5 Minutes With Kim Khoa
Kim Khoa initially worked at Atlas from 2001 to 2008. Between 2008 and 2012, he studied at Nagoya University in Japan where he earned a Doctorate of Engineering (Civil). Following his Doctorate, Khoa worked in Japan in design consultancy on various large scale international infrastructure projects before re-joining Atlas in 2021 as Director of Engineering. He has more than 20 years of experience focusing on structural design and project management on infrastructure, industrial, residential, and commercial projects.
Hi Khoa, can you tell us what makes you excited about this Industry?
I have been working in the AEC industry for more than 20 years and I can see huge developments over the decades - from handwriting drawings to CAD platform, and now BIM technology. I am excited to be back at Atlas - a leading provider of documentation and project delivery services to AEC professionals in the digital transformation time.
So how do you define the role of a director of engineering?
As Director of Engineering at Atlas, I believe that you need to understand the demands of the industry and what your project teams can provide to clients. What benefits clients get when using our services, skills, and technologies. Moreover, we need to be able to build and develop our staff to make a professional working environment.
Here are the essential main roles of an engineering director:
- Lead the performance and development of staff in the engineering team;
- Have responsibility for the timely and efficient production of engineering services;
- Have responsibility for the estimating and planning functions within the engineering group;
- Be responsible for the general and technical development of staff in the engineering team.
And the last question, what comes to mind when you think of Atlas?
I was one of the first staff to join the Architecture and Engineering teams in the early days of Atlas. My early career at Atlas included the roles of CAD Manager and then Head of Structures from 2001 to 2008. And now, returning to Atlas after a long journey in Japan, I felt like I was coming home where I always saw professional and very friendly colleagues.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Kim Khoa!
Related news :
At Atlas, we believe in the power of knowledge sharing, innovation, and industry collaboration.
This September, we had the privilege to participate in three major international events: sponsoring and speaking at BILT ANZ 2024 in Melbourne, sponsoring and attending the International Built Environment Week (IBEW) in Singapore, and speaking and attending the BIM Coordinators Summit in Dublin. These experiences not only reinforce our commitment to staying at the forefront of digital technology and innovation in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry but also allowed us to connect with professionals and thought.
Sponsoring and Speaking at BILT ANZ 2024 in Melbourne
BILT ANZ 2024, held in Melbourne, Australia was an incredible opportunity for us to engage with leaders in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and technology across the AEC sectors. As silver lanyard sponsor, we were able to showcase our expertise and solutions in architectural and engineering BIM modelling, documentation support, and project delivery services.
Our Digital Director, David Llorente gave a talk about Atlas’ innovative, flexible and successful approach to developing customised modular Revit add-ins to suit our teams and clients’ projects. The response from the audience was overwhelmingly positive, and we are excited to continue exploring opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders we met at the event.
Sponsoring and Attending IBEW 2024 in Singapore
As the key annual industry forum for the region, IBEW (International Built Environment Week) in Singapore brought together industry professionals from across the world for dialogue, knowledge exchange, debate and business opportunities.
This year’s theme “Solving for Tomorrow, Today” brought focus to accelerating the built environment sector’s transformation through new technologies and building a future-ready built environment sector. Hot topics amongst speakers and participants included decarbonisation, green energy efficiency, AI and robotics. Aligning with Atlas’ core services, including advanced digital support for AEC projects and digital twin solutions, the event highlighted the importance of integrating these innovative technologies to enhance project performance and sustainability.
As Merit Sponsor, we welcomed members of our team to Singapore, including Director of Engineering Dr Kim Khoa, Architectural Director, Matt Parkes from our Vietnam headquarters, and head of our Manila operation, Donato Gallemit.
Upon attending the event, Dr Kim Khoa said, “the event underscored our dedication to supporting our clients in navigating an evolving industry, marked by climate change and shifting socio-economic landscapes, particularly through the use of BIM and digital technologies for the AEC sector.”
Speaking and Attending the BIM Coordinators Summit 2024 in Dublin
We were honoured to be part of the BIM Coordinators Summit in Dublin, where Digital Director, David Llorente talked about the possibilities of automation and how it can drive efficiency on projects. David also joined the Technology Stage to discuss various topics related to the application of technology in BIM projects and its potential evolution in the coming years.
The summit brought together BIM professionals from around the world to discuss effective strategies for BIM management, collaboration, integration, and innovative technology application across project phases. It was an excellent platform to share our experiences and learn from other industry experts.
Looking Forward
These events represent just a few of the ways we are continuously investing in our knowledge, expertise, and relationships within the AEC industry. We are committed to fostering global collaboration, pushing the boundaries of digital technology and innovation, and delivering high-quality services to our clients worldwide.
We want to thank everyone we met at BILT ANZ, IBEW, and the BIM Coordinators Summit, and we look forward to continuing the conversations and collaborations started at these events.
In the unprecedented era of digital transformation, the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is facing a critical challenge - the shortage of skilled labor and significant skills gap, especially in the adoption of advanced software and digital technologies. Since 2008 Atlas has been certified as an Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC), and this authorization was just renewed in April 2024, which is a proactive step taken by Atlas to ensure that the skills of our team always meet global standards and the stringent requirements of our clients.
Addressing the Skills Gap
The digital transformation journey of the AEC industry has been marked by the widespread adoption of CAD software, BIM, project management tools, and other innovative technologies. Yet, many professionals in the industry struggle to effectively utilize these digital tools, due to the lack of necessary skills and expertise.
As an Autodesk Authorized Training Center, Atlas bridges this skills gap and empowers our in-house team and our client’s teams with the knowledge and capability needed to maximize efficiency and productivity. Through in-house training programs and specialized certifications, Atlas provides comprehensive guidance on Autodesk software, including AutoCAD, BIM and other essential software.
Trusted Partner
As a long-standing partner of many leading global design consulting firms, Atlas consistently provides clients with experienced teams capable of executing large-scale projects and the necessary skills to ensure a smooth information exchange and collaboration process.
"As an Autodesk Authorized Training Center, Atlas Industries has access to the latest industry updates and information from Autodesk. By continuously improving our skills and equipping our teams with the right tools and knowledge, we are ready to drive innovation and help our clients in achieving their business goals, maximizing their capabilities and their ROI". David Llorente - Atlas’ Digital Director said.
To learn more about our Autodesk Authorized Training Centre please contact: david.llorente@atlasindustries.com
Find us on Autodesk partner finder: https://www.autodesk.com/support/partners/atlas-industries-vietnam-limited/2328
Reflecting on the first quarter of the year, Atlas was delighted to welcome more than 50 last-year students who are from three top-notch universities in Vietnam to visit our office. Besides, the team also had some practical shares through university's workshop. Atlas always look forward to continuing our joint efforts to support the young generation in Vietnam on their career path.
HCMC University of Technology
HCMC University of Architecture
Van Lang University
Atlas team had some practical shares through university's workshop.
Atlas Football Open Cup 2022 - season 1 took place successfully and brought the audience the most hearty football party, along with the spirit of martial arts sports and solidarity between 8 teams from 4 units. Let’s congratulate our champions and give special thanks to the organizers, spectators, cheering team and other supporters who made the Football Open Cup a memorable event.