Alastair's school references suggest him to have been academically capable and well liked and respected by both his peers and teachers. Alastair's ability to get on with different people is a personality trait he carries to this day.
After a 12 months working for Industrial Holdings as a Quantity Surveying Cadet, Alastair studied for and obtained NZC in Quantity Surveying.
He subsequently obtained a Diploma in Quantity Surveying (today's degree equivalent) through part-time distance learning study whilst working full-time as Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager for Alan Bateman & Associates and later on for Style Homes in Christchurch where he gained valuable building and project management experience and quickly developed a reputation as a capable, responsible employee with high work ethics.
In 1995, after five months of travelling Alastair started work in London for John Rowan & Partners where he was quickly trusted to a number of high profile projects and tasks including leading teams of up to 16 members delivering various multiple (up to 200 stores) commercial refits and refurbishments in often very short periods of time (four to eight months).
Amongst Alastair's notable achievements at John Rowan & Partners are the development of the company's project management arm and the enhancement of company's internal management system. In 1999, following an outstanding track record with the Company, Alastair was made a Partner and worked in his capacity as the Partner in charge of Project Management until leaving in 2003.
In 2002, Alastair married his Persian girlfriend and in September 2003, having taken some time off to enjoy his new-born son Oliver, the young family were back in New Zealand where Alastair worked for Paban Consulting Limited as a project manager in charge of various projects including a $1.5m Executive home and shortly afterwards for Canterbury District Health Board where he was brought into the existing project management team responsible for building the new $80m Christchurch Women's Hospital and the relocation of the staff and patients.
In June of 2005, shortly after the completion of the hospital, Alastair was offered the General Manager role in an established housing company. Alastair stayed with the company for 16 months during which time he streamlined on-site performance and productivity, improved customer satisfaction and increased sales by 20%.
Alastair left in November 2006 to form his own Company, Miles Construction.
