Master Risk Management as an Architect

Your Course Instructor's Bio

Ardavan Tashk is a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer and Project Manager with over three decades of expertise in engineering design, construction, installation, and commissioning.

Since 1992, he has played a key role in greenfield developments, including steel-making plants, mining operations, bulk solid handling, and industrial projects.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, along with diplomas in Building & Construction and Project Management, Ardavan is also a PMP-certified professional. His expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from conceptual design and planning to execution, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.

Beyond his engineering and project management roles, Ardavan is an instructor at AMEC College®, where he shares his industry expertise through a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

His dedication to mentoring and professional development underscores his passion for leadership and continuous learning.

Learning outcomes

During this course, you'll learn to:

• Grasp the definitions of individual and overall project risk, risk appetite, tolerance, and thresholds.
• Learn to plan, identify, analyse (qualitative and quantitative), respond to, implement, and monitor risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Recognise event-based risks, variability risks, ambiguity risks, and emergent risks and tailor responses accordingly.
• Define methodology, roles, tools, and reporting structures for managing risk on any project.
• Apply probability-impact matrices, expected monetary value (EMV), decision trees, and sensitivity analysis to evaluate risk exposure.
• Align risk responses with project objectives, stakeholder expectations, and organisational governance frameworks.
• Learn escalation paths, reporting formats, and stakeholder engagement strategies to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Build contingency plans, empower teams, and monitor early warning signs to adapt to unknowns and reduce impact.

Alignment with NSCA Performance Criteria

The course content directly supports the acquisition and application of competencies required under the NSCA. Specifically:

Practice Management & Professional Conduct (PC1–PC16)

• PC2 – Quality assurance systems: addressed through structured risk management processes for consistent delivery.
• PC3 – Project planning: reinforced through integration of risk assessment in planning.
• PC9 – Procurement risks: case studies highlight risk mitigation strategies in procurement methods.
• PC16 – Risk management and mitigation: directly covered, including safety in design, resilience, and insurances.

Project Initiation & Conceptual Design (PC17–PC35)

• PC19 – Project feasibility and risks: supported through qualitative and quantitative risk analysis modules.
• PC20–21 – Budget and timeframe risks: addressed in schedule and cost risk analysis.
• PC22 – Conflict of interest risks: included in professional risk discussions.
• PC24 – Development options and risks: reinforced through case studies and planning tools.

Detailed Design & Construction Documentation (PC36–PC47)

• PC38 – Risks in working within budget/time constraints: addressed through quantitative tools.
• PC39–40 – Risks in construction systems and integration: aligned with lessons on technical and systemic risks.
• PC45–46 – Risks in materials, compliance, and lifecycle impacts: reinforced through structured assessment processes.

Design Delivery & Construction Phase Services (PC48–PC60)

• PC52–53 – Procurement and contractual risks during construction: covered in detail.
• PC54–56 – Risks in construction quality, site inspections, defects, and substitutions: addressed through practical examples.
• PC57 – Risks in contract administration (variations, claims, extensions): supported through applied tools.
• PC59 – Risks in documentation: reinforced through templates and risk registers.

Understanding Your Learning Curve

Before we dive into the content, I want to take a moment to talk with you about something important:

How learning happens over time.

You might think that learning is linear, that if you study a bit each day, you’ll make steady progress every time. But in reality, learning looks more like a curve, not a straight line.

Here's what that means:

In Week 1, you’re laying the foundation. You’re getting familiar with risk concepts and the architecture context. It might feel like progress is slow at first; that’s completely normal.

In Week 2, we move into risk analysis. This is where things start to get more technical. You might feel like you're working harder for smaller gains. Don't get discouraged, that's part of the growth process.

Then in Week 3, something shifts. You begin applying what you’ve learned: planning and implementing real strategies. This is where understanding deepens and accelerates.

By Week 4, you’re monitoring risk and integrating everything you've learned. This is where your learning curve peaks. You move from understanding to practical mastery.

So why am I showing you this curve?

Because even though this course is fully self-paced, and you’re free to complete it on your own schedule, this curve offers a recommended learning rhythm and a guide to help you build understanding in a realistic and effective way.

You can do it faster, slower, or revisit sections as needed. That’s the beauty of self-paced learning. But if you’re ever wondering, “Am I on the right track?”, this curve is here to help you feel grounded and confident in your progress.