Khader Issa Abu Ghannam is the Director of the Tendering & Projects Control Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, with over 29 years of extensive experience in the construction industry across the Middle East. Since joining DCT in 2017, Khader has been instrumental in establishing and structuring the TPC Department, which encompasses Tendering, Project Controls, Contracts Administration, and Cost Estimation. With a deep understanding of the cultural and regional dynamics that shape project delivery in the Middle East, Khader brings visionary leadership, strategic thinking, and advanced project management expertise to the table. His innovative approach ensures that DCT’s capital projects—valued at AED 26 billion and ranging from museums, mega projects, and archaeological sites to conservation and quick-win initiatives—are effectively planned, budgeted, procured, monitored, and controlled. His commitment to innovation and governance frameworks continues to support the successful delivery of DCT capital projects in culturally sensitive and rapidly evolving environments.

Dr. Marwan Abu Ebeid drives digital transformation within the construction industry to implement innovative technologies. Marwan has made a global impact by leveraging digitalization to transform industry enterprise levels, back-end systems, expense tracking, innovation, and automation, resulting in growth and advancement. He has spearheaded major construction projects with global impact, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, EXPO 2020, Dubai International Financial Center, Downtown Dubai, and more. In 2022, Marwan received the Excellence and Creative Engineering Award in UAE for efforts to ensure the sustainable prosperity of the UAE while also remaining abreast with evolving methodologies and engineering development. In the same year, he authored 2 of the seven chapters of the National Smart Construction Guidelines for the entire UAE Government. The step-by-step guide outlined BIM and blockchain integration processes applicable to both the private and government sectors of construction. Marwan serves as a founding member of the UK-funded Center of Excellence (CESC) research center responsible for establishing the UK’s CESC within the UAE. His efforts earned him recognition from the Scottish government and a subsequent invitation to view several technology research centers. Marwan also serves as a Board member of the Society of Engineers in the UAE – Digital Engineering Chapter and as an Advisory Board Member for the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and the University of Sharjah (UoS). Marwan received his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Construction Project Management from Heriot-Watt University in the UK. He holds a Certificate from Harvard University in Driving Digital Strategies and two certificates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Digital Transformation Smart Cities.

A highly analytical and results-oriented Project Controls Engineer with 7 years of experience in Project Services at Petroleum Development Oman. I possess a proven ability to provide comprehensive cost and planning support across diverse projects. Adept at developing and maintaining robust Work Breakdown Structures, project schedules (including Primavera P6), and integrated controls systems. Skilled in meticulous progress monitoring, accurate reporting, and proactive identification of deviations, coupled with recommending corrective actions to ensure projects remain on track and within budget. Possessing strong competencies in cost management, risk management, and change control procedures, I am committed to delivering demonstrable value to clients by understanding their critical success factors. I thrive in dynamic, multicultural, and matrix organizational environments, excelling at building strong client relationships and fostering collaborative team performance. My expertise extends to implementing and monitoring Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001-2015, API Q2 2nd edition) and contributing to continuous improvement through internal and external learnings. I am dedicated to ensuring timely, high-quality project delivery while upholding excellent HSE performance.

Dev is a chartered engineer and the Co-Founder and CEO of nPlan, an AI company that forecasts the outcomes and risks of construction projects using data from over 750,000 previous projects. nPlan helps projects worldwide plan, assure, de-risk and deliver on time and budget. Dev’s experience includes delivering construction projects for Shell spanning three continents over nine years. Following this, Dev worked for the UK Prime Minister (Theresa May) to launch and deliver the national strategy on AI in 2017. Dev is passionate about changing the way projects are delivered through data-enabled decision-making. nPlan now forecasts over $300b of projects each month and has processed schedules representing over $2T of construction spend, the largest dataset of its kind in the world.

Adam joined APM (Association for Project Management) as CEO in September 2021 having previously held leadership roles in other membership associations, including six years as CEO of the National Association for Special Educational Needs. In addition to his role at APM, Adam has a diverse non-executive director portfolio supporting organisations and projects that benefit society. In 2022, Adam was awarded the OBE for services to children with special educational needs.

Carlo is a Director, Business Unit Leader, Estimating Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Chartered Construction Manager specialising in major project and programme development service delivery for Arcadis Infrastructure. With a strong background in the Infrastructure, Enabling Work and Statutory Undertakers, he is valued as a specialist in his field by key clients including National Grid, SSEN, National Highways, Network Rail and High Speed 2. With a resounding ‘can do’ attitude, Carlo has great analytical capacities, problem-solving skills with a methodical approach, strong communication skills and negotiation abilities.

Carolyn Browning is a transformation and programme delivery leader with 20 years’ experience across Defence, Infrastructure, Nuclear, Rail, iGaming, and Global Technology. A Director of the Controls and Skills Authority (CaSA), she is co-lead author of Project Controls in the 21st Century and a contributor to the APM’s Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control guide. Carolyn specialises in programme recovery, governance, and project controls, using data-driven insights and robust assurance to drive strategic delivery and sustainable change. Her leadership is collaborative and people-centred, built on hands-on experience in complex, high-risk environments. She is a passionate advocate for raising standards and developing future talent, actively contributing to professional bodies and mentoring the next generation of project professionals.

Dr. Alexander Budzier is a Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and co-founder of Oxford Global Projects. An internationally recognised authority on project management, risk, and strategic decision-making, he has advised governments, global corporations, and multilateral organisations on improving the performance of complex projects from digital transformations to megainfrastructure. He is best known for pioneering research on cost overruns and forecasting error in IT and infrastructure, reshaping how leaders think about uncertainty and risk. His work, with Bent Flyvbjerg and colleagues, has been widely published and featured in leading journals and media outlets. He is co-author of Intelligent Change – The Science Behind Digital Transformations and the How to Measure Anything in Project Management.

I am an academic researcher with a focused interest in the performance of major and mega projects. My work is driven by a desire to simplify the complexity that characterises these large-scale endeavors. Mega projects often involve layers of competing priorities, stakeholder dynamics, and decision-making challenges that can consume vast amounts of time and erode productivity. My research addresses these issues by applying robust analytical tools—specifically Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)—to bring structure and clarity to project evaluation and decision-making. Through this approach, I aim to empower project leaders to regain control over schedules, streamline strategic discussions, and resolve tensions between critical dimensions such as resource allocation and sustainability. A key insight from my recent findings is that these competing priorities can be reconciled without compromising professionalism or politeness in high-stakes decision environments. My vision is to act as a change catalyst in this domain, demonstrating that even the most complex projects can be navigated with confidence, collaboration, and clarity—transforming the experience from a burden into a "walk in the park."

Chris Coombs is an experienced portfolio and programme management leader with over 25 years in the aviation and transportation sectors. Chris is responsible for ensuring that capital investments align with strategic priorities while maintaining rigorous governance across a diverse and safety-critical project landscape. Chris played a central role in transforming NATS’ project controls environment—leading the adoption of Microsoft Project Online to provide enterprise-wide visibility and control. With a background that spans technology, change management, and business strategy, Chris brings a practical, delivery-focused perspective to portfolio management. He is passionate about building capability, simplifying complex processes, and enabling decision-makers with timely, actionable data. Chris’ leadership has helped NATS enhance transparency, standardise reporting, and better demonstrate value across its programme portfolio.

Dynamic Senior Data Engineer and Architect with 17 years of extensive experience in data migration and architecture across diverse sectors. Expertise lies in designing and implementing complex data solutions such as data lakes and warehouses. Proficient in leveraging advanced technologies, including Azure and GCP, alongside robust Data/AI processes to facilitate seamless data transitions and ensure high-quality data management. Committed to fostering innovation and collaboration, driving business intelligence initiatives, and delivering actionable data solutions that empower organizations to thrive in today's data-driven landscape.

Phil is an Estimator and Cost Engineer with a decade of experience in Major Construction. He has worked in the power sector, gas transmission, rail and highways. He has experience in estimating using a variety of techniques, from stochastic methods including parametric modelling to deterministic methods including first principles. He has a robust commercial understanding, especially with NEC contracts. He has experience of engineering, procurement and project controls with large organisations in the power sector. His Engineering and technical background gives him a thorough technical knowledge of electrical substations, Pipelines, AGIs and Compressor station constructability. He understands the regulatory framework of transmission in the UK. He is highly analytical, technically proficient, and commercially astute. Phil is a husband and father of three. His hobbies include poetry, football, music and chess (not all at the same time).

Hilal Demircapa is an accomplished Associate Director at Laminar Projects, specializing in project management consulting with an emphasis on integrating advanced technologies into construction. With a career spanning the Turkey, Kuwait, and the UK, she draws on her international experience to bring a well-rounded perspective to project execution and delivery. Hilal is particularly focused on leveraging visual planning, data analytics, and technology-driven tools to optimize project outcomes. Her expertise includes project planning and controls, data analysis, and risk management, encompassing a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from £1 million to £500 million, including data centres, railways, hospitals, harbors, and residential developments.

Gianluca Di Lecce is a civil engineer with over 20 years of international experience in the industrial, oil & gas, and renewable energy sectors. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in the successful delivery of complex infrastructure and energy projects across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East—including Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Italy, and France. His core expertise lies in project and construction management, construction cost engineering, and the integration of economic and technical disciplines to optimize project outcomes. His deep understanding of project lifecycles, from early planning and CAPEX estimation to execution and close-out, has enabled him to effectively lead multidisciplinary teams, manage large-scale budgets, and ensure alignment between technical design, commercial strategy, and execution efficiency. He is a Certified Member and speaker of AACE International (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering), holds the APMP certification from the Association for Proposal Management Professionals, and is also a certified Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), demonstrating his ability to apply agile principles in complex engineering environments. In addition, he is TCM certified by ICEC (International Cost Engineering Council) through AICE, where he actively contributes to the advancement of cost engineering and total cost management practices. Thanks to his strong analytical mindset, leadership skills, and cross-cultural communication abilities, he has successfully collaborated with stakeholders at all organizational levels—engineering teams, contractors, clients, and executive leadership—ensuring transparency, risk mitigation, and value-driven decision-making across all project phases. Passionate about continuous improvement and innovation in project delivery, he is committed to leveraging his technical background and strategic vision to drive impactful and sustainable results in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Joao Dias brings over 15 years of extensive experience as a Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in Planning, Scheduling, Risk, and Cost Engineering, coupled with a deep understanding of FIDIC and NEC forms of contracts. His career has encompassed diverse projects spanning Railway, Marine, Civils, Highways, Airports, Building, Pharma, Hightech, and Energy sectors, working globally and collaborating closely with key stakeholders across major and mega international EPC and D&B projects. His academic background includes an Integrated Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management and a MSc Degree in Data Science, complemented by certifications as a Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) by AACE International and a Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) by PMI. Moreover, he is an early adopter of new construction technology and has extensive experience in the implementation of state-of-the-art digital solutions at projects and portfolio levels, such as Oracle Primavera P6, OPC, SAP, Office 365, Candy CCS, and Synchro. Furthermore, he has a track record of volunteering, currently serving as the Director for AACE Region 9 Europe and Africa, and has navigated diverse environments across various countries, cultivating adaptability and adeptness in fostering cross-cultural collaborations, essential qualities for navigating the global landscape of project planning and management.

I'm a dedicated specialist in project controls and maintenance management, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency in asset-intensive industries. With extensive experience in both planned maintenance, Capex- and turnaround projects, I have worked closely with industrial sites across Europe to optimize their project control processes, digitalize execution workflows, and enhance maintenance performance. As a consultant, I'm also actively involved in the development and implementation of innovative SaaS solutions tailored to the maintenance sector. In recent years, this has included the promotion and refinement of modules for digital work execution, handover management, and project performance reporting. A key part of this work involves translating complex operational requirements into practical, scalable digital tools that seamlessly integrate with existing ERP and scheduling systems like SAP and Primavera. Recognizing that technology alone does not drive sustainable change, I believe very much in the combination of digital transformation initiatives with a structured consulting methodology. This includes process mapping, bottleneck analysis, and collaborative stakeholder workshops to identify improvement opportunities and align new tools with day-to-day operational practices. I have contributed to several high-profile maintenance, Capex - and turnaround projects within the chemical, energy, and manufacturing sectors, supporting both daily maintenance operations, large-scale capex projects and shutdown events. By bridging the gap between strategic project control principles and on-the-ground execution, I help organizations achieve greater visibility, control, and efficiency in their maintenance -, Capex - and Turnaround processes.

Dr Shirin Dora is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Loughborough University in the Department of Computer Science. Shirin holds a PhD in Machine Learning from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, ranked 15th globally. He has over 13 years of experience in developing domain-specific AI solutions – including grid optimisation, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and construction. He has previously held research roles at the University of Amsterdam and CWI Netherlands, contributing to the EU Human Brain Project. Prior to starting his PhD in 2012, he worked with Cognizant and SAS R&D (India) in software developer roles.

Maged El Hawary is a Project Management Consultant with over 25 years of experience in Project Management, Strategic Management, Cost Control, EVM, Technology, and Innovation. Maged is currently the Managing Director of Analytica, operating in UAE, KSA and Egypt; He was CIO/CCO of ASGC Group. Started his career in 1998 as a Site Engineer, then as a Planning and Control Engineer in The Arab Contractors -Egypt; later on, Maged held several managerial positions in critical international companies and managed major projects in Residential, Commercial, Oil, and gas, social infrastructure and Industrial sectors. Maged is an Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor at Heriot-Watt University, Member of the Industry Advisory Board of AUD Past President of AACEI, UAE- section Maged is a professional speaker and panellist in international conferences on Project Management, Project controls and technology forums. Maged has received the following international awards: - Charles Kean for distinguished service award – AACE International-USA 2014 -Team Leader of the Year – 1st UAE PM Conference – SOE -2015 -Controls expo global Award- UK-2018 -H.H. Hamdan Bin Mohamed Award-Innovative PMO Manager-DIPMF 2019 - Male Construction Leader of the Year 2021 – Big5 Egypt – 2021 Maged holds the following degrees: - 1998: BSc. in Civil Engineering- Cairo University- Egypt - 2002: PGD. in Construction Engineering and Management - Cairo University - 2013: MSc. Construction Project Management – Heriot-Watt University - UK - 2020: MRICS - UK - 2021: AF-Higher Education Academy - UK - 2023: PhD. Construction Technology& PM– Heriot-Watt University - UK - Project Management Professional (PMP) -PMI/USA - Certified Cost Professional (CCP) - AACEI/USA - Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP)- AACEI/USA - Earned Value Professional (EVP) - AACEI/USA - Registered Expert - CRCICA- Egypt

Mohamed is a Senior Manager at Khatib & Alami – PMC sector, with 23 years of experience in construction projects, including real estate, hospitals, security buildings, hospitality projects, harbors, infrastructure, and petrochemical plants. Besides, his expertise includes establishing and operating PMOs for major organizations in Saudi Arabia. He holds an MSc. in PMO and Program Management, an MBA from Leicester University–UK, a Chartered Level-7 Diploma in Strategic Management from CMI–UK, a Professional Diploma in Forensic Schedule Analysis from CCM–UK, and a BSc. in Civil Engineering. Mohamed also has professional certificates, including PMP, CCP, PMI_RMP, and P3O. In addition to his professional achievements, Mohamed is the Founder of SeedsWise and a Co-Founder of Luqman Academy, reflecting his commitment to community development and knowledge transfer.

Evan is a Principal Solutions engineer specializing in PPM products. Prior to joining Deltek, Evan has worked in different positions within Project Controls and Project Management departments, across multiple industries including Oil & Gas and Infrastructure, both on the client and contractor side

Emre Gokyigit is a project controls expert with over 10 years of international experience in planning, risk, and performance management. At Laminar Projects, he leads teams delivering data-driven planning and controls for complex infrastructure and mission-critical data centre programmes across the UK and Europe. A certified PMP, Emre specialises in tools such as Primavera P6, Earned Value Analysis, and Power BI to drive project reliability and cost efficiency. His project portfolio includes the Lusail Light Rail (Qatar), Gatwick Airport, and metro systems across MENA. Known for his collaborative leadership and innovation in PMO solutions, Emre is also a committed mentor in the field of project controls.

Dr Gregor Grzeszczyk, Senior Associate Director of Risk at Amentum, is a pragmatic expert with a career forged on the front lines of high-stakes infrastructure and technically complex programmes. He specialises in advancing risk quantification methodologies - leveraging cutting-edge Monte Carlo methods and machine learning - to deliver sharper insights across decision-making, probabilistic forecasting, and cybersecurity analytics. By transforming intricate data into actionable strategies, he offers a forward-looking lens on unlocking new dimensions of project success and digital resilience. His integrated approach empowers teams to navigate and mitigate the full spectrum of physical and cyber uncertainties shaping todays most demanding projects.

Diego is a Senior Manager in the Major Programmes / Capital Programmes part of Deloitte Consulting. He is a Civil Engineer by background and holds an MBA in Business Management with over 13 years of experience between industry and consulting. He has recently focused on the E2E cycle of Digital Transformation within Capital Programmes plus setting up & leading PMOs and Project Controls teams. Diego is also a board member of the AACE Global Education Board and Co-Editor of their PRMP Certification Study Guide.

Owner, founder and director of UniPhi, a portfolio and project management software company. Mr Heath developed UniPhi after consulting to a range of Fortune 500 companies and major government departments around the world. His passion and focus revolves around commercialising innovative and disruptive technologies – like UniPhi’s project and portfolio management software – to improve his client’s internal processes and returns. UniPhi is the culmination of of many years of research and development. Mr Heath has ensured it is an effective, robust and mature system, which integrates with existing client systems and core applications. Mr Heath is a fellow of CPA Australia

Mohamed Hegazy is a highly experienced Project Management Consultant with over 21 years of expertise in managing mega-projects across buildings, infrastructure, and roads. He holds a Master’s in Construction Law from Salford University, UK, an MBA from UoPeople, US, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Ain Shams University, Egypt. Certified as MRICS, PMP, CCP, and P3O, and a FIDIC Contracts Consultant. He is also the author of 50 Planning Fundamentals and Fundamentals of Construction Contracts.

Philip is a Project Controls Manager with two decades of delivery experience across public and private sector infrastructure projects. Philip has been working with AWE across the capital portfolio since 2013 and joined the AWE team in 2019. In his current role as the Head of PMO and Project Controls for AWE's Future Infrastructure Portfolio, Philip has oversight for the integration and delivery across a multi-billion pound programme of capital works. Philip is using his passion for the profession to drive the transformational uplift of Project Controls through digital and data.

Mr. Moj Kesheh is a Planning and Scheduling Professional, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and expert witness in disruption, productivity loss, delay, and risk management with over 22 years of experience. He helps clients avoid, mitigate, and resolve complex project disputes while driving process improvement and capital efficiency. Recognised for his expertise in cost and schedule risk analysis, he supports risk-informed decisions through identification of key risk drivers, proactive mitigation, and performance forecasting. He uses System Dynamics modelling to quantify and demonstrate disruption, delay, and productivity loss, and to support project recovery. Mr. Kesheh serves as a Technical Board Member of AACE International and Vice Chair of its Claims and Dispute Resolution Subcommittee.

Yamini is a Programme Controls Manager for Wales & Western Region in Network Rail with competencies in Information Technology and Business Intelligence Reporting. She has 10 years of experience in programme controls and has served as a catalyst for successfully implementing and maintaining automated Power BI reports which resulted in teams benefiting from viewing robust data from various sources in a single place. She is passionate about technology and enjoys nothing more than learning the trends that technology is taking to work more efficiently and see progress and success.

"Clare Lambert is a Practice Director at AtkinsRéalis, leading project controls delivery across major UK infrastructure programmes. Based in Bristol, she plays a key role in the Project Delivery Practice — a centre of excellence supporting national projects. Clare brings a collaborative, forward-thinking leadership style and is known for embracing innovation to drive better outcomes. Her experience spans sectors including water, defence, aviation, and urban development. Passionate about quality, people, and purpose, Clare is committed to delivering impactful results that align with AtkinsRéalis’ mission to engineer a better future for people and the planet."

Andreas is the Head of Data Science at Oxford Global Projects, where he leads a multidisciplinary team in managing a project performance database of over 20,000 global projects. He has directed risk analysis for significant European infrastructure projects, including the UK’s High Speed 2, and the Sizewell C nuclear power plant. Andreas led the development of an AI-based early warning system for Hong Kong's Development Bureau, achieving approximately 15% annual savings of portfolio value, or USD 6 billion. He also provides strategic support for international projects, including advising directly to top level politicians and executives. Currently, he is authoring “How To Measure Anything In Project Management” for the American publisher Wiley, focusing on innovative measurement solutions in project management.

Helber Macedo is an experienced professional from the Energy industry who has been working on major projects since 2007. He is a Global Commercial Operations Manager - Costing at Baker Hughes, working with Subsea Projects in the Oil & Gas Industry. He is author of the book A Practical Guide to Cost Engineering (Routledge 2023), and book aims to show you how to work as a cost engineer out in the real world. Helber is the author of a number of technical papers and developed and taught a variety of in-house cost estimating, construction, planning and industrial assembly courses for Petrobras. Helber is enthusiastic about cost engineering and love numbers. For this reason, he have been writing about this science on LinkedIn since 2020. The result is over 2.5 million views and 250 posts related to cost estimating, cost control, planning, scheduling, contract management, project management, and dispute resolution.​

Milla began her railway career in 2005, initially working with Union Railways on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now known as High Speed 1) and then with Network Rail, the railway infrastructure owner and operator for Great Britain. Over the years, Milla has focused on programme controls, planning, scheduling, and integration in the railway industry. In her current role in Wales & Western Region, Milla is leading initiatives in project data analytics across the capital delivery portfolio. Milla is a keen volunteer, having supported the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways as a permanent way worker, the Royal Academy of Engineering with project CARE, as well as the Association for Project Management (APM) in a variety of roles. Her work with Network Rail and the Royal Academy of Engineering was recognised with the honour of a British Empire Medal. Within APM, Milla has been a passionate and active volunteer, joining the Planning, Monitoring & Control SIG in 2014 and becoming the group’s chair in 2016. That same year, Milla was elected as a charity trustee of APM, where she has served on all board committees. Most recently, in 2022, Milla was elected as the chair of the APM board, concluding her term in 2025. In 2024, Milla was also appointed as a Non-Executive Director of GCH Ltd, an independent housing association dedicated to providing affordable homes and building successful communities. Milla’s passion is for innovation and lifelong learning; she will either be found working, volunteering, or learning something new.

Hamza Afdhal Mehdi Mirza is working as a Technical Services Lead in Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), he has contributed extensively to project controls activities across PDO, led various continuous improvement initiatives within Planning & Scheduling, Cost Engineering, Risk Management, Contract Management, Change Management, Project Reporting and Project Health Checks. Hamza holds a BENG (Hons) in Mechanical Electronic System Engineering and has been in the company for more than 10 years. He has worked in multi-billion-dollar projects and developed Project Controls expertise in all the key phases of a project i.e. from Initiation phase to final handover. In addition to the above, he has been involved in conducting various knowledge sharing sessions and always keen in enhancing the capability of Project Controls professionals.

Nita Mistry is a Special Counsel at K&L Gates LLP. Nita has over a decade’s experience advising clients on complex, high value disputes arising out of major construction, infrastructure, engineering and energy projects. During this time, she has represented developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and manufacturers, providing commercially driven, pragmatic legal advice. Nita has experience of commercial international arbitration, court litigation in addition to other forms of dispute resolution, including expert determination, adjudication and mediation. Nita has acted on international arbitrations arising out of projects in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America and Asia and has represented clients in a wide variety of arbitration proceedings, including those before the LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, HIAC, as well as in ad hoc proceedings.

Niamh joined Babcock Land & UK Aviation late 2015, where she delivered critical infrastructure projects, before becoming Head of the Project Management Function for the sector, spanning defence, training, infrastructure and critical services, then our Global Function in 2023. Since then, Niamh has completed deployments in Mission Systems and Marine, prior to her appointment as Global Director for Project Management, reporting to our CDO in April 2025. Prior, Niamh had worked for a group of privately owned SMEs in Belgravia and Chelsea, across industries including property development and hospitality. Niamh read law at Kings College London and recently completed her MBA at Trinity College Dublin.

Peter O’Neill is a recognised expert in project portfolio management and digital transformation, with over 25 years of experience helping organisations improve delivery, decision-making and governance across their project environments. As Director at The Project Group (TPG) UK & Ireland, Peter leads engagements that combine strategic consulting with technology solutions built on Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform. He brings particular expertise in integrating Microsoft Project with SAP and other line-of-business systems, including earned value and risk management tools. Peter has worked extensively with TPG’s PSLink® integration platform to bridge enterprise PPM with core finance and operational systems. His work focuses on enabling PMOs and project leaders to align delivery with business goals – ensuring tools, processes and people work in harmony. With deep domain knowledge across sectors including public services, infrastructure, and regulated industries, Peter is a respected voice in the evolution of modern project environments.

Christopher Pond is an experienced commercial leader with a strong track record in driving growth, partnerships, and customer success within the Microsoft ecosystem. As Commercial Director at The Project Group (TPG) UK & Ireland, he leads the company’s go-to-market strategy, helping organisations adopt modern project and portfolio management tools that support strategic execution. With a background spanning both technical consulting and business leadership, Christopher has worked across multiple industries to deliver solutions that connect Microsoft 365, the Power Platform, and enterprise systems such as SAP. He is particularly focused on making project delivery more efficient and transparent, reducing manual effort through automation, integration, and intelligent tooling. A former Microsoft Global Black Belt for Project solutions, Christopher combines deep domain expertise with a pragmatic approach to digital transformation. He is a strong advocate for simplifying complexity and enabling organisations to make confident, data-led decisions about their project investments.

Matthew Walker is an international arbitration, litigation, and dispute resolution partner who focuses on construction law. Matthew is recognized in Lexology as a Thought Leader for construction, and is recommended for arbitration. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners in the UK for international construction arbitration. He has acted as advocate and counsel in arbitrations in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, and the UK. He has appeared as advocate in the Qatar International Court, and litigates in England in the Commercial Court, the TCC, and the Court of Appeal. He sits as arbitrator, is a RICS accredited mediator, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Pragya Raina is a Senior Business Reporting Analyst in Network Rail. A technology enthusiast and a Power BI specialist, she's involved in Power BI Reporting across Wales and Western Region. She is passionate about data analytics and a strong believer that data should drive decisions. An early adopter, always ready to learn and apply latest technology tools and process to improve and enhance Business Intelligence reporting.

Haroon Rashid is a Performance Reporting Specialist at Network Rail, specialising in producing data-driven insights that strengthen project governance and delivery performance. With extensive experience in developing Power BI reporting solutions, Haroon has transformed complex datasets into actionable intelligence for capital programmes, enabling better decision-making and assurance across the project lifecycle. His expertise includes data modelling and process automation, with a focus on improving data quality, transparency, and accountability. Haroon has led initiatives to replace legacy processes with digital platforms, streamlining governance activities and embedding analytics at the heart of project controls.

Harry Rushworth is a Digital Construction Implementation Engineer at Shape Construction with recent experience delivering complex, high-value works packages for a major international contractor. In roles spanning construction and package management, has been responsible for the operational and commercial delivery of multimillion-pound façade packages across a range of projects in central London, alongside supporting the rollout of internal operational performance tools on live projects. This combination of site delivery experience and sharp digital implementation skills now powers a drive to showcase how to connect the work front directly to project controls - enabling teams to capture high-quality, timestamped site data and link it instantly with schedule and cost systems.

Breda Ryan serves as Capability Director for complex delivery at Jacobs, bringing valuable experience in PMOs and programme controls for complex infrastructure programmes. In her role, she focuses on enhancing capabilities and operational excellence in programme delivery for clients. Breda is particularly interested in developing robust governance and an efficient Project Management Office (PMO) and implementing best practices to support delivery. Breda is passionate about smarter ways of working by leveraging new technologies.

Sarah Schutte (LLB, Solicitor-Advocate, CAPM-PMI), trainer, Mediator (CEDR and CMC) and facilitator. Director of Schutte Consulting Limited and Co-Founder of Peridot Consulting International LLP. Based in London UK. Sarah specialises in construction, engineering, infrastructure and technology projects across the built environment. She has had a tri-partite legal career over almost 25 years: early years in private practice, a decade as in-house Senior Counsel at both client and supplier; and now, since 2014, she is an independent consultant to industry. Her broad and deep field experience translate to pragmatic support, focussing on breaking down complex legalities and putting law in its practical and purposive context to nurture confident business strategists and capable contract users. Sarah has wide experience in collaborative contracts and partnering/ alliancing arrangements, designs visuals for contract tools and processes, and has a keen eye for a holistic whole-life approach. Her technical project management accreditation adds an unusual edge to her work, as does her fledgling practice as a Mediator. Her site boots are always to hand! Sarah volunteers at PMI and APM (nominee Volunteer of the Year 2021), supports local schools and her University on careers, and has judged several student-entrepreneur Enactus competitions. She recently completed 8 years as a school governor, supports a local women-led retrofit hub and is a popular industry interviewee, conference speaker and panel member. Making law work for the construction and engineering industry

Technical Lead for Cost Management for AtkinsRéalis Project and Programme Services. Currently seconded in as the Head of Cost Intelligence for HS2 having worked on the programme in various roles for nearly 5 years. A RICS accredited Quantity Surveyor, Member of Controls and Skills Authority, accredited NEC3 Project Manager, and APM Practitioner. Over 15 years’ cost and commercial management experience on large scale infrastructure projects under NEC forms of contract across the Aviation, Rail, Highways, Mining and Property sectors. Experience with both public and private sector projects, dealing with multiple stakeholders.

In my current role as Planning & Controls Director at RUA Al Madinah in Saudi Arabia, my responsibilities are ensuring day-to-day operations, scheduling and monitoring project evolution and deliverables, bridging relationships between the Contractors and the Company, assessing all types of risks to ensure cost-efficiency and on-time delivery. I am proud and honored to announce that after 6 months working with my colleagues at Rua Al Madinah as Planning and Controls Director, I would like to share the highlights of our team achievements to date we have accomplished: - We have developed deliverables encompassing various areas of project development, including governance, performance, compliance, planning and controls, and digital development. - Published several reference documents ensuring alignment and effective communication among project stakeholders. - Developed a robust project stage gate framework to effectively evaluate, authorize and monitor projects, as they evolve through their project life cycle. - Elevated the maturity of our team’s functional processes and procedures by introducing ‘best practices’ to support the business leads with raising early warnings, proposing mitigation and recovery plans. - Collaborated with the Design Development, Engineering, Permitting, Procurement, Cost & Contract, and Delivery teams by streamlining reporting and ensuring that justification and progress measurement against our development key performance indicators (KPIs) are aligned with our Client Public Investment Fund (PIF) and our 3rd party consultants

Dr Sheldon joined the MoD following a degree in Chemistry at Edinburgh University in 1993 and a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Oxford University in 1996. His initial appointments were; MoD Procurement Executive, MoD Centre and the Defence Engineering and Research Agency (DERA), followed by a 2-year project management post at the Defence Procurement Agency. In 2001 he joined the Defence Fixed Networks (DFN) Integrated Project Team (IPT) at the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA), becoming the Assistant Director for the DCSA change programme in 2004. In 2006, Dr Sheldon moved to the Defence Logistics Organisation, to establish and lead the Defence Logistics Performance Management Programme (DLPM), then to the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Performance Delivery Improvement (PDI) team, working directly to the DE&S Chief Operating Officer. In August 2010, Dr Sheldon became the Head of Cost Assurance and Analysis Service (CAAS) team. He next led the establishment of the new DE&S Project Controls function, playing a critical role in enabling DE&S Transformation, which became operational in April 2017. In April 2018, Dr Sheldon became the Head of Submarine Production responsible for the delivery of the Astute Boats 4-7 from build into service. Advancing to become the Director of Submarine Acquisition, responsible for the acquisition of all Royal Navy submarines including the Astute, Dreadnought and SSN (Nuclear submarine) AUKUS programmes (A defence and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.). In April 2024, Dr Sheldon became the 2* Chief Delivery Officer at Dstl. Supporting the Chief Executive to ensure the delivery of the complex portfolio of defence and security work as the Dstl executive sponsor of the project delivery function, coordinating and managing the work across the Dstl Science & Technology (S&T) delivery units. He is also responsible for; implementing a successful single front door

Juliana Smith is a multi-award-winning IT Chartered Professional with over 15 years of experience across multiple industries. Since 2020, she has specialised in transforming complex project data into accessible, visually engaging Power BI dashboards that support confident decision-making. Juliana has delivered reporting solutions for major programmes across Real Estate, Utilities, and Infrastructure. A recognised expert in Power BI and inclusive design, she regularly presents at global Power BI and Microsoft Data Platform events, sharing her insights on project reporting and dashboard accessibility.

Lance Stephenson is a senior leader with over 35 years of experience in the operational, capital portfolio and project delivery environment, where he has worked for the owner, engineer, and constructor. Lance is a dynamic and results-oriented individual who always enjoys a good challenge. Based on Lance’s years of experience and education in the operational and capital project delivery environment, Lance has provided direction in the areas of organizational design, process improvements, auditing, maturity assessments, and the development and implementation of best practices for improved capital portfolio and project effectiveness. Lance is a contributing member of the Technical Board for AACE International and is a Certified Cost Professional, a Project Management Professional, and a certified Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Lance’s past roles include director, senior manager, supervisor, PM/CM, specialist, analyst, foreman, tradesman, and life-long learner & practitioner. Lance is currently the Director of Operations for AECOM

Joana Tato joined AtkinsRéalis in 2024 as a Graduate Project Controls Engineer and is currently supporting major industrial decarbonisation projects in partnership with Tata Steel UK. With a background in Economics from the University of Nottingham, Joana brings strong analytical and data-driven skills to her role, contributing to cost and schedule performance monitoring. Based in Bristol, she works closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective project delivery. Joana is passionate about sustainable infrastructure and is committed to driving value through robust project controls and collaboration.

Simon began his project journey in industrial design and then project management before focusing on the planning profession. He was Head of Planning at Transport for London, High Speed 2 & Enterprise PMO Director at Network Rail. Simon is a published author for the Association for Project Management and the Controls & Skills Authority in project management practice, a published research fellow at Liverpool John Moore University in project management theory and lectures at UCL to MSc students. He is a creative force at th3rdcurve, where he leads on strategy and innovation bringing fun and a different way of thinking to an industry in desperate need of evolution

Ugur is a Lead Consultant at Laminar with over 10 years of experience in planning and project control, including five years with Laminar. He has worked on major civil and data centre projects across Turkey, Germany, and the UK—such as Europe’s tallest bridge in Istanbul, a £3B car manufacturing facility in Northumbria, and the largest data centre campus in Central London. With an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong passion for data analytics, Ugur focuses on process optimization through a data-driven approach. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Construction Project Management, and a BIM Specialist Certificate. He speaks English and Turkish, and enjoys basketball, rowing, and recently took up tennis.

Karl’s decades of global experience helping customers improve their project controls processes and successfully adopt new software systems make him an effective Chief Customer Officer for Contruent. Karl’s mega-project successes span the globe and multiple industries, including Rail & Ports, Highways, Mining, Commercial Power, and Oil & Gas. Passionate about global business, Karl started his journey at The George Washington University, where he was a Wolcott Fellow while earning an MBA in International Business and an MA in International Trade and Investment. At Contruent, Karl and his team ensure that owner/operators and EPCs are able to achieve their desired business outcomes project after successful project. In his free time, Karl can be found either sailing on the Chesapeake Bay or training for his next triathlon.

Øyvind Vik is President of Omega 365 USA, based in Houston, and oversees the U.S. operations for the Norwegian cloud-based project and asset management leader. With a background in Information Science and an MBA in Global Energy, he has driven digital transformation across project-driven organizations for over 25 years. He is passionate about how intuitive digital tools can empower people, strengthen project outcomes, and lower organizational risks.

Specialising in strategy and business development, Andrew is a proven business leader with a successful track record in growing and developing large, vibrant, profitable project and programme management businesses serving clients in Government, Defence, Aviation, Roads, Rail and Water Utilities in the UK & Ireland and globally. He has extensive experience in programme leadership, transformational change and programme office management enabling him to oversee purposeful, efficient and highly valued programme intelligence organisations in multiple sectors; with a focus on always ensuring programmes are delivering the right outcomes, in the right way.

Craig Wheeler is a seasoned Project Controls Manager with over 10 years of experience across rail, aviation, and water infrastructure. He has contributed to major programmes including HS2, Heathrow Airport, and Thames Water, bringing expertise in cost engineering, change management, and performance reporting. Craig is known for his analytical mindset and structured approach, using data-driven insights to improve delivery and efficiency. His ability to adapt across sectors and apply tailored best practices makes him a valuable asset in complex environments. Passionate about collaboration and continuous improvement, Craig plays a key role in driving transparency, cost control, and timely outcomes on high-pressure projects.

Ben is a Chartered Project Professional with over 25 years delivering major international programmes and leading project delivery functions. Working on some of the UKs most significant aerospace and defence programmes for public and private sectors, Ben has extensive experience in setting up and designing PMOs and governance systems as well as leading associated business transformations. As a Management Consultant, Ben helps clients build and implement P3M delivery solutions with a particular focus on Project Controls and PMOs. He believes Project Controls is ultimately about enabling better business decisions and is passionate about developing new, innovative and future focused ways of using Project Controls to drive business value. He is also a certified Project Controls trainer, who has enthusiasm for developing and inspiring the next generation of practitioners.

James’s career began with an apprenticeship, an experience that not only shaped his technical skills but also sparked a lifelong passion for helping others grow. He’s a firm believer in the power of investing in people, though he knows firsthand that building the right platforms for personal and professional development - especially when it comes to resourcing - can be a real challenge. Through his work in People and Capability Management, James has explored how key HR practices like performance, competency, and resourcing management affect not just the organisation, but the individuals within it. He’s driven by a simple but powerful idea: when people are supported to grow, everyone benefits.