Management Team

Robert MacDonald

Director and CEO

Robert MacDonald

  • Bachelor of Engineering, MIE Aust, NPER
  • Robert is the founder of Benchmark Estimating along with his wife Lynda MacDonald
  • Over 25 years experience in estimating, project management and construction programming
  • Also a Director of MacDonald International, a highly successful consulting engineering company
  • Is an Independent Expert for Transit New Zealand’s major projects
  • Has assisted United Kingdom Highways Agency with the development of estimating processes
Read more about Robert MacDonald

Robert is the founder of Benchmark Estimating and the driving force behind the continual development of the Benchmark system. A certified, professional Civil and Structural Engineer, Robert has over 25 years experience in estimating, project management and construction programming.

Robert has operated his own construction business and was also an Estimator and Construction Programmer for one of Australasia’s largest infrastructure organisations. In a consulting role, Robert has prepared and reviewed hundreds of major infrastructure estimates in various countries for both private and public bodies.

His renowned experience is demonstrated by his status as an Independent Expert for Transit New Zealand’s major projects, and his assistance to the United Kingdom Highways Agency with development of their estimating processes.

Robert’s extensive knowledge of the estimating processes emanate through to the software and ultimate end-user experience. Robert is also a Director of MacDonald International, a highly successful consulting engineering company established for 25 years offering clients cost engineering services, estimating, risk analysis and value management among its services.


Lynda MacDonald

Director

Lynda MacDonald

  • Founded Benchmark Estimating with Robert MacDonald
  • Over 20 years experience operating successful businesses
  • Financial Director for Benchmark Estimating
  • Also a Director of MacDonald International, a highly successful consulting engineering company
Read more about Lynda MacDonald

Lynda has over 20 years experience operating various successful businesses. Lynda’s strengths lie in the innovative, strategic growth of the Benchmark Estimating Software brand. Lynda is also the Financial Director and her excellent financial judgement and financial management skills have resulted in a very sustainable and successful business.

Throughout the software development process, Lynda casts an essential “non-technical” view over the software, which helps with the simplicity of use and practicality of the end-product.

Lynda is also a Director of MacDonald International who are a highly successful consulting engineering company established for 25 years. MacDonald International offers cost engineering, risk and value management, project management and estimating consultation as part of their extensive list of services.


Nigel Watts

Marketing and Product Manager

Nigel Watts

  • Electrical Engineering background, currently completing a Masters in Information Technology
  • Started at Benchmark Estimating in 2001
  • 16 year career incorporating software development, systems engineering, systems documentation, and IT marketing, sales and customer support
  • Passionate about his clients’ needs, tailoring the system to suit individual businesses and demonstrating the power of the Benchmark Estimating Software system
Read more about Nigel Watts

Nigel started at Benchmark Estimating in a Sales role in 2001 and very quickly learnt the software and adapted to the company culture. During his time at Benchmark Estimating, Nigel has managed the day-to-day operations of the company, has been an Account Manager for some of our major clients, and has conducted training and implementation activities for clients in various countries.

Nigel has demonstrated Benchmark Estimating Software to hundreds of clients all over the world in many industries. Through this experience he has developed a broad knowledge of the estimating and quoting challenges faced by businesses today. With the expansion of Benchmark Estimating, Nigel now focuses on the marketing and management of the product itself.

Prior to joining Benchmark Estimating, Nigel was an Electrical Engineer in the Royal Australian Navy for 7 years. He was involved with complex weapons and communications systems, and for 4 of those 7 years was heavily involved in the product development, testing, documentation, training and customer support for some of the most sophisticated software systems in Defence (and indeed Australia) at the time. This included the Logistics Information Management System to support the Navy’s leading edge Collins Class Submarines.

Nigel also spent a year in a Navy Training establishment where he trained Junior Officers in many subjects, from Project Management to RADAR theory.

Nigel is currently completing a Masters of Information Technology to help in the continual development of the Benchmark Estimating Software system and to ensure that it continues to meet our customer’s needs in an ever-changing technological environment.


Bevis Pyle

Client and Corporate Services Manager

Bevis Pyle

  • Holds a Cert 4 in Assessment and Workplace Training
  • Associated with Benchmark Estimating for over 12 years
  • 25 year career specialising in Training, Business consulting, Project management, Strategic planning and Change management
  • Implemented Benchmark Estimating Software in over 100 companies and trained over 1000 users
  • Lectured in Project Management at University of Technology, Sydney
Read more about Bevis Pyle

Bevis has been associated with Benchmark Estimating Software for more than 12 years and has had a distinctive career spanning over 25 years in areas including training, project management, management consulting and business management. Prior to joining Benchmark, Bevis managed companies and operated his own business consulting company where he has worked with many major private and public organisations.

Bevis has been designing and presenting courses including Stress Management, Organisational Change, E.E.O, Negotiation, Team Development, Customer Service, Counselling Skills and Time Management since 1981 and between 2001 and 2004 was a member of the lecturing team for the graduate programme in Project Management at the University of Technology Sydney.

Having individually trained over 1,000 users in the use of Benchmark Estimating Software, Bevis has an excellent understanding of user’s needs and how to obtain maximum benefit from our system. He has been involved in many large-scale implementations of Benchmark Estimating Software where his project management skills, business acumen and professionalism have helped our clients achieve great benefits.


David Power

Business Distribution Manager

David Power

  • Accomplished business manager with over 11 years in information technology channel
  • The newest member of the Benchmark Estimating team – started in January 2011
  • Helping Benchmark Estimating Software to build a channel structure of distribution partners
  • Has worked with some of the largest information technology distributors in Australia
Read more about David Power

David joined the Benchmark Estimating team in January 2011 as our Business Distribution Manager. He is an accomplished business manager with over 11 years of business success in the information technology channel.

His experience both in Australia and overseas has exposed him to a diverse mix of technologies, cultures and business operations. As Benchmark Estimating continues to expand geographically, David will be building a channel structure of distribution partners to support the continued growth of our company both at home and overseas.

As a testament to David’s successful channel career, he has won numerous industry awards that have included Distributor of the Year for Trend Micro Australia in 2008 and Juniper Networks ANZ Distributor of the Year in 2007. Also in 2007, he won the award for Vendor Manager of the Year for SonicWall (APAC).

Having worked for the world’s largest information technology distributors, David understands what is required to support our clients via a channel.


Mark Rowe

Manager of Benchmark Estimating United Kingdom

  • Holds a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering
  • Joined the Benchmark Estimating team in 2009 as Manager of the UK branch
  • Spent 13 years with WS Atkins consultants and worked for the project management divisions for the Burj-al-Arab resort development
Read more about Mark Rowe

Mark joined Benchmark Estimating UK in 2009 and brings further “real-world” estimating and project management knowledge to the team. Mark began his career with leading consultant WS Atkins where he spent 13 years following his graduation with a Masters degree in Civil Engineering.

Following spells on-site delivering transportation projects in the UK and Ireland, Mark joined the project management division for the Burj-al-Arab resort development where his roles included Change Control Manager and Work Close-Out Manager. He later returned to join the business management team for WS Atkins Transport Solutions in the North West of England, specialising in the analysis and prevention of cost overruns in major infrastructure projects.

Prior to joining the Benchmark Estimating team, Mark spent two years working closely with us in assisting the UK Highways Agency’s implementation of new cost estimating processes. He now heads up our UK office and is helping to expand Benchmark Estimating  throughout the UK.