What's coming up in the Programme Management SIG

A man with glasses smiles while using his laptop, reflecting a positive and focused work environment.

After hosting the final APM face to face conference before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and then the first event when physical attendance events were resumed in early 2022, it’s with some irony that the Programme Management SIG Conference did not stage an event in 2023. However, we will be back. We’re currently in full throttle planning mode for our event in March 2024.

Our conference in March 2020 took place at the Thinktank Museum in Birmingham and was held only days before the full lockdown. Looking back at the event, it feels a little strange. Delegate numbers were slightly depleted due to individuals and companies starting to heed advice from health officials to avoid contact with others and keep distances. Despite being on the edge of an unprecedented crisis, the conference, with the theme The art and Science of Programme Management, was a big success with a good range of speakers and interactive sessions which benefit all that attended.

So, roll on a full 2 years and it’s still difficult to comprehend that only weeks before the March 2022 conference, it was touch and go as to whether this could take place face to face. Luckily, the event, in collaboration with the Portfolio Management SIG, took place as the first physical get together conference for APM in 2 years. With the theme Successful Delivery in the Midst of Rapid Change, the conference was attended by over 80 delegates in Austin Court Conference Centre in Birmingham. Covid still had an impact though, preventing a couple of the speakers from attending in person, therefore the event was a good test case for hybrid event technology which allowed these speakers to join the event virtually.

Currently the Programme Management SIG Committee is planning the 2024 event which will take place at The Plaza Hotel at London Kings Cross on 14th March. (you can book your ticket here). It promises to be an exciting and engaging event with the main theme being Strategies for Success. Sub-themes will explore the challenges in programme management that today’s world brings and how we can set up our programmes for successful delivery amidst these issues. We will examine the effects of technology disruption, the need for sustainability, social and political upheaval, economic volatility and resource constraints meaning that the fundamental approach to the way we manage our programmes must also change to reflect the environment we work within. The event promises to be an interesting, engaging and thought-provoking experience for delegates, whether you’re new to programme management or seasoned practitioners. We have some excellent speakers lined up all of whom will be announced on the APM website very shortly.

But what are my personal motivations in assisting in the planning and delivery of specific interest conferences over the past few years? Well, it’s an excellent opportunity to get involved in the staging of a significant national event and helping to provoke thought leadership in a particular area of project management.

In my experience, the event is defined and remembered by the quality of speakers available for the event. As their involvement is voluntary, it’s really important for the organising committee to define, identify and secure speakers at the earliest opportunity. My personal commitment with these events is to do everything possible to ensure that every one of the paying delegates leave the event with at least a couple areas of new knowledge or ideas that they can take back to their professional practice. So, it’s imperative that the agenda covers a varied spectrum of theory and practice and appeals to a diverse audience.

The day itself is a whirlwind for the committee volunteers. From setting up early morning, welcoming the first arrivals, managing the agenda and seeing delegates off at the end of the event for their onward journeys. There are various roles committee members can be involved in, such as: photography duties, timekeeping, notetaking, reporting key live messages on social media, facilitating… the list goes on. It’s a hugely rewarding experience when the event comes off successfully, with good delegate interaction and the sound of energetic ‘buzz’ during the networking breaks.

Here’s hoping you can join us in March. Book for our March 2024 event.