Construction BUSINESS

The Ireland Chapter of Project Management Institute (PMI) has announced the expert speakers for Ireland’s premier conference on project management. With the theme The Change Makers, the Chapter’s annual conference takes place in the Aviva Stadium on 26 April 2018 and will see some of Ireland’s most respected industry leaders discuss managing, driving and achieving change.

Notable speakers include Dr Norah Patten, who is on course to become Ireland’s first ever astronaut. She will discuss her involvement in the scientist-astronaut training programme run by NASA and the project skills that have proven so critical to the success of space missions.

Gerald Fleming, chair of the Public Weather Services Programme at the World Meteorological Organization, and former head of forecasting at Met Éireann, will also speak at the conference. He will explore the changes made by the Irish Meteorological Service that help us to navigate extreme weather events, such as Storm Ophelia in October 2017.

Anton Savage, noted broadcaster and MD of The Communications Clinic, will MC the event, and deliver a masterclass on how business leaders can communicate more effectively. He will also chair a discussion with a panel of the 2017 National Project Awards winners on overcoming resistance to change to deliver projects successfully.

The conference is open to project management professionals, as well as those interested in the industry. Early bird tickets are available until 16 March 2018 at projectireland.ie.

Speaking about the upcoming conference, Ireland Chapter of PMI President Pat Lucey said: “We’re welcoming dynamic and innovative speakers to the stage this year. These change makers – both in their respective fields and in the Irish business community – will share valuable insights into how they have, and are, driving real change.”

Also speaking on the day will be director of global managed services at Zenith Technologies, David Staunton; and communications professional, writer and presenter, Dr Laoise O’Murchú, who will discuss key topics including Industry 4.0, risk management and change management. Further keynote speakers will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The PMI is the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project management profession, spearheading project management certification, education, research and training. It has more than 482,000 members worldwide and the Ireland Chapter is the biggest per head of population in Europe, with over 1,300 members.

CAPTION:

Pictured (l-r) at the launch of the conference are Ireland Chapter of PMI Vice-President and Head of Portfolio Management at Three Ireland, Jackie Glynn; Ireland Chapter of PMI President and CEO of Aspira, Pat Lucey; and Ireland Chapter of PMI Director, Niall Murphy.