This is a Joint Speaker Event between the PMI-Toronto Chapter (PMIT) and the Southwestern Ontario Chapter (SWOC) in London Ontario.

There will be a local speaker at each city and the event will be alternately webcast (live) to the remote city.

Synopsis:

Toronto Speaker: Christine Aykac

Title: Waterfall, PRINCE2, SCRUM, Lean, Kanban & more… How to achieve maximum benefits of the blended/hybrid approaches?

Subtitle: There is evidence in history that project management has been practiced for thousands of years, dating back to the Egyptian epoch. In today’s world, the surge of disruptive technologies and vast globalization requires a re-thinking of how we run projects.

Adaptive Life Cycles – also known as change-driven or Agile methods, are intended to respond to high levels of change; when requirements and scope are challenging to define in advance and when it is possible to establish small incremental improvements that will deliver value to stakeholders.

During this session, we will introduce the concept of Adaptive Life Cycles and the importance of focusing on the long term and short term benefits of different project methodologies and discuss the ideas of many various aspects of these methodologies and how you can find your style and enhance your role by embracing these new methods in the future.

Learning Objectives:

This presentation gives participants something to reflect on concerning the ever-changing world we live in and work on. What skills are needed and what jobs will require them to overcome the challenges the future works will bring on.

• Introduction to Adaptive life cycles
• Change-driven approaches
• Knowledge and skills needed to adapt to future challenges

London Speaker: Dr. David McKenna

Title: AI (Artificial Intelligence) How project managers can thrive in the age of disruption

Subtitle: Are you prepared to work in a world with artificial intelligence all around us? Self-driving cars, planes and trains. Chefs, morticians, labors can all be replaced by a machine. Are you ready?

Many existing jobs will be replaced by AI. Are you ready to work in a new world? What skills will be replaced by AI and what competencies will humans need to work with AI. You will be surprised.

Learning Objectives:

This presentation will give participants something to reflect on with respect to the ever changing world we live and work in. What skills are needed and what jobs will move into the AI domain.

• Brief introduction to AI
• Latest innovations with machine intelligence
• Impacts to the humans due to the evolution of AI
• What are you going to do about it, what skillsets will be needed

Biography:

Christine Aykac (PMP, PMI-RMP, PMI-ACP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PRINCE2 Agile)

Christine has over 20 years of experience managing projects and assisting in effective utilization of technologies and knowledge assets. Christine’s experience enables her to utilize the most effective methodology for each project and to ensure the success of the teams involved. Further, she provides visionary solutions to complex business and technical challenges for management on critical issues relating to the implementation of new solutions.

Christine applies her skills to select and perform different project management methodologies for complex projects; utilize robust internal and external networks to obtain a superior understanding of the needs of the businesses served, including criteria for user acceptance, recommend appropriate solutions and ensure buy-in from stakeholders.

Christine works as a coach, facilitator, program manager, and instructor. She is very involved in developing educational materials, customize awareness programs and workshops. She has authored and taught Project Management, Risk, Agile, DevOps, Lean, and Critical Thinking related courses and seminars.

Dr. David McKenna (DPM, PMP, CSM)

Dr. McKenna is a professional program, project and agile development consultant and professor, specializing in software, infrastructure, human resources and process improvement projects.

He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Science degree in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin and a Doctorate in Project Management from RMIT in Australia. Dr. McKenna has published a number of academic papers and has presented his works as well as lectured at universities around the world including the United States, Canada, France, Finland and Poland.

He currently teaches business in the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business at Fanshawe College in London Ontario, Canada and on-line graduate level courses with the University of Wisconsin.

With over 25 years of program, project and agile development experience, Dr. McKenna has worked for a number of corporations within Canada and the United States.

Dr. McKenna worked for such firms as Thoughtcorp, Research in Motion (RIM), OpenText, Expertech, Bell Canada and Bell West to name but a few. He brings to his classes a strong academic, research and practical project management background.

Specialties: Program, Project Management and Agile Development

Agenda:

5:30pm - Registration, Light snacks & refreshments, Networking

6:10pm - Welcome and introductions

6:30pm - Speaker #1 - Presentation

7:30pm - Break

7:40pm - Speaker #2 - Presentation

8:40pm - Closing remarks

8:45pm - End

Fees: (subject to HST)

PMI Toronto Members - $25.00
Non-Members and Guests - $35.00

PDUs: 2.0 (1.0 Strategic, 1.0 Technical)