The People Behind the Manuals: Liana’s Six-Month Milestone

Since joining Dewick & Associates six months ago as our UK Client Coordinator, Liana has seamlessly integrated her expertise into our fast-paced environment. Over the past half-year, she has been instrumental in managing the complexities of construction documentation and driving our UK business forward.

Working closely with clients, project teams and our technical writers, Liana plays a key role in keeping projects organised and communication clear across multiple stakeholders. In an industry where timing, accuracy and attention to detail are critical, the coordinator role sits right at the centre of the process.

We spoke with Liana about her background, what she has learnt so far being a part of Dewick & Associates, and what she is looking forward to.

Getting to Know Liana

Liana’s career in construction has always been driven by a genuine interest in how buildings come together. With a background in architecture and experience working as a civil engineering technician and project manager, she has built a strong technical foundation.

Joining Dewick & Associates offered the opportunity to bring that technical understanding together with a more client-focused role.

“I’ve always been interested in how things are built. I studied architecture and then moved into civil engineering and project management. This role felt like a natural next step, combining the technical side with client relationships.”

The client coordinator role appealed to Liana because of its balance between technical detail and communication, along with the opportunity to work closely with clients.

“What really drew me to the role was the mix of technical work and building relationships. Being from the UK, I also understand the industry there, which helps when working with clients.”

At its core, Liana sees her role as a key link within the D&A team.

“I act as the conduit between the client and our in-house professional writing team, making sure information flows clearly and everything stays on track.”

The First Six Months: Adapting and Growing

While already experienced in the construction sector, stepping into the role at Dewick & Associates introduced Liana to a new level of pace and intensity. She quickly recognised the fast-moving, high-priority nature of the work as a defining characteristic, and has continued to build on her background, further strengthening her ability to operate as a confident, client-facing coordinator.

“The pace is undeniably fast; there’s often a ‘need it tomorrow’ mindset, which makes staying organised and proactive essential. This role has really pushed me outside my comfort zone, particularly in how I interact with stakeholders. Coming from a technical background, I’ve gained so much confidence in working directly with clients and truly becoming an integrated part of their project team.”

Several projects have left a strong impression, particularly those requiring adaptability and problem-solving.

“The Port of Entry project was a great example. We completed the manuals, but then had to rework them due to new client requirements across multiple sites. It showed how important flexibility is.”

She has also enjoyed seeing the diversity of projects and growth in key regions.

There’s been a lot happening in London and the Midlands, especially around Birmingham. It’s exciting to see new clients coming through and being part of that growth.”

Skills and Strengths: Precision and Proactive

Client coordination requires a balance of organisation, communication and attention to detail, and over the past six months, Liana has refined an approach that brings all three together.

“Organisation is key. It’s about staying on top of everything and working closely with the team to make sure we’re hitting all the milestones. I’m naturally quite detail-oriented, so being prepared and transparent helps keep things running smoothly.”

Clear communication plays an equally important role, particularly during the high-pressure stages of project delivery. For Liana, keeping clients informed before they need to ask has become a core part of her approach.

“I try to keep clients updated without them needing to prompt me, especially during the handover phase. Just knowing something is being handled makes a big difference. It’s about being proactive and making sure there’s always a response. I believe that transparency builds a level of trust that naturally lowers the pressure for everyone involved.”

Tools and systems have also supported stronger coordination and visibility across projects.

nucleus, the D&A bespoke online client portal,  makes a big difference. It gives everyone visibility of where a project is at, which keeps communication open and consistent and helps avoid issues before they arise.”

At the centre of it all is collaboration, both internally and with clients.

“I rely on the technical writing team for their expertise, and it really is a team effort. When a manual is issued and everyone can see the finished result, it feels like a shared win. Building those relationships and feeling like part of the client’s team is what makes it rewarding, and those wins lead to repeat work.”

Quality and Process: The D&A Difference

Liana has seen firsthand how Dewick’s processes and the integration of nucleus, supports quality outcomes, reduces risk and improves consistency. 

“The implementation of nucleus has strengthened our quality control by providing total transparency and real-time information tracking. This collaborative online tool, combined with our technical team’s rigorous internal review process, ensures that the draft documentation we issue is of the highest calibre. Our clients consistently tell us that the expertise behind our work shows; our testimonials frequently highlight that D&A drafts require little to no editing before final approval.”

Working at Dewick: A Foundation of Support and Structured Growth

A strong team environment has played a key role in helping Liana settle into the pace and complexity of the Client Coordinator role, with support available at every stage of her transition. This collaborative culture was particularly evident during a comprehensive five-week on boarding process, which provided the necessary structure to build technical confidence and an understanding of our clients and processes before she began managing projects independently.

“The training was very thorough, and there is a real sense that you can pick up the phone to anyone; that willingness to help makes a big difference when you’re learning. Spending those first few weeks working alongside the team and truly learning the systems and how we interact with clients, made it much easier to step into the role and start managing projects with confidence.”

What stands out most to Liana is the shared mindset across the business, where collaboration and consistency underpin the way projects are delivered.

“Everyone is working towards the same goal, and that creates a really collaborative environment. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and that carries through into the way we support our clients.”

Looking Ahead: Strategic Growth and Sustainability

As she moves into her next six months, Liana is focused on deepening her technical expertise and expanding Dewick & Associates’ reach. With a keen interest in building design and environmental impact, Liana is specifically looking to apply her recent professional development to more UK & ROI projects.

“I’m excited to continue building stronger client relationships and helping expand our presence in the UK market as the opportunity for growth is significant. I’ve also developed a strong interest in sustainability and we have completed a number of projects in the education sector; having recently completed the BREEAM Foundations course, I’m particularly interested in how we can support green building standards and understand how thoughtful design impacts modern learning environments.”

Industry Insights and Advice: The Golden Thread and the Power of Collaboration

Liana’s first six months have provided a front-row seat to the evolving landscape of building compliance – today’s regulatory climate, documentation is no longer just a post-script to construction, it is a core requirement for safety and risk management.

“ Following the Grenfell tragedy, compliance like Regulation 38 have made accurate documentation more critical than ever, and that’s where our work adds the most value. Our recent work on the Scott Harbour project was a perfect example of this. Managing both Health & Safety and handover documentation really highlighted how essential these deliverables are for achieving total compliance and reducing long-term risk for our clients.”

Collaboration is also one of the best skills to develop because it is integral to achieving successful project outcomes.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and engage with people across the entire project. One of the most consistent lessons I’ve seen in this industry is that construction thrives on collaboration, it is the key to making everything work.”

Supporting Our Clients in the UK

As Dewick & Associates continues to grow in the UK & ROI, Liana plays an important role in maintaining the clear communication and coordination our clients rely on.

Louise, General Manager at Dewick & Associates, has seen how quickly Liana has become a valuable part of the team.

” Liana is an absolute pleasure to work with and has quickly become a highly valued member of our team. Her dedication is matched only by her willingness to help others; she genuinely cares about the success of every project and brings a positive, ‘can-do’ energy every single day.”

Liana gets into the fine details because she wants the absolute best for her clients. In just six months, she has established herself as a trusted, expert point of contact for our UK and ROI partners. Her organisation and communication are exactly what we value at Dewick & Associates, and we are incredibly excited to support her continued growth within the firm.”

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