Matthew Pryor

Driven by a passion for the built environment and an adventurous spirit, Matthew Pryor moved from the UK to Hong Kong in pursuit of a global construction career. Fast forward more than three decades and he's leading the charge on Mace Consult’s Asia Pacific operations as the Managing Director for MaceTpm, bringing unparalleled local delivery expertise to some of the world’s most dynamic and fast-moving markets.

How did you get into what you do?

My father had a talent for building houses, and so that piqued my interest in architecture and construction from an early age. I then graduated with a degree in building surveying from Thames Polytechnic in 1991 and started working as a chartered surveyor in the UK.

In 1992, I decided to go on a long holiday to Hong Kong and Singapore to visit friends who were working overseas, and they organised some job interviews for me while I was there. After receiving several offers, I flew back to the UK, sold my car, and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 25, and within a month of arriving, I started my first job as a project manager for a project management consultancy.

I thought I would only stay in Asia for a few years, but three decades later I’m still here! After working eight years for Las Vegas Sands Corporation in Singapore and Macau and leading the development of some iconic integrated resorts - including Marina Bay Sands and The Venetian Macau - I founded Tenman Project Management (Tpm) with Nick Boekel in 2010. Ten years later, we decided to join forces with Mace to combine our local expertise with their global delivery experience and strengthen our footprint in Southeast Asia.

How do we redefine the boundaries of ambition for clients in your region?

As MaceTpm we redefine the boundaries of ambition for our Southeast Asian clients by offering them an approach to project and programme delivery that goes beyond what they think is possible. Clients are open to new ideas, and they welcome innovative thinking, but you need a deep understanding of cultural sensitivities to get the job done. That’s why our partnership is in a strong position to transform the way we deliver for clients in this region; we can couple international best practice with long-standing local knowhow in a way that’s not been done before.

What does the MaceTpm partnership bring to the Asia Pacific region?

Mace and Tpm's history dates back to 2005. Prior to Tpm, when I was running Las Vegas Sands development programme, we established an in-house project management team on The Venetian Macau, and I brought in Mace to strengthen that team. Mace consultants are known for their hands-on, practical delivery expertise and their outstanding track record in project and programme delivery. The MaceTpm partnership is a perfect match because we can combine Tpm’s regional expertise in integrated resorts, gaming, and mixed-use hospitality with Mace’s global best practice in key sectors for growth, like data centres and infrastructure.

What are you excited for as you look ahead?

Integrated resorts and hospitality are close to my heart, but I’m equally excited about the work that needs to be done in the years ahead to deliver data centres, high tech manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

Many countries across Southeast Asia suffer from natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes, and the resilience work that Mace is undertaking to rebuild critical social infrastructure in Peru, on the Reconstruction with Changes programme, is the type of knowledge that will make a difference in this part of the world.

Our clients also benefit from Mace’s drive to innovate and deliver distinctive value for clients by using data and digital solutions. Equally importantly, all this opportunity means that our talented people have a chance to develop their international careers and can transfer their skills from one region to another.

What's been your proudest career achievement to date?

That’s a tough one! I would say that it’s a close tie between Marina Bay Sands and The Venetian Macau, but if I must pick, it would be Marina Bay Sands due to its complexity and scale. To deliver a five-billion-dollar project, one of the most prominent architectural icons in the world, is a memorable experience to say the least.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I love spending time with my kids! I also try to stay fit by running and hiking when I have the time. Living in Southeast Asia, I am privileged to be surrounded by rich cultures, food and incredible architecture. The travel bug that I caught when I was young hasn’t gone anywhere. I still love to explore new places!

If you hadn't got into this line of work, what do you think you might be doing?

With my passion for nature and the outdoors, I probably would have been a landscape gardener - I picture myself spending a lot of time in my garden whenever I retire!