Lavern Kuppen Cullen

Lavern Kuppen Cullen
Contracts Manager, PURCO SA

Lavern Kuppen Cullen is a Contract Manager at PURCO SA, having joined the organisation in 2026. He brings extensive experience across property finance, construction, quantity surveying and project management, combining strong technical expertise with a practical understanding of procurement, commercial risk and financial management.

A qualified Quantity Surveyor, Lavern holds a Bachelor of Technology in Quantity Surveying and a National Diploma in Building from the Durban University of Technology. He has also completed the Property Finance Practice programme through the University of the Witwatersrand and Nedbank CIB’s Leadership Development Programme.

Prior to joining PURCO SA, Lavern spent almost a decade with Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, where he worked as a Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor overseeing property development projects across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. His responsibilities encompassed project feasibility and viability assessment, development finance structures, construction cost analysis, contract review, project monitoring, payment certification and the management of financial and construction risk.

Lavern's earlier career in quantity surveying provided extensive practical exposure to tendering, estimating, procurement, contractor appointment and negotiation, cost management and construction delivery across commercial, residential, healthcare, education, municipal and infrastructure projects.

At PURCO SA, Lavern applies this combination of commercial, financial and technical experience to contract management within the higher education procurement environment. His background gives him a valuable perspective on how effective procurement, sound contract management, financial discipline and rigorous project governance can reduce risk, strengthen value for money and deliver better outcomes for institutions and their stakeholders.