Australian Institute of
Project Management

2024 National Conference

21 - 23 October 2024

National Convention Centre Canberra

Speakers

The involvement of our distinguished speakers is integral to steering the success of the project. With meticulous care, the conference committee selects these individuals, evaluating their experience, specialised skills, industry understanding, and talent to engage and motivate fellow professionals.

Our speakers boast diverse backgrounds in project management, providing a wealth of perspectives. Check out our roster of confirmed speakers below, presentation titles and overviews will be accessible on the program page soon.

Click to see our:
Keynote Speakers
Panel Speakers
Concurrent Sessions Speakers Highlights
Concurrent Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Profile

Chris Deeble, AO CSC
DEPUTY SECRETARY, CAPABILITY ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT GROUP (CASG), DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Chris has extensive experience spanning the defence, industry and commercial sectors and working with Government. He also served for 37 years in the Australian Defence Force, most notably as an Air Vice-Marshal.

His most recent appointment was Chief Executive at Northrop Grumman Australia. Prior to that he worked for Airservices Australia as the program executive for OneSKY, responsible for delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.

Chris returns to CASG after previously holding the role of Senior Program Manager where he managed more than $25 billion of complex acquisition and sustainment programs including the Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control, Multi Role Tanker Transport and Collins Class Submarine.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Sydney. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2007 and recognized in 2016 as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Profile

Rear Admiral David Mann, CSC, RAN
HEAD JOINT CAPABILITIES

Rear Admiral David Mann, CSC, RAN joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989.

His sea postings have included HMA Ships Geelong, Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne under training and Melbourne again as the Fighter Controller. As a Principal Warfare Officer he served in HMAS Darwin (twice), HMAS Adelaide and in Sea Training Group as the Fleet Gunnery Officer.

He has enjoyed Joint postings as the Navy Air Defence Instructor at RAAF Williamtown, in Capability Development Group, as Directing Staff at the Australian Command and Staff College and a short period as the Director of Maritime Operations at Joint Operations Command.

Rear Admiral Mann has completed deployments in support of Operation Warden/Stabilise in East Timor, Operations Slipper, Falconer and Catalyst in the Middle East and border protection Operations Relex and Resolute.

He was the Executive Officer of HMAS Anzac and the Commanding Officer of HMAS Darwin.

His staff positions have included the Director Navy Capability Needs Analysis within Navy Headquarters for which he was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross and on exchange in US Pacific Fleet Command, N5 Policy and Plans Directorate for which he received the United States Legion of Merit. On promotion to Commodore in May 2018 he was appointed as Director General Surface Combatants and Aviation.

Rear Admiral Mann served as Commander of the Surface Force from December 2020 until December 2022. Following promotion to his current rank, he assumed the newly created role of Head Joint Capabilities in January 2023.

Rear Admiral Mann has a Master of Arts in Strategy and Security. He is married to Nicole and they have two young daughters.

Profile

John Owens
CEO, EVOLVE FM

John Owens is a former Australian Army Officer and Public Servant who was reappointed to the role of CEO Evolve FM in March 2023. Prior to this appointment, he was at the University of Canberra as Associate Vice President Campus Estate from August 2017.

John’s military service was in the Australian Intelligence Corps, and he had a variety of postings in Australia and Hong Kong. He left the Army in 1999 to join the Australian Public Service. As a Public Servant John worked in intelligence, policy and senior management roles for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Finance. He left the APS in April 2015 to join 100% Aboriginal-owned construction and services company Pacific Services Group Holdings (PSGH).

When PSGH went into a joint venture with global property company JLL to form Evolve FM, John was appointed CEO of the company in April 2016. He left Evolve FM in August 2017 to join UC. In addition to his undergraduate degree, John has two Masters degrees, in Defence Studies and Management.

Profile

Adrian Piani
MARKET LEADER, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GHD

Adrian Piani is an environmental engineer who has worked predominately in the water resources, environmental and infrastructure sectors.

In March 2024 Adrian joined GHD as the Market Leader for Federal Government.

Previously he was the ACT Chief Engineer, where he provided strategic advice to government on infrastructure projects and supported the capability and capacity of the engineering cohort through the ACT Government Engineering Workforce Plan.

He is a Chartered Fellow and Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia, graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Chair of the Board of Engineering Excellence, and Director on the Advisory Board for the Centre for a Better Canberra at the University of Canberra.

He is a proud Canberran and is passionate about the role that infrastructure plays in supporting our wellbeing and quality of life.

Profile

Jo Cooper
FOUNDER & CEO, THE GOOD WARRIOR

Meet Jo Cooper, an Australian singer/songwriter, storyteller, advocate, author, and changemaker with a background in Project Management. Known for her vivacious spirit and unwavering passion for standing up for her beliefs, Jo is a relentless Warrior for Change who fearlessly challenges the status quo.

Jo's journey began with a painful chapter that highlighted the importance of bystanders. A traumatic experience in her first relationship, when her then-boyfriend's anger escalated, Jo was violently thrown from a speeding vehicle. Lying on the ground, surrounded by indifferent eyes, she felt their disregard more painfully than her physical injuries. This moment was her realisation of the impact of bystanders. A survivor of abuse, Jo has walked a path etched with resilience and unwavering advocacy against violence and bullying.

Leaving the corporate world to follow her dream of becoming an artist, she poured her heart into writing and singing. However, her path was forever altered, her commitment to her values remained steadfast when she faced a David-and-Goliath legal battle with her Strata Committee. Her investigation into the abuse of property rights in strata schemes led her to the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal, where she achieved a unanimous judgment in her favour. This landmark case, ranked #6 among the most influential court cases of the 21st century, restored property and pet rights for millions of Australians living in strata schemes.

Jo's mission now combines her passion for advocacy with her gift for music. She aims to educate and inspire corporations, communities, and individuals to transition from a bystander culture to one of active engagement and positive impact. Her work helps organizations and individuals create lasting social change, retain cohesive teams, and avoid legal disputes. Above all, Jo seeks to disempower bullies and abusers through the harmonious chorus of collective voices, leading with purpose and meaning to foster success and impact.

Panel Speakers

PANEL 1 - WOMEN IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Lauren MacDougall
FACILITATOR

PROJECT MANAGER, OBI PM GROUP AIPM PROJECT CONTROLS COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE LEAD

Christina Langwill
PANELLIST

ASSISTANT SECRETARY STRATEGY AND PLANNING BRANCH, CAPABILITY ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT GROUP

Jo Farrell
PANELLIST

FOUNDER, BUILD LIKE A GIRL
ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2024

Laura Fluck
PANELLIST

ANZ REGIONAL BUSINESS LINE DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT, AECOM

Jennifer Gillett
PANELLIST

CHAIR OF THE BOARD, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

PANEL 2 - INFRASTRUCTURE

Leo Cooper
FACILITATOR

CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, iPLAN ENERGY

Gillian Geraghty
PANELLIST

DIRECTOR GENERAL AND ACT CHIEF ENGINEER, MAJOR PROJECTS CANBERRA

Sophie Gray
PANELLIST

PROJECT DIRECTOR, CAPITAL WORKS TASKFORCE, NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA

David Tucker
PANELLIST

CHIEF OF PROJECT ADVISORY AND EVALUATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

Caroline Tomiczek
PANELLIST

DIRECTOR, URBIS

Concurrent Sessions Speakers Highlights

Profile

Adam Beck
GENERAL MANAGER, BUSINESS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT, HUB GROUP

Adam is an urbanist who has worked for private sector consultancies and leading global non-government organisations to advance sustainable community outcomes in cities around the world for almost 30 years.

Currently, he is Head of Digital Urbanism at ENE.HUB, an Indara Company, a role that has him working collaboratively with government and the private sector to realise the benefits of shared urban infrastructure in connecting, activating and measuring urban life. Adam is also Chair of the Standards Australia Digital Twin Working Group, Co-Chair of the Smart Places and Infrastructure Workstream at the Internet of Things Alliance Australia and co-host of the podcast ‘Digital Built Australia’. Before entering the mission-driven sector Adam spent 15 years with global consulting firms Arup and GHD and founded the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand.

Profile

Gavin Blakey (OAM)
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE BOARD, ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS AUSTRALIA

Gavin Blakey’s career has spanned private enterprise, local government, and the not-for-profit sector.

He has held many roles including flood management, sustainable water use, planning, budget management, geotechnical engineering, industrial relations, business development and strategic advisor, and strategic asset manager of Brisbane’s significant asset portfolio. In 2011 he was awarded a National Disaster Medal for his leadership in response and recovery from the devastating Brisbane River floods.

Gavin is the immediate past Chair of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that is creating a world where technology benefits all. Capacity building and addressing water and sanitation challenges in rural and remote areas of Australia, Asia and the Pacific are some of EWB’s strategic focus areas.

Gavin has worked in Asia on a number of occasions, including as In-Country Manager for Cambodia and Vietnam with EWB, and as Project Director on the Dili Water Emergency Response Project.

He has spoken to audiences in more than 20 countries and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his contributions to communication and leadership development nationally and internationally.

Gavin is passionate about developing leaders and achieving lasting impact through a holistic approach to human centred approaches.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and an MBA (Technology Management).

Profile

Louise Wakefield
ICNL EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, INDUSTRY CAPABILITY NETWORK

Profile

Dr Mike Ryan
DIRECTOR, CAPABILITY ASSOCIATES PTY LTD

Dr Michael Ryan is the Director of Capability Associates Pty Ltd. He consults and lectures in a range of subjects including communications systems, systems engineering, requirements engineering, capability management, and project management. He is a co-chair of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Requirements Working Group. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, and INCOSE Fellow, a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, and a senior member of the IEEE. He is the author or co-author of 14 books, 4 book chapters, and over 450 journal and conference papers. He is co-author of the INCOSE Needs and Requirements Manual and the Guide to Writing Requirements, and is a contributor to the Guide to Needs and Requirements and the Guide to Verification and Validation, as well as ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook and the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK). Over the last 35 years, he has facilitated requirements development activities for more than 50 major projects.

Profile