ProjectChat 2026 Program

MASTERCLASSES & WELCOME RECEPTION: Monday, 23rd March


1:00 PM - 5:00 PM	ProjectChat 2026 Masterclasses
	Masterclass 1 Dr. Keith Joiner / Randall McCutcheon ADFA 12 Principles for Assurance of AI Enabled Systems		Masterclass 2 Keith Nordin & Nik Slepushkin Deltek ProPricer US Price Estimation & Cost Forecasting Ecosystem using ProPricer Technology		Masterclass 3 Brad Richardson & Meri Duncanson Scope Works Unlocking and Maximising the Value of the Integrated Baseline Review (IBR)		Masterclass 4 Kestrel Stone & Nick Jago Elemental Projects Project Management Capability & Maturity: A Gamified Simulation
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM	Welcome Reception - Cocktail Function

CONFERENCE AGENDA: Tuesday 24th March


7:30 AM - 8:50 AM	Registration
8:50 AM - 8:55 AM	Connexion Systems Welcome to ProjectChat 2026
9:00 AM — 09:45 AM	Chris Deeble Deputy Secretary CASG Complex Capability Delivery in Complex Times
9:50 AM — 10:35 AM	Dr. Keith Joiner, Senior Lecturer Test and Evaluation and Aircraft Systems ADFA (UNSW) Why New A.I. Principles are Needed with Brief Overview
10:35 AM — 10:55 AM	Morning Tea
	Track 1		Track 2		Track 3
10:55 AM — 11:40 AM	Robert McMartin Emu Head Consulting "Age of Complexity" - PMO Governance of Complex Projects		Kym Henderson SME Earned Schedule Fundamentals - Using EVM data in Units of Time rather than Cost		Keith Nordin & Nik Slepushkin Deltek US (ProPricer) BOE Mastery: Turning Technical Knowledge into Winning Proposal Documentation
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM	Malcolm Woolley & Daniel Verwoert BAE Systems Beyond Spreadsheets: Tools, Collaboration, Credibility in Defence Estimating		Andy Watt Goldratt UK - Managing Director Stop Re-Planning, Start Delivering. Creating Flow in Complex Projects		Sanjiv Parekh Director Program Services - KBR \| Director - Zerofloat Beyond tools and processes: The human side of transformation
12:30 PM — 1:20 PM	Lunch
1:25 PM — 2:10 PM	Patrick Weaver Mosaic Projects AI is not intelligent, but it can be useful		Daniel Foster & Azahar Pathan Skeiny Projects Scaling Project Controls: When AI learns WBS thinking		Kestrel Stone Elemental Projects Capability Baselining
2:15 PM — 3:00 PM	Matt Williams Amplify-Now The Discipline to Stop: A mini-manifesto for outcome-driven execution		Stacey Wehmeier Synergy Group The Architecture of High Performance in Accelerated Delivery: Aligning Capability and Culture		Rob Edwards Deltek US Deltek PPM Roadmap and Strategy
3:00 PM — 3:20 PM	Afternoon Tea
3:25 PM — 4:20 PM	Peter La Franchi \| Amy Taumoefolau \| Travis Harvey TBH A new model for a shared lessons learned system for the future Defence Delivery Agency and Defence Industry		Meri Duncanson Project Controls Manager/Master Scheduler Cracking the Gen Z Code – Building a Thriving Workforce for the Future		Patrick Weaver Mosaic Projects Beyond the Baseline: Unleashing Success with Earned Value Management (EVM) - Part 1
7:00 PM — 12:00 AM	Conference Dinner • A Night at the GRAMMY Awards!

CONFERENCE AGENDA: Wednesday 25th March


7:30 AM - 8:30 AM	Barista Coffee & Pastries

8:50 AM — 09:35 AM	Panel Session facilitated by Simon White Panellists: Peter Sexton \| Rob McMartin \| Sanjiv Parekh Agile in Defence: Genuine Transformation or Lip Service?
9:40 AM - 10:25 AM	Ian Spencer, Executive Director Defence & Industry Defence SA Project Management in South Australia’s Defence and Space Sectors
10:30 AM — 10:50 AM	Morning Tea
	Track 1		Track 2		Knowledge Hubs
10:55 AM — 11:40 AM	Simon White Systems-driven Leader, Strategist, and Creator Everyone’s Busy — So Why Are We Still Late?		Marcus Catchpole Managing Director - Scyne Advisory TBA		Daniel Foster & Lauren Macklin Skeiny Projects Schedules without Revisions
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM	Kym Henderson SME Update to Australian Standard AS4817 Using ISO 21508:2026 as the Basis		Dr Naomi Mathers Director, Industry Liaison and Member Services at ICCPM Managing Speed and Complexity		Patrick Weaver Mosaic Projects Beyond the Baseline: Unleashing Success with Earned Value Management (EVM) - Part 2
12:30 PM — 1:20 PM	Lunch
1:25 PM — 2:10 PM	Drew Nugent Director Master Planning and Estimation, Saab Australia Predictable Velocity: Increasing Certainty in Software Projects
2:15 PM — 3:00 PM	Peter Sexton Transformation/Reform Program Leader, NRI Australia & New Zealand It is Possible to Deliver Large Complex Programs using Agile Development?
3:00 PM — 3:10 PM	Closing Remarks
3:10 PM — 4:10 PM	Closing Wine & Canape Party

ProjectChat 2026

Australia’s most valuable and thought-provoking PM conference!