PMFORUM Breaking News

Reported by Brenda Treasure in Melbourne

Organizers of PMOZ 2008 incorporating PMI Australia National Conference, the major project management conference being held in Melbourne, Australia next week, have announced a slate of seven keynote speakers for the event. The PMOZ Conference will be held at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from 18 - 20 August 2008. The conference will co-locate with the 6th Annual Software and Systems Engineering Process Group Australia Conference, providing greater opportunities for networking and high quality presentations targeted to a range of industries.

Max Walker, best selling author and storyteller. In the space of five decades Max Walker has travelled an amazing road from schoolboy sporting prodigy to one of the most recognisable faces and voices in Australia. Along the way he managed to play Test Cricket in a golden era and VFL/AFL football for the Melbourne Football Club. Academically he qualified from R.M.I.T. and practiced as an architect for 10 years. His transition from the hallowed turf of the MCG to the hypnotic world of media was seamless…a naturally charismatic communicator on radio and in television. An extension of that storytelling popularity has resulted in seven No.1 best selling books. As an author Max now has 13 titles to his credit totalling an extraordinary million plus sales.

Iain Fraser PMP^® Director-At-Large, Past Chair (2006), PMI^®. Originally from Scotland and now living in Wellington, New Zealand, Iain was first elected to the PMI Board of Directors in 2003 and served as chair in 2006 and vice chair in 2005. He has been director of regional advocacy for the PMI's Asia/Pacific region, and has served for three years on the PMI's Global Board of Directors Nominations Committee, which he chaired in 2001. Mr. Fraser is a founding member of PMI in New Zealand, and served as vice president in 1995, national president in 1997 and 1998, and immediate past president in 1999 and 2000. Mr. Fraser also was one of 65 global members who revised the PMI By-Laws in 1997. He is managing director (chief executive officer) of Project Plus Limited, a New Zealand-based management consulting organization that focuses on the provision of program and project management services across many industry sectors and delivered globally.

Barry Boehm, TRW Professor of Software Engineering, Computer Science Department, USC. Director, USC Center for Systems and Software Engineering. Dr. Barry Boehm served within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) from 1989 to 1992, as director of the DARPA Information Science and Technology Office and as director of the DDR&E Software and Computer Technology Office. He worked at TRW from 1973 to 1989, culminating as chief scientist of the Defense Systems Group, and at the Rand Corporation from 1959 to 1973, culminating as head of the Information Sciences Department. He is a Fellow of the primary professional societies in computing (ACM), aerospace (AIAA), electronics (IEEE), and systems engineering (INCOSE), and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. His presentation title: "Integrating Systems and Software Engineering with the Incremental Commitment Model."

Ken Mathers, Chief Executive Officer of the Southern and Eastern Integrated Transport Authority (SIETA). Ken Mathers is the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern and Eastern Integrated Transport Authority which is a special purpose authority established by the Victorian Government in mid 2003 to facilitate the EastLink Project (formerly the Mitcham Frankston Freeway Project). A Civil Engineer with a wealth of experience in road infrastructure planning and implementation, Ken has been involved in some of Victoria’s most significant road projects including the Western Ring Road, Monash Freeway and Melbourne CityLink. Ken's professional endeavours include involvement with ‘Engineers Australia’ where he served as Chairman of the Victorian Division in 1999 and on the National Council between 2000 and 2003. In 2006 and 2007, Ken was included in the list of "Australia's 100 Most Influential Engineers".His presentation: "SEITA's Role - Facilitating the Delivery of EastLink." EastLink is Australia's largest urban road project and public private partnership.

Vince Gill, National Service Leader, IT Project Advisor for KPMG. The future promise or benefits from executing strong Project Portfolio Management practices are well promoted - reality often differs. This presentation uses a range of examples from private and public sector organisations to illustrate some of the current gaps between the promise and reality, and introduces potential strategies to help close. Vince has successfully helped many leading organisations for nearly twenty years with technology-dependent initiatives. His broad experience ranges from prime delivery and project management roles through to overall governance and commercial management, with projects ranging from international implementations for Global organisations to local core system upgrades. Clients include Executives and management in both business and technology functions. In recent years, his project advice has focussed on improving organisational effectiveness and programme efficiency. He holds multiple relevant qualifications and certifications. Vince is the National Service Lead for KPMG’s IT Project Advisory practice – a leading provider of strategic, objective project advice to organisations in every sector.

Andrew Leicester, Director of PM Global and Associate Professor of Project Management at Bond University. Associate Professor Leicester started his career as a building contractor and construction project manager, working on multi-million dollar projects in England, Australia and New Guinea. After gaining his teaching qualifications, he developed Project Management programs for the Darwin Institute of Technology and the Queensland University of Technology, utilizing his international industry experience and contacts to adapt these courses for delivery in South East Asia. In 1995, he established Consat (Australia) Pty Ltd as a specialist industry training consultancy, specifically focused on developing courses and seminars in all aspects of Project Management. These courses are delivered in universities, and to government departments and multinational corporations around the world. Presentation title: "Size Matters!"

Dr John Woollett, Project Director, Development Business Unit, Boral ACM. John Woollett has had a leading role in the international development and construction industry for over 35 years as a Development, Project and Construction manager. As chairman of an international Development and Project Management company, he has guided the development and construction of major projects for both the public and private sectors. He has complimented this hard nosed international construction experience with 4 years as a Professor of Construction Management at Harvard University and 5 years as Dean of Environmental Design and Construction at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

The PMOZ 2008 conference will focus on the theme ‘Delivering benefits in an increasingly complex world through effective Portfolio, Program and Project Management" and will include presentations, panel discussions and networking options. It will also feature a trade exhibition for which there are still opportunities available. The conference is supported by other key leading industry associations including Engineers Australia, the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB Australasia).

View program details online at www.pmoz.com.au. Online registrations are now closed however onsite registration is available at Sofitel Melbourne from Monday 18 August. Members of PMI are able to access discounts by inserting "PMI" followed by their membership number. PMI delegates are entitled to claim 1 Professional Development Unit (PDU) per hour spent within a ‘structured learning activity’ under 'Category 4: Other provider' events.

PMI is a non-profit professional association which has over 270,000 members across 170 countries with 40,000 members in the Asia Pacific Region. Locally PMI has Chapters based in all mainland states and the ACT. PMI Australia consists of the PMI Chapters in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. See http://www.pmichapters-australia.org.au/home.asp.

For more information on the conference, registration and trade exhibition or sponsorship opportunities please visit www.pmoz.com.au.

Brenda Treasure International Correspondent Australia based in Melborne Brenda Treasure, PMP, is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Melbourne, Australia. Brenda is also Director & Professional Services Manager for BHE Services Pty Ltd, currently serving as a Senior Project Manager for Telstra Corporation on a National IT Transformation Project. Brenda has over 15 years of Project Management experience in private organisations, government agencies and in the IT & Telecommunications arena. Very active within the Project Management Institute (PMI®), Brenda has been Professional Development Director & President of the PMI Melbourne Chapter and Communications Director for PMI’s Women in Project Management Specific Interest Group (WiPM SIG). She is currently Asia/Pacific Representative for PMI’s Component Services Member Advisory Group and on the Core Team of PMI’s 2nd Edition of the Program Management Standard, as well as Program Chair PMOZ 2008. A graduate of PMI’s Leadership Institute Masters Class, Brenda also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Canberra and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). Brenda can be contacted at brenda.treasure@bheservices.com.au. PMI® and PMP® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.