I was delighted to receive an invite to hot-foot it over to Australia as the keynote speaker at the Project Governance and Controls Symposium 2015 taking place this week at the Australian Defence Force Academy, UNSW on 6 -7 May 2015.
This event in Canberra looks at the project governance and control needs of the Australian Federal Government through the lenses of; government agencies, academia and industry.
The focus is on public sector projects and engagement with Defence/DMO due to the significance and size of their projects and split into three streams; education, practitioner and new developments.
In my presentation I will be covering various initiatives by the UK Cabinet Office in relation to the Government’s Major Project Portfolio [GMPP] – such as the Major Projects Authority [MPA] and Leadership Academy [MPLA].
I also plan to explore the status of project management, governance and controls, in particular earned value; including recent developments in international standards in the UK, US and worldwide.
As Chair of APM Board, which is the largest national project management organisation in the International Project Management Association [IPMA], I believe that I am well positioned to make such a contribution.
I am looking forward to meeting, and sharing the stage with, Yvonne Butler, the CEO of AIPM, who will be providing ‘Project Governance and Controls – The Australian Perspective, Challenges and Initiatives’ and having the opportunity to build upon the long standing relationship between our respective Associations.
Recently this was enshrined in a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] which includes a range of activities that support members as well as improve understanding – for example through nominated representatives at Board and executive levels. [A modern day Magna Carta if I might be so bold in the 800 anniversary year of the date of signature. See details of my own celebration event. Putting down the roots for good governance : #eva20]
This builds very nicely on my recent speaking visit to Washington DC in the US, following an agreement between APM and the National Defence Industrial Association] NDIA as joint signatories on a reciprocity agreement on EVMS [Earned Value Management System] standards [See full article in APM news]
At the time I said that these meetings are extremely important in enabling us to establish a foundational plan for joint working. This sentiment was echoed by Carol Boser, chair of the NDIA IPMD, who agreed that the ‘earned value’ memorandum of understanding would help to foster closer collaboration on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, as far as I am concerned this is by no means the end of this programme – we all know that many of the benefits of any programme are typically only realised, by users, downstream!
Next month, my international push continues with my eVaintheUK “Putting down the roots of good governance” anniversary event. I am also excited to be working with some great people at ITER in the south of France and we are deep in the throes of organising our life-changing global event called Fusing the Project World: Q>10 on 3rd /4th September.
I believe that strong strategic relationships are only made possible by investing time with others who lead, and are responsible for, the professionalization of project management.
Hence me making time in my busy schedule to travel half way around the world to participate in this important conference, which in turns piece by piece to make our world a better place!
That’s it for now folks as I need some sleep and wish to make the most of the warm Australian hospitality.