Reported by Peter Mello in Brazil

INFRA 2009, Challenges of a New Era, an International Project Management Seminar and Exhibition focused on major infrastructure projects, will be held in São Paulo, Brazil during 23-24 April 2009. The conference will feature keynote presentations by leading authorities and experts on the construction and management of large infrastructure projects around the world. Sector presentations, advanced project management workshops, and an exposition will also be included.

The International Seminar on Projects INFRA 2009 will be the second event held in Brazil recently to address the management of very large projects. The first event was MegaProjetos 2008, which was very successful and held in April 2008. This year the focus will be on infrastructure projects in the following sectors: Energy, including electricity and power, production, transmission and distribution; oil, gas and biofuels production and distribution; Transportation & Logistics , including airports, rail, roads, ports, waterways, supply chains, storage and intermodal infrastructure; and IT & Telecommunications, including networks, high speed internet, data centers, standards implementation, and more.

Advanced project management practices will also be discussed, with special workshops on risk, communications, and procurement. Brazil is especially sensitive to this subject, since investments in infrastructure are vital for its continuing development and economic growth. Issues related to the management, environmental, financial, technological, human, and political aspects of these projects will be on the agenda.

Attendance is expected to be around 600, including Professionals involved with construction, engineering, IT, telecoms, politics, manufacturing, and others. Project stakeholders, such as owners, sponsors, clients, senior management, planners, project managers, team members, suppliers, solution providers, public officials and consultants are expected to participate. Anyone who wishes to explore the strategic, operational, financial, environmental, and organizational issues and pressures that influence infrastructure projects in Brazil should be there.

Simultaneously, there will also be a trade show, ExpoINFRA2009, with exhibitors from related industries and project management.

The INFRA 2009 International Project Management Seminar and Exhibition will be conducted on April 23rd and 24th, 2008 (Thursday and Friday) at the Rebouças Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil. The event promoter is Projectlab. For more information, visit www.infra2009.com.br. Contact info@infra2009.com.br if your company would like to participate in the event.

Projectlab, a Brazilian project management training and consulting company, promotes the International Seminar INFRA 2009 as part of its mission to promote PM best practices, elevate the PM maturity level of professionals and organizations, and stimulate the discussion of project management within the society. For information about Projectlab, visit http://www.projectlab.com.br/ or contact roberto.pons@projectlab.com.br.

Peter Mello, SpS, PMP   International Correspondent - Brazil Based in São Paulo State Peter Mello, SpS, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Brasil. He is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and a Senior Consultant for X25 Treinamento e Consultoria (X25), based in Brasilia, Brazil.  He provides project management training and consulting services to governmental and industrial organizations in Brazil.  Peter presently works with a portfolio of projects in the Petroleum & Gas industry. His professional experience also includes project and risk management for large projects in the IT Industry and Government, and scheduling optimization using critical chain and Success Driven Project Management concepts. More information about Peter can be seen at http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm. He can be contacted at peter.mello@x25.com.br.