Construction BUSINESS

The expansion of Ireland’s state airports has been revealed as Ireland’s most influential project over the past 50 years at the Ireland Chapter of Project Management Institute’s (PMI) National Project Awards, held in partnership with PwC.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of PMI globally, the expansion of Cork, Dublin and Shannon Airports, which served almost 36 million passengers last year between them, scooped the special Jubilee Award following a joint public and jury vote. A further seven winners, all excelling within the project management discipline, were also revealed, including Brian Cliffe, Project Management Course Coordinator at Cork Institute of Technology, who was named Project Professional of the Year. The judges acknowledged Brian for his commitment to the project management profession, applauding him for being a “leader and contributor”.

At the black-tie event at PwC, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1 on 14 November compered by Anton Savage, the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Year was awarded to Ervia / Ervia Business Services for their Standing on the Shoulders of Giants initiative that established Change & Transformation PMO capabilities.

Public Sector Project of the Year went to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the Digital Ambulance, a project which implemented new technology in Emergency Ambulances and Rapid Response Vehicles for the National Ambulance Service. Private Sector (National) Project of the Year was awarded to Optum (UnitedHealth Group) for its Payment Integrity Automation programme while the Private Sector (Multinational) Project of the Year went to Hovione (Ireland) Ltd for the re-launch of Building 2, a landmark manufacturing facility in Ringaskiddy.

Speaking on the winners, President of the Ireland Chapter of PMI Pat Lucey, stated: “From implementing new technology that builds a better health service to the recommissioning and qualifying of a full-scale manufacturing facility, the 2019 winners of the National Project Awards are hugely diverse but are linked through their exceptional use of project management to deliver complex projects.

“This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the PMI, who, for the past five decades have defined the project management discipline and, ultimately the profession through globally recognised standards, practices, communities and resources. The decision of the five founding members to establish the PMI 50 years ago has shaped the world as we know it and the winning projects are a reflection of what can be achieved when project management is effectively implemented. We are especially delighted to reveal Ireland’s Jubilee Project Award, with our State Airports a worthy winner for their vital role in keeping Ireland connected globally.”

Pat Lucey expressed his appreciation to the judging panel for their work in selecting the winners, and to Matheson, the independent verifier for the judging process. He added his sincere thanks to the National Project Awards’ sponsors — PwC, along with AIB, Aspira, CORA Systems, IPA, PMI.org and Teamwork.

Féilim Harvey, PwC Portfolio and Programme Management Leader, said: “PwC is delighted to again support the Ireland Chapter of PMI to host the 2019 National Project Awards celebrating project management excellence. This year, as ever, we have a superb shortlist of fantastic projects, all demonstrating top class project management.  In particular, in the 50th year of the PMI, we have a very special Jubilee Award, showcasing the single key project that has made a real difference to people’s lives in Ireland in the last 50 years.

“Project management is central to Irish business success and our recent research shows that project managers will need to think beyond the traditional, look to innovation and new thinking to deliver sustainable projects into the future.

“PwC is very proud to be associated with these prestigious Awards. We congratulate all of the winners and those shortlisted for your tremendous achievements.”

CAPTION:

Pictured at the Ireland Chapter of Project Management Institute’s National Project Awards (L to R): Chapter President Pat Lucey; Andrew Murphy, Managing Director at Shannon Airport; Graham Doyle, Secretary General of the Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport;  PwC Portfolio and Programme Management Leader, Féilim Harvey; and Siobhan O’Donnell, Head of External Communications at daa; with the Ireland’s Jubilee Project Award.

Winners of the 2019 National Project Awards are:

• Ireland’s Jubilee Project Award (sponsored by PwC): Expansion of Ireland’s State Airports
• Project Professional of the Year (sponsored by Aspira): Brian Cliffe — Cork Institute of Technology
• PMO of the Year (sponsored by CORA Systems): Ervia / Ervia Business Services — Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
• Public Sector Project of the Year (sponsored by IPA): Health Service Executive (HSE) — Digital Ambulance
• Private Sector (National) Project of the Year (sponsored by Ireland Chapter of PMI): Optum (UnitedHealth Group) — Payment Integrity Automation
• Private Sector (Multinational) Project of the Year (sponsored by PMI.org): Hovione (Ireland) Ltd — Re-launch of Building 2
• Social Good – Community Project of the Year (sponsored by AIB): Wells for Zoë
• Social Good – Corporate Project of the Year (sponsored by Teamwork): Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) — Low Carbon Pledge