This International Symposium on Project Leadership will take place on Wednesday 10 November 2021. It is organised by the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership at the University of Sydney.
See below for the full agenda, with keynote sessions and community building activities through the day.
Morning Session
All times 9:00 – 11:30pm Sydney local time.
Indicative time zone conversions – 9:30am Sydney Local Time
| Auckland | 11:00am |
| Beijing | 6:00am |
| Berlin | 11:00pm |
| Brisbane | 8:00am |
| Doha | 1:00am |
| Hong Kong | 6:00am |
| London | 10:00pm |
| Los Angeles | 2:00pm |
| Mexico City | 4:00pm |
| New York | 5:00pm |
| Shanghai | 6:00am |
| Singapore | 6:00am |
| Tokyo | 7:00am |
| Zurich | 11:00pm |
Welcome and Introductions
9.00 – 9.30am
Welcome: John Grill, Professor Willy Zwaenepoel (Dean of Engineering)
and Professor Jennifer Whyte (Institute Director)
- Context for and overview of the Symposium
- The John Grill Institute for Project Leadership
- Words of welcome
Session 1: Project Leadership
9.30 – 10.10am
Chair: Professor Richard Badham, University of Sydney
With interest in how we conceive, set up, govern, deliver and gain value from projects, and from programs and portfolios, this scene-setting session will discuss research insights from the University of Sydney on project leadership in a changing world, and connect this with themes on.
- Project models and digital delivery
- Organisational dynamics of projects
- Projects for sustainable, resilient and just futures
Panel Speakers: Professor Lynn Crawford, University of Sydney; Professor Stewart Clegg, University of Sydney; Professor Jennifer Whyte, University of Sydney
Session 2: Insights on Project Leadership for a Changing World
10.10-10.50am
Chair: Associate Professor Julien Pollack, University of Sydney
The challenges of a changing world suggest the need for new forms of project leadership, project sponsorship and project governance. This session draws on research insights to explore future directions.
Panel Speakers: Professor Nathalie Drouin, Université du Québec à Montréal; Professor Richard J Badham, University of Sydney; Professor Raymond Levitt, Blackhorn Ventures
Wrap up and next sessions
10.50 – 11.00am
11.00-11.30am Break
Breakout Sessions
All times 11.00 – 11:30am Sydney local time.
Indicative time zone conversions – 9:30am Sydney Local Time
| Auckland | 1:00pm |
| Beijing | 8:00am |
| Berlin | 1:00am |
| Brisbane | 10:00am |
| Doha | 3:00am |
| Hong Kong | 9:00am |
| London | 12:00pm |
| Los Angeles | 4:00pm |
| Mexico City | 6:00pm |
| New York | 7:00pm |
| Shanghai | 8:00am |
| Singapore | 8:00am |
| Tokyo | 9:00am |
| Zurich | 1:00am |
Breakout sessions
11.00 – 11.30am
- Project Leadership and Project Models (open discussion, chaired by Dr Mahshid Tootoonchy)
- Digital Transformation of Projects (open discussion, chaired by Dr Shahadat Uddin)
- Organizational Dynamics of Projects (open discussion, chaired by Dr Marzena Baker)
- Projects for Sustainable, Resilient and Just Futures (open discussion, chaired by Dr Ken Chung)
Research Developments
All times 11:30 – 12:30pm Sydney local time.
Indicative time zone conversions – 11:30am Sydney Local Time
| Auckland | 1:30pm |
| Beijing | 8:30am |
| Berlin | 1:30am |
| Brisbane | 10:30am |
| Doha | 3:30am |
| Hong Kong | 8:30am |
| London | 12:30am |
| Los Angeles | 4:30pm |
| Mexico City | 6:30pm |
| New York | 7:30pm |
| Shanghai | 8:30am |
| Singapore | 8:30am |
| Tokyo | 9:30am |
| Zurich | 1:30am |
Research Developments (including Early Career)
11.30 – 12.30pm
Chair: Dr Nader Naderpajouh, University of Sydney
This session will provide brief presentations of the latest international research, including an award for presentations from early career and doctoral research.
Judging committee: Dr Sam Macaulay, UQ; Dr Ashwin Mahalingam, IIT Madras
Evening Session
All times 7:00 – 9:00pm Sydney local time.
Indicative time zone conversions – 7:00-9:00pm Sydney Local Time
| Auckland | 9:00pm |
| Beijing | 4:00pm |
| Berlin | 9:00am |
| Brisbane | 6:00pm |
| Doha | 11:00am |
| Hong Kong | 4:00pm |
| London | 8:00am |
| Los Angeles | 12:00 midnight |
| Mexico City | 2:00am |
| New York | 3:00am |
| Shanghai | 4:00pm |
| Singapore | 6:00am |
| Tokyo | 5:00pm |
| Zurich | 9:00am |
Evening Celebration: Welcome and Introductions
7.00 – 7.30pm
Introduction to the Evening Session: Recap of the conversation so far and outline of the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership and its plans
Session 4: Leadership and Governance
7.30 – 8.10pm
Chair: Professor Lynn Crawford, University of Sydney
This session will explore questions about how to govern major projects and programs, and how they connect to wider project ecologies.
Panel Speakers: Professor Ralf Müller, BI Norwegian Business School; Professor Alfons van Marrewijk, Vrie University, Amsterdam; Professor Andrew Davies, SPRU, University of Sussex Business School
Session 5: Temporary Multi-Level Organising across Portfolios, Programs and Projects
8.10 – 8.50pm
Chair: Professor Stewart Clegg, University of Sydney
This session will explore the connections between corporate strategies and portfolios, programs and projects.
Panel Speakers: Professor Jonas Söderlund, University of Linkoping, Sweden;
Professor Miia Martinsuo, Tampere University; Professor Catherine Killen, University of Technology Sydney
Closing Words
8.50 – 9.00pm
Previous events
2021 Symposium – Project Leadership in a Changing World
The John Grill Institute for Project Leadership hosted an international symposium with leading researchers in the field on 10 November 2021.