Welcome 2007 and another exciting year in the project management profession. The new year seems so long ago...

The last few weeks have been interesting for the profession. Firstly, ANAO recently released its report into the Customs Cargo Management Reengineering system that hit the news in mid 2006 when cargo was held up on the nations docks. One of the key recommendations was the need for a structured and disciplined approach to project management.

Secondly, Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has been recognised in the Australia Day Awards for his work on public policy implementation.

Both of these significant events highlight just how important project management is and how the profession is gaining recognition throughout Government circles.

This weekend the AIPM Board Meeting will be held in Adelaide. The Board is scheduled to discuss a range of issues. I will report the outcomes in next months newsletter.

Yours in project management

Michael Young
ACT Chapter President

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ACT Chapter PMAA Closing Date is June 07

The closing date for the 2007 ACT Chapter Project Management Achievement Awards is fast approaching. DO NOT leave your completion of a submission until the last minute. Managers, the individual Project Manager Award is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable recognition of the excellent work performed by your staff.

Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

Have you thought about becoming a Silver or bronze sponsor for the Awards Night in August? This is a great opportunity for your Company to gain valuable exposure to a select target group. Over 240 Project Managers and VIPs from industry attended the highly successful 2006 Awards night.

Calling For PMAA Team Volunteers

Planning is already well underway for the 2007 Awards program, with this year promising some new exciting initiatives in the ACT. We are now calling for Expressions of Interest, from anyone who wishes to undertake the volunteer role of Project Manager and spearhead the Awards Program in the ACT for 2007. This role requires a defined level of committment, however the outcomes are extremely rewarding. If managing the program is not feasible, why not look at becoming a member of the program team. If you have approximately 10 hours of time that you could volunteer over a 6 month period, to help with the awards program in the ACT, we would love to hear from you.

For further information on the Program Managers role or Program Team role, please contact Helen Briggs.

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Our monthly Forums are held on the last Wednesday of every month, commencing at 5:30pm until 7:30pm at the Canberra Club, 45 West Row, Civic. Drinks and cocktail food are served, and members are more than welcome to bring a guest. For all RSVP's please contact the Chapter Administrator.

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RegPM Recertification

If you gained your QPP, RPM or MPD certification before February 2004, now is the time to gain recertification. From Jun07, AIPM will have the facility to automatically advise members that it is time to recertify.

The first step is to discuss recertification with an assessor. The assessor will need evidence (CV, references and/or suitable workplace documents) that shows that you are still a practicing Project Manager.

AIPM is developing a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework that will form the basis of RegPM’s capturing their experience and expertise gained in the workplace.

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Please Note: Hard copy certificates will be sent to those who are listed below, within 2 weeks of the newsletter publication date. If you received your membership or certification in the months listed, and received electronic confirmation from our National office, and your name is not listed below, please contact the Chapter Administrator.

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If there are any errors in the above lists, please notify the Chapter Administrator.

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Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) Initiative Case Study

Guest Speaker
Mr Graham Lay
Managing Director
EDS Defence U.K.

The business issue

Following an independent review of three military services for personnel administration that was costly and inefficient system, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) established AFPAA, an organisation responsible for making payments and pension assessments and administering personnel records.

In November 1997, the Agency contracted EDS to modernise and integrate its 250-plus aging legacy systems and consolidate data centres located nationwide.

The amended agreement in 2001 provided for a stronger partnership and also enabled implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) initiative – a solution based on Oracle HRMS that incorporated converged tri-service working practices. This was supported by a new Compensation and Pension System and minor applications to perform tasks not covered by the core systems.

The approach

The JPA’s implementation brought with it many challenges. A measured, evolutionary approach was taken to help AFPAA meet its prime objective of maintaining existing service levels with minimal disruption as the new solution was phased in. EDS’ proven track record and its expertise in integrating IT solutions and administrative processes – combined with a detailed understanding of Services’ personnel administration needs – made this exciting programme possible. EDS is progressively modernising and technically refreshing the infrastructure to reduce its complexity and operating costs.

The results

The benefits of the robust, centralised JPA solution are many, for example, AFPAA will be able to reduce operational and labour expenses, improve data accuracy and personnel tracking, and provide self-service capabilities to service members, dependents and retirees.

Since graduating in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge, Graham Lay has worked for over 25 years in the Defence and Government markets for initially Scicon, then System Designers and EDS as a result of acquisitions. Over a ten year period up to 1995 Graham took on a range of management assignments as the EDS business developed, that extended his breadth of knowledge across a variety of projects in Land, Air and Maritime domains. Of particular note was work associated with the Command Support System.

Initially Graham worked in Defence Operational Analysis investigating many aspects of maritime systems and their performance with a particular focus on the Maritime domain and anti Submarine Warfare. This work led to assignments that were orientated towards the growing use of computer technology for signal processing, data fusion and picture management. He also managed the applications development team for BATES gaining experience in Land Systems.

Graham has extended his experience into wider government markets by winning the GCat contract (a contract that eventually supplied 200 government organisations) and in winning a desktop support contract for CAA. He was then promoted to be a Director of EDS with responsibility for internal systems, knowledge management and integration of service development strategy.

In 2000 Graham commenced EDS management of Defence business in the UK. Under his leadership this business has gone from strength to strength, building on activities covering a very wide range of MOD needs from personnel management, training and logistics through to a range of operational systems. He was a core member of the EDS team that bid and won the DII contract in March 2005, one of the largest IT contracts in Europe. UK Defence is now one of EDS’s largest accounts and Defence forms one of the most important industry segments for EDS’s global strategy.

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Managing Intellectual Property in the Public Sector

Invitation and offer for AIPM members

10% Discount for AIPM members

Sensory 7 has developed an IP framework for the strategic management of intellectual property.

• learn to identify sources of intellectual property (IP) in your organisation
• discover how to identify, record and manage your IP assets and liabilities
• unleash your organisation’s untapped potential through efficient use of IP
• ensure your legal IP obligations and responsibilities are met.

During this intensive two-day course, you will be briefed on the strategic management of intellectual property and will be prepared and equipped for the changes which are expected to occur in 2007.

This course equips you with the tools and know-how to put these principles into practical effect.The course will be run by IP consultant, Kerry Dunstan.

As an experienced manager in both the public and private sectors, Kerry has addressed project managers and recruitment agencies on aspects of Intellectual Property relevant to their business activities. She has participated on the Australian Government Roundtable for Open Source Software and has participated in the development of various government policies for the management of Intellectual Property.

The first course will be held Tuesday–Wednesday, February 27–28.
For details go to www.sensory7.com/events
Registration forms are available at www.sensory7.com/managing_ip.pdf
For further information please contact our Client Relationship Manager – Jeff Melmoth on
(0416) 273 601 or jeff.melmoth@sensory7.com

Our Branch Forum presentation for March 6, is about “The Future ICT Professional” Education Across the Nation Series Q1" at the Southern Cross Club, (Orion Room), Corinna Street, Woden
Time: 6pm for 6.30pm with the customary free drinks and some nibbles during networking. The Branch Forum has a value of 1.5 PCP points.

Looking at employment trends in ICT as a career as well as the industry growth areas, these Quarter One EdXN events are specifically aimed at the human perspective of the ICT employment evolution.

The presenter is Hudson IT&T who over the past 20 years have played a significant role in the evolution of the ICT recruitment industry, and are well placed to provide a well-honed insight into ICT recruitment trends and directions based solidly on employer needs & expectations and not just a futurist’s guesstimate.

Hudson IT&T provide specialised recruitment, managed services and talent management solutions. Through this diverse service offering, Hudson works with a variety of employers to attract, select, engage and retain the people they need to succeed.

To book or gain information on future events, please go to ACS - ACT Chapter website.

ACS Canberra Contacts
PO Box 779
MAWSON ACT 2607
Ph: (02) 6290-0711
Fax: (02) 6290-0722
Email: acscanb@acslink.net.au
Web: www.acs.org.au

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NEW CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR

I would like to introduce to you our new Chapter Administrator, Rachel Searl, who will now be the primary contact for all Chapter enquiries and Administration.

After 4 years managing the Chapter affairs, I am now taking a back seat role, and will be working on specific projects for AIPM in the ACT region.

The new ACT Chapter contact details are:

PHONE: (02) 6258-3390
FAX: (02) 6258-8630

Can you all please update these numbers in your address lists. The email address for the Chapter remains the same (act_chapter@aipm.com.au).

CONTACT DETAIL UPDATE

Could all members please ensure that their contact details are up to date. There is an ever increasing number of non deliverable emails, and we would hate for you to miss out on any correspondence the the AIPM need to send to you. Updating your contact details is as easy as 1 2 3 ...

1. Log onto our website at www.aipm.com.au, and click on the Update Contact Details link on the top of the screen.

2. Email me and let me know your new details

3. Email the National Support Office and let them know directly of your new details.

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