Alan gained his Bachelor of Science majoring in Quantity Surveying at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and registered with the SA Council of Quantity Surveyors. Alan then practiced in a professional quantity surveying office where he gained experience in civil works, commercial property developments, hotels, health facilities and multi-tenanted residential developments. This has enabled him to extend his expertise in quantity surveying in New Zealand to higher education facilities, specialised sub contract roles, commercial construction and residential construction projects.