John Refaat serves as the Director and Head of Cost Management for Gleeds in Egypt and Africa, guiding teams and projects to deliver exceptional results. His responsibilities span overseeing live projects, pursuing new opportunities, and focusing on cost management, quantity surveying, and dispute advisory services for a range of national and international clients.
John is deeply invested in ensuring that projects run smoothly and that clients receive the highest level of service, working closely with his teams and stakeholders to achieve these goals.
The challenge of finding cost-effective solutions, managing budgets efficiently, and seeing a project through from inception to completion is immensely rewarding.
John’s motivation comes from a variety of sources.
I take pride in seeing projects through from start to finish, knowing our work has a lasting impact on the built environment. Learning new industry standards and technologies, collaborating with diverse teams, and delivering projects that meet or exceed client expectations are all sources of inspiration for me.
With family roots in the construction industry, John was naturally drawn to this field and is especially passionate about working in his home country, Egypt, where he can contribute to local development. Joining Gleeds in 2013, he was impressed by the collaborative, supportive work environment and the opportunity to work on impactful projects with a global consultancy known for its expertise.
The Gleeds value that resonates most with John is “Professionalism with personality,” which he believes helps build strong relationships both internally and externally. John’s advice for anyone joining Gleeds?
Take advantage of every learning opportunity, strive for excellence, and don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. Gleeds values professional growth, so dive in, stay curious, and show your enthusiasm.
John's proudest achievement has been building an experienced team that tackles challenging tasks within tight deadlines and consistently delivers top-quality results. He’s cultivating an environment that feels like a second home, fostering a strong sense of commitment and belonging among his colleagues.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends, reading, swimming, and participating in charity events. If he hadn’t pursued his current career path, he would likely have chosen a role that involves helping others, as he finds great satisfaction in making a positive impact.