didn’t go directly into a bachelor’s degree but took a longer route. I began studying an AP Diploma course in construction studies, which focused on the process of design, measurement and estimating. Soon after I graduated I had an opportunity to work as a trainee estimator for the largest contracting company in Ireland named SISK and I never looked back. I have always had high aspirations and I knew that in order to achieve what I wanted I would have to complete my qualification. I decided to finish my bachelor’s degree through distance learning from Reading University in the UK. The next three years were a challenge because along with my 40hr work week I now had an added 20hr study commitment to achieve the course requirements. This took all of my spare time, evenings, weekends and a hell of allot of discipline. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Construction Management in 2007. Looking back I can see that this education hand in hand with working fulltime in the industry gave me a solid career foundation.
In 2009 I moved to Copenhagen, Denmark to further my career and seek new challenges. I began working for PHIL & Son and at that time Denmark’s leading construction company. I continued to work for the next 3 years soaking up experience working in the Scandinavian & international market. I always felt I wanted to take my education a further step, so in 2012 I enrolled for an MBA in Construction Management in the University of Reading as a distance learning student. Around the same time, I agreed to move to Azerbaijan working on a company project, you know just to keep life interesting. They say sometimes that punishment is self-inflicted and with me that is usually the case. I finished my MBA in 2015 which was a huge personal achievement. After 11 years working for contractors both in tendering departments as an estimator and on site as a project QS it was time, I made a change. I moved to the consultancy sector in 2013 and I have been a consultant ever since.
Living and working in Denmark has taught me that education is vastly different and particularly within commercial education of the construction sector. In Ireland Quantity Surveying is a strict and structured discipline. In Denmark it does not exist, actually, it doesn’t exist in Scandinavia at all, which leads to a reduced quality and service delivered in the industry. I saw an opportunity to improve the quality and service in Denmark which is why I started KOSMOS. It just feels right that this is the next stage in my life. Improving what clients receive from commercial services and improving the industries understanding of quality commercial delivery.
Looking back, a career in the construction industry was inevitable but the interesting thing is where it has taken me. As a cost professional I love dealing with strategies, be that with budgets, contracts or procurement. I hold many passions in my life but my main two are commercial management and rugby. Working in this speciality is quiet like the sport, to achieve a successful result you need a solid game plan, player focus and strong communication. The end result is not based on luck but the fact that all players know here role, appreciate and see value in team effort. If we’re really being honest, I just really love the game.
