8:00

Venue and Registration Opens

9:00

Day Two Welcome and Opening

9:10

Keynote Address: How Complex Systems Fail: Lessons from Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 Crashes

Many of us think in Newtonian terms, meaning that when we examine systems, we tend to think there is a direct link between cause and effect - everything that happens has a definite, identifiable cause and a definite effect. And there is symmetry between cause and effect: the seriousness of the effect is related to the seriousness of the cause - big failures occur because of big causes, while small failures occur because of small ones.

But intuitively we know this doesn’t hold up for certain, so-called ‘complex’, systems. Instead, we can have sudden changes in these systems, which often appear dramatic, but which have tiny causes. How then should we think about failure or dramatic change in these types of systems?

This presentation explores this question by examining the organisational causes of the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes that resulted in the deaths of 346 people.

Dr Sean Brady, Managing Director, Brady Heywood

PDU: 1.00

9:30

Neurodiversity and Connection

Creating high-performing project teams demands genuine human connection. In today’s diverse workplaces, connection is too often assumed to happen naturally, yet meaningful connection across difference must be intentionally cultivated. Drawing on lived experience (Donna was diagnosed with ADHD at 53) along with insights from contemporary psychology and inclusion research, the session explores how psychological safety, radical empathy, and curiosity help teams thrive.

The presentation will examine how neurodivergent and otherwise “non-typical” thinkers contribute to innovation, and why connection—not sameness—is the real foundation for collaboration. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building inclusive, high-trust environments where people feel seen, supported, and able to contribute their best work, even when their ways of thinking or relating differ markedly from those around them.

Donna Howell, Consultant, Green Light Projects

PDU: 0.50

When Projects Become Ecosystems - Rethinking Vulnerability, Sustainability, and Governance in Industrial Complexes

Complex projects are characterised by high levels of uncertainty, constant change, and competing demands. These projects operate in environments where priorities shift quickly, expectations often conflict, and unforeseen events can reshape the path forward overnight. Such conditions regularly expose the limits of traditional governance, where rigid structures and slow decision-making struggle to keep pace.

This session introduces an innovative way of thinking: tension as a mechanism for sensing emergence in complex projects. Drawing on findings from a two-year research project, the session demonstrates how governance challenges often manifest as competing demands that create an evolving tension. Using a case study from the South Australian health sector, the session offers a forward-looking perspective for practitioners, leaders, and project governance professionals seeking to enhance the application and approaches to governance in complex projects.

John Al Khateeb, Principal Consultant and Researcher, Adelaide University

PDU: 0.50

10:40

Morning Break

11:00

Beyond the Framework: How PMBOK® 8 and M.O.R.E. Elevate Real‑World Project Success

PMBOK® Guide – 8th Edition introduces a principles-driven approach, replacing prescriptive processes with adaptable performance domains to support predictive, agile, and hybrid methodologies. This evolution emphasizes value delivery, strategic alignment, and flexibility across diverse project environments.

For PMP® aspirants, understanding these changes is critical as the Exam Content Outline (ECO) now focuses on three domains: People, Process, and Business Environment, with scenario-based questions reflecting real-world complexity. The session highlights PMBOK 8’s value proposition—relevance, adaptability, and outcome orientation—while equipping participants with actionable strategies for applying principles and mastering the updated PMP exam framework.

Attendees will gain insights into how PMBOK 8 aligns with modern practices, why PMI shifted toward principle-based guidance, and how to leverage these changes for career advancement and organizational success.

Ishan Wiratunga, Auckland Institute of Studies

PDU: 0.50

Making AI Stick: Proven Change Tactics for Successful Implementation

Some organisations are rapidly introducing new AI tools into teams which haven't changed their workflows for many years and assuming adoption and efficiencies will naturally follow. But external AI vendors have little to no understanding of a team's culture or appetite for change and can't magically fix entrenched behavioural or managerial issues. Project managers tasked with leading the technology roll-out are then left facing the challenge of making the AI tool implementation a success.

This session will present a case study of a project to implement an external AI tool into a team that was openly resistant to AI, in denial about the future of work, and ready to sideline a new tool that would automate most of their work. It will explore the individual and organisational challenges encountered during implementation. It will cover how resistance surfaced, how concerns were escalated and addressed with senior management, and how communication and the breaking down of silos opened the door to change. Attendees will hear what worked, what didn't, and what was learned when introducing AI into a team that did not ask for it. The goal will be to review how to deliver AI-enabled change in environments where trust, capability, and readiness cannot be assumed.

Kara Kennedy, Founder, AI Literacy Institute

PDU: 0.50

11:35

Major Projects: Contractual Risk Management and Project Risk Transfer

Join us for an insightful session on the critical role of insurance in major projects. This presentation will provide a deeper understanding of key insurance types, including their importance, coverage, and relevance to project success. We’ll explore how tailored insurance solutions mitigate risks, protect stakeholders, and ensure project continuity. Through practical examples, we’ll demonstrate how effective insurance strategies address challenges such as delays, liability, and unforeseen events. Whether you’re managing construction, infrastructure, or large-scale initiatives, this session will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and safeguard your projects against potential risks.

Mark Taylorson, Head of Specialisms and Construction, Gallagher

PDU: 0.50

Beyond Time, Budget, Scope: How P5 Turns Project Disasters into Sustainable Legacies

What does it take to deliver projects that truly create lasting value — for people, the planet, and business? In this session, I share my journey witnessing first-hand how different approaches to project delivery can lead to dramatically different outcomes. Using the 5P framework from PRiSM® — People, Planet, Prosperity, Process, and Product — I show how sustainability in Project Management thinking transforms decisions, enhances collaboration, and drives results beyond the bottom line.

Attendees will see practical, real-world examples comparing projects that followed traditional decision-making with those that applied 5P principles. The session introduces actionable tools, including the P5 Impact Analysis and Sustainability Management Plan, showing how any team member can influence better outcomes, even without formal authority. Participants will leave with clear strategies to assess risks, make informed decisions, and contribute to projects that are efficient, sustainable, and impactful — projects they can be proud of.

Dr Olga Lozova, GPM-b™ Certified, Executive Partner at Empowerment PM Solutions; Board Director at PMINZ; Commercial Solar Program Manager at Fisher & Paykel

PDU: 0.50

12:05

Lunch Break

13:00

Session TBC

PDU: 0.50

How Can a Project Manager Make a Difference: Mastering Knowledge Management in a Complex Project

More than 15 years of experience as PM, aligned with many case studies findings in master research, has highlighted the importance of a PM involvement to foster knowledge growth and sharing since early stages of projects life cycle.

As far as many PMs are dealing with the increasing amount of data and applying AI tools to improve productivity, human analysis of data is still crucial for decision making mainly in Design management.

The more people involved, the more changes happen, the more communication is needed, the more complex becomes the project, especially in retail.

The storytelling will be based on an end-to-end project management of a 50-year-old building retrofit for a Shopping center, including architecture and structure re-engineering studies to achieve target budget. Moreover, the challenge to renew an operating hypermarket to become the retail company´s flag ship in the country—under accelerated timelines.

Examples and lessons learned with the team will be shared in the session to show the importance of involving stakeholders, facilitating communication between clients, contractors, and community, and leading multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.

Márcia Cristina Ito Medeiros, Project Manager, Marcia Ito Arquitetura e Gerenciamento

PDU: 0.50

13:35

Session TBC

PDU: 1.00

Session TBC

PDU: 1.00

14:35

Afternoon Break

15:05

The AI Ascent: Cultivating the Next Generation of Project Manager Competencies

This presentation addresses how Project Managers (PMs) must evolve from process custodians to strategic, human-centric leaders in an era where AI handles most administrative and predictive tasks. The next-generation Project Manager is a strategic, empathetic leader who leverages AI for prediction and automation, freeing them to focus on business value, human connection, and ethical stewardship. AI is not replacing the PM; it is elevating the role.

Mazin Gadir, PMI MENA Regional Mentor / Director, PMI/Alvarez and Marsal

PDU: 0.50

Designing with Purpose: Embedding Social Impact and Equity in the Age of Intelligent Automation

Shaping Projects, Empowering People, and AI Convergence: With a strong focus on social impact and equity, my presentation is structured to resonate with both public sector professionals and an innovation-driven audience, blending my expertise in quality assurance and my values around cultural authenticity and empowerment.

Gina Barlow, Principal Consultant, Nonsuch

PDU: 0.50

15:40

Keynote Address: Project Power

Lisa O'Neill is an energy expert who teaches people to be better. Over stretched and under valued people struggle to get great results!

Learn how to take real responsibility for your energy and understand that your energy is your competitive edge. Create experiences that people want to be part of.

Learn what you can control, how to build genuine trust instead of just managing tasks, and why protecting your energy isn't selfish, it's strategic. Walk away with practical tools you can use to lead projects from a place of power, not pressure.

Lisa O'Neill

PDU: 1.00

16:40

Summary remarks from PMI NZ

Carol Spiers, President, Project Management Institute of New Zealand

17:00

End of Conference