As a high-flying Quantity Surveyor (QS) whose career has taken him across multiple continents, Christopher Lai’s journey is one that many Malaysians dream of.
Nonetheless, his story started out like most Malaysians, with a simple childhood, growing up and going to public school in Kuala Lumpur.
It was not until his parents nudged him to choose a course at Taylor’s University, that the next —and arguably most significant—chapter of his life would begin to form.
While rifling through brochure after brochure, his eyes fell on Quantity Surveying. Having previously being keen on engineering and law, he was delighted to find a field that combined both his interests.
Fast forward more than a decade later, Christopher is now a bonafide success story, both in his field and among diaspora, having worked in six countries in nearly nine years.
This is the story of how he got his start, what his globetrotting career has taught him and how he plans to be a pillar of support for fellow aspiring quantity surveyors in Malaysia.
Growing Professionally While Embracing the World
Through a fateful connection with a lecturer via a Facebook group, Christopher learned about an opportunity to work overseas. Intrigued by the prospect of combining professional growth with international adventure, he took the plunge.
That decision marked the beginning of an exciting global career that has since spanned countries as diverse as the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and now, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Being away from home and based in multiple parts of the world have shaped Christopher both professionally and individually.
One of his most fundamental living experiences came when he was just 26 years old and assigned to his first overseas project ever in Costa Rica. Living in a place where Malaysians were scarce, and sometimes even unheard of, Christopher had to navigate life independently, relying on his confidence and skills to thrive.
"It was a lot of growing up," he admits. "You have to learn to adapt—to their language, their culture. You make a life for yourself there.
But life abroad has not been all about work. He has fond memories of Costa Rica’s surf spots, Tanzania’s safaris, and snowboarding in Canada, all of which will remain with him for years to come.
Finding a Home Away from Home
Despite all these worldly adventures, Christopher has always found a way to stay connected to where he is from.
"Before I was married, I worked on a three-month rotation—three months in the country (where he was based), then a month back in Malaysia,” he explained. Whenever he could come home, he would prioritise spending time with friends and family members.
Now that Christopher is married, however, things have evolved. These days, home is wherever his wife and their two dogs are.
Since then, he tries to return at least once or twice a year, especially for Chinese New Year, "Like most Malaysians, I miss the food the most," he laughs, noting that the further away he is from home, the harder it is to find anything that compares to Malaysia’s cuisine.
During his time in the UK, he found comfort in a large Malaysian community. As such, he was often surrounded by familiar faces on weekends. Now in Abu Dhabi, he finds joy in sharing his culture and knowledge about where he is from with friends he has made there.
Earlier this year, he once again wore his national pride on his sleeve by travelling to neighbouring Qatar to watch the Malaysian football team in the Asian Cup.
Above all, living overseas has amplified Christopher’s identity as a Malaysian, especially in places that have never heard of Malaysia or its people before.
“I am especially proud to be Malaysian when I’m overseas. Being known as a Malaysian has gotten me a lot of positive interactions,” he revealed.
Reflections on the QS Industry in Malaysia
Having worked across continents, Christopher has gained valuable insights into the QS profession, both globally and in Malaysia. He emphasised the importance of improving one’s command of English, especially as much of the job involves handling legal matters.
To seize bigger opportunities, Christopher also said that one must be brave in taking on challenges, even if it can be daunting at the start to leave one’s home, friends, and family behind. Overall, he also sees Malaysia as a land of untapped potential.
Pondering the future, he remained hopeful about the potential for Malaysia’s growth, both in the QS industry and beyond. He acknowledged the challenges—talent retention, career development, and the need for better opportunities—but is optimistic that, with the right support, Malaysia can thrive. "We need to invest in our talent, and we need companies to step up and offer the right incentives," he says.
The Role of MyHeart and Giving Back to Malaysia
Moving forward, Christopher hopes for more opportunities, especially through MyHeart and TalentCorp, to connect with and guide fellow Malaysians in the QS industry.
This is where MyHeart Collaboration comes in. With this, Malaysian diaspora who have a wealth of knowledge to share with fellow countrymen at home or around the world can explore projects to collaborate as well as collaborators with similar interests.
Speaking on MyHeart, Christopher said that he views MyHeart as a powerful tool to bring the Malaysian diaspora together, regardless of which industry they are from.
"It’s a good initiative. We have this huge pool of talented Malaysians working overseas, and MyHeart is helping to bring us together," he says. For Christopher, MyHeart is about more than just networking—it’s about fostering meaningful contributions back home.
"There aren’t many Malaysians in QS working overseas," he says. "I want to be that point of contact for anyone looking to ask questions or seek advice."
Are you a Malaysian abroad looking to connect with other professionals in a similar field? Sign up on MyHeart to explore opportunities for networking and collaboration.
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