Detail

Brick by Brick

Eugene’s career in the built environment didn’t happen by chance. He comes from three generations of quantity surveyors, following his father, and his grandfather, who was the first Asian chartered quantity surveyor in the world. Quantity surveyors manage the costs and contracts of construction projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget and to specification.

“You can say it was in my nature, and also nurtured,” he said. “I remember going to construction sites from a young age and having my first hard hat at 13.”

Still, it was at SP where that early interest took real shape. He joined the Diploma in Building (Quantity Surveying) course in 1992, immersing himself in a hands-on, close-knit learning environment.

“We had to do slump tests, tiling, and concreting. The mix of academia and practice really set it for me,” he recalled.

He credits his lecturers, including Mrs Winnie Wong, Ms Jane Tan and Mr Lim Cher Yam, for grounding him in the essentials. He also remembers his grandfather teaching at Singapore Polytechnic in its early years

“If you don’t understand construction, you can’t measure, you can’t cost, you can’t manage projects. That lesson has stayed with me till today.”

Foundations Beyond the Books

Beyond the classroom, Eugene actively engaged in campus life. He was President of the Polypeers, part of SPARC (Singapore Polytechnic Ambassadorial Relations Corps), and a member of the debating team. He also participated in the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) programme, where he helped to raise funds for Rwandan refugees.

“It wasn’t just about academics. Through activities like SPARC and NYAA, I learned public speaking, teamwork, and how to carry myself with confidence. This gave me the life skills and resilience that set the foundation for everything.”

SP also equipped him with a head start when he went on to study at the University of Reading in the UK, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Quantity Surveying. The blend of theory, practical training and early leadership opportunities at SP built the confidence and capability he needed to handle the rigours of studying abroad. It also gave him a clear edge over peers from more theory-based backgrounds.

“There were four first-class honours. Three were from polytechnics, and out of the three, two were from Singapore Poly.”

Learning to Lead

Eugene’s career has spanned the public and private sectors, global firms, and now his own consultancy, DLS Consultancy. But teaching has always been part of the equation.

“When I teach, I learn,” he said. “Students ask questions that make me think. It sharpens how I communicate and explain. Whether I’m talking to a CEO or my daughter, I want to be clear.”

He lectures at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and sits on multiple academic and industry boards. He has also held leadership roles in the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV), the Society of Project Managers (SPM), the buildingSMART Singapore Chapter (bSS) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Taylors University and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the University of Reading Malaysia. He is also the Chairman of the National Youth Achievement Award Council. 

His mission now is to mentor others and share the knowledge he has gained. 

“My goal now is to package everything I know into something I can contribute to the next wave of talent,” he said. “No point keeping knowledge to yourself.” 

From Core to More

Advice from the Ground Up