ProjectChat 2026 Program

MASTERCLASSES & WELCOME RECEPTION: Monday, 23rd March


1:00 PM - 5:00 PM	ProjectChat 2026 Masterclasses
	Masterclass 1 Dr. Keith Joiner / Drew Stevenson 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		Knowledge Hub
10:55 AM — 11:40 AM	Robert McMartin, Principal Advisor Project Governance, Delivery & Complex Project Management Emu Head Consulting "Age of Complexity" - PMO Governance of Complex Projects		Andy Watt, Managing Director Goldratt UK Stop Re-Planning, Start Delivering. Creating Flow in Complex Projects.		Kym Henderson, SME Earned Schedule Fundamentals - using EVM data in Units of Time rather than Cost
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM	Daniel Verwoert & Malcolm Woolley, E&P Lead Technical & Assurance BAE Systems Beyond Spreadsheets: Tools, Collaboration, Credibility in Defence Estimating		Patrick Weaver Mosaic Projects AI is not intelligent, but it can be useful for Project Controls		Sanjiv Parekh, Project Consultant Zerofloat Beyond Tools and Processes: The Human Side of Transformation
12:30 PM — 1:20 PM	Lunch
1:25 PM — 2:10 PM	TBA		Kym Henderson, SME Update to Australian Standard AS4817 Using ISO 21508:2026 as the Basis		Kestrel Stone Elemental Projects Capability Baselining
2:15 PM — 3:00 PM	Dan Foster & Azahar Pathan Skeiny Projects Scaling Project Controls: When A.I. Learns WBS Thinking		Stacey Wehmeier, Executive Director Project Controls Synergy Group The Architecture of High Performance in Accelerated Delivery: Aligning Capability and Culture		Rob Edwards, Senior Director Product Management Deltek US Deltek PPM Roadmap and Strategy
3:00 PM — 3:20 PM	Afternoon Tea
3:25 PM — 4:20 PM	Peter La Franchi, National Defence Director 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 Defence Contractor 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: TBA 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?		TBA CASG An Introduction to Schedule Conference Reviews (SC2R)		Daniel Foster Skeiny Projects Project Predictive Analysis
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM	TBA Synergy Group Accelerating Capability Development for Complex Problems		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!