The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) has named Karl Trusler as its new Executive Director (ED), effective from the 1st of September 2022.
Karl has served the Quantity Surveying profession in his capacity as Director of the ASAQS’ training division called EduTech since 2015.
He is preceded by Larry Feinberg who immigrated to Israel after fulfilling the ED role at the ASAQS for a decade. “We are grateful to Larry for his leadership, unquestionable commitment to, and passion for the Quantity Surveying profession,” the association said in a recent statement.
The long and winding road
A registered Professional Quantity Surveyor, Karl started his impressive career in 1987 as a student Quantity Surveyor at Lautenbach & Fairon Quantity Surveyors, in Randburg. From there he took the position of Contractors Quantity Surveyor at Trescon Construction, also a Johannesburg-based firm.
It was after this that the property development bug bit hard and Karl decided to open his own business named Karling Construction. After three years of gaining vital experience in the industry, Karl joined van Vuuren, van der Walt and Visser Quantity Surveyors, in Tzaneen, to complete the requirements to register as a professional Quantity Surveyor.
Six years later, Karl relocated to Pretoria to study further and work as a pastoral administrator at the Hatfield Christian Church. While working at the church, he studied B.A. Bible and Theology at the International Correspondence Institute in association with Hatfield Training Centre and later took on a part-time position at the Social Housing Foundation until 2010.
That same year, Karl was thrilled to start at the University of Pretoria, also in a part-time capacity. Currently, he is a part-time external examiner for MSc Real Estate subjects, and a guest lecturer in Business Management and Financial Management for BSc Real Estate and BSc Quantity Surveying (Honours) courses.
In March 2015, Karl finally joined the ASAQS and has never looked back.
The lighter side
While his professionalism and detailed approach to his role contributed largely to his appointment as the ASAQS’ new ED, we like to know a bit more about who Karl is outside of that and asked a few questions to uncover some fun facts about him:
Q: What is the most common misconception about you?
Karl: My age
Q: What did you care about most when you were 10 years old?
Karl: How strong I was
Q: Coffee or tea?
Karl: Coffee
Q: Chocolate or biltong?
Karl: Biltong
Q: Bushveld or beach?
Karl: Beach
Q: Summer or winter?
Karl: Summer
Q: Cats or dogs?
Karl: Dogs
Hopes for the future
Speaking on his aspirations for the profession and the ASAQS going forward, Karl notes that Quantity Surveyors are essential to the built environment because their skill sets are so unique, “In addition to their traditional role, Quantity Surveyors are equipped to apply their skills in a wide range of career options within the industry. This presents an opportunity for widespread influence and leadership,” he adds.
Regarding the ASAQS, Karl reiterated the priority to be the “home” of choice for Quantity Surveyors, “We need to demonstrate a sustainable value proposition maintained through continuously listening, observing, interpreting and adapting.”
About the ASAQS
Inaugurated in 1908, the ASAQS has grown to include quantity surveying professionals active throughout the construction industry in both the private and public sectors.
Through its various programmes and activities, the association remains dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and practice of quantity surveying and related matters. Providing a forum for exchanging knowledge and experiences, ASAQS encourages high levels of competence and integrity among its members.
