Ireland Chapter of PMI’s conference to generate over half a million euro for the local economy

Ireland’s largest annual conference for project managers is to be held in Cork for the first time in February. Over 300 delegates from across the country will attend the Ireland Chapter of Project Management Institute’s (PMI) national conference at Fota Island Resort, Cork on 28 February, where TV architect Dermot Bannon will deliver a keynote address. It is the first time that this prestigious event, with headline sponsors EY and Microsoft, will be held outside Dublin, generating over half a million euro for the local Cork economy.

Early bird tickets for the conference, to be attended by some of the country’s eminent project leaders, are priced at €145 (Ireland Chapter PMI members) and €195 (non-members) at projectireland.ie.

Speaking on the launch of the conference, President of the Ireland Chapter of PMI, Pat Lucey said: “The 2019 conference, themed From Idea to Reality, will provide a unique opportunity to explore how project management is utilised to deliver projects from conception to completion.”

Announced today, keynote speaker Dermot Bannon will discuss how to successfully communicate disruptive ideas to project stakeholders. Further guest speakers include co-founder of FoodCloud, Aoibheann O’Brien, who set up the Dublin-based social enterprise, connecting food businesses with surplus food to nearby charities through technology.

Yvonne O’Byrne, Ireland international hockey star, will speak on securing a World Cup silver medal, and Danny Curran, director of growth at Aid:Tech, will discuss how the Dublin-headquartered start-up developed blockchain technology for the distribution of international aid in refugee camps.

Managing Director of Dale Carnegie Ireland, Walter Bradley, will give a workshop on ‘How to Agreeably Disagree’. There will also be a talk and Q&A with Jim Snyder, who in 1969 was one of the original five founders of the global PMI. Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mr Lucey added: “The Ireland Chapter of PMI is the largest professional organisation for project managers in Ireland with over 1,400 members. We strive to provide access to valuable knowledge, networks and resources that will be integral to project success.

“The national conference is an opportunity for project management professionals across IT, public sector, construction, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing to gain insight from leading experts in the industry along with well-known Irish and international figures who are making waves in their respective fields. All our speakers have used key project management skills to deliver their ideas into reality, whether it is designing state-of-the-art homes, winning a World Cup medal or utilising disruptive technologies to achieve results.”

Headline sponsors for the Ireland Chapter of PMI’s national conference are EY and Microsoft, with current sponsors Grant Thornton, Cora Systems, Aspira, Cork Institute of Technology, and Alpha Wealth.

There are currently over 50,000 employed in project management across Ireland, in sectors such as IT, public sector, construction, pharmaceuticals, professional services, financial services and manufacturing.