At its spring Board of Directors meeting, Leslie E. “Les” McMullan was unanimously approved as an AACE Fellow. He has over 30 years of experience in project controls and project management on major capital projects in North America and Overseas. A graduate from McGill University, Les has worked in most major process industries including nuclear, pulp and paper, petrochemical and mining and metallurgy and has held various senior positions within SNC-Lavalin including Senior Project Controls Manager, Manager of Cost Control for the Cowan Pulp and Paper group, Manager of Project Controls for the Quebec Industrial Division and Vice-President of Project Services for Industrial, Mining & Metals and Aluminum in Montreal where he also established and led a Global Community of Practice site for Project Controls. He also prepared many presentations including the “Project Controls Manager’s Survival Guide” and “World Class Project Controls”. Les is currently Director of Project Controls & Services with Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Montreal.
Les first became associated with the AACE early in his career and joined as a member in 1977. He attributes his association with the AACE and its membership as having a major contribution to the skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in project management and project controls. Les has been very active over the years with the Montreal Section of AACE International and is currently President of the Montreal Section. He has authored and co-authored technical papers on estimating, cost control and forecasting which were presented at the AACE annual meetings and at ICEC. He has guest also lectured and participated in events at Concordia University, the University of Sherbrooke and the University of Montreal. In 2004 he received the Tony Jarvis award, along with co-author Aziz Barmania, for the year’s best technical article “Estimating in 3D: the Next Dimension” published in “The Cost Engineer” by the British Association of Cost Engineers. In 2010, he worked with the Board of Directors of the Montreal section to develop a two day seminar called “The School of Project Controls” that has been given by the Board members in French and English. Les has also worked closely with the student section of AACE International at Concordia University and continues to “give back” to the Project Controls Community.
Les will receive his AACE Fellow plaque and pin during the AACE Annual Meeting on July 10, 2012, during the Awards and Installation Luncheon. Other members who will also be recognized as AACE Fellows at the 2012 Annual Meeting are: Robert B. Brown, PE; Douglas W. Leo, CCC CEP; Alexia A. Nalewaik, CCE; Todd W. Pickett, CCC CEP; and Joseph W. Wallwork, PE CCE CFCC PSP. The 2012 Annual Meeting will be held July 8-11 at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in San Antonio, TX.
