Conference Agenda
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Opening Keynote
Reflections and Aspirations – The Past, Present, and Future of PMO
To kick off the 10th anniversary of the PMO Conference in style, we bring together three of the most influential voices in the PMO space over the past decade: Eileen Roden, Laura Barnard, and Americo Pinto.
United on stage, these influential leaders will deliver a dynamic keynote that reflects on the evolution of PMO and envisions its bold, transformative future.
Through their unique perspectives and shared passion for PMO, Eileen, Laura, and Americo will dive into what they want to see happen, wish would happen, and dream might happen for PMO. With a format that blends reflection, vision, and inspiration, this session will set the tone for a day of celebration, learning, and forward thinking.
Expect insights that highlight on the progress made by PMOs over the past decade, the challenges and opportunities of today, and the possibilities for tomorrow. From aligning to organisational strategy to leveraging emerging technologies and strengthening PMO leadership, the conversation will be rich, relatable, and packed with takeaways for PMO professionals at every level.
This unmissable opening keynote promises to leave you inspired, energised, and ready to embrace the next era of PMO. Join us as we set the stage for a day of celebrating the journey so far and charting the course for what’s next.
Americo Pinto
Laura Barnard
Eileen J Roden
Closing Keynote
The Therapy of Change – How I Need to Change to Facilitate the Best Change
As we mark the 10th anniversary of the PMO Conference, we’re thrilled to welcome the one and only Professor Eddie Obeng to close the day with a truly unique and inspiring keynote. Eddie, known for his engaging style and boundary-pushing ideas, will take us on a journey through “The Therapy of Change” – a session designed to make us rethink how we as PMO professionals can adapt, thrive, and lead in a world of relentless change.
Expect a fast-paced, interactive session packed with practical takeaways that touch on everything from making AI work for your PMO to creating a culture where delivery shines. Eddie will help us tackle the big questions: How do we align with our internal customers? How do we grow ourselves while managing our PMO brand? And, most importantly, how do we position the PMO to add real, tangible value in a future that’s coming at us faster than ever?
This isn’t just a keynote – it’s a therapy session for the change-makers among us. Eddie’s style will have you laughing, thinking, and scribbling down ideas you can’t wait to try. Plus, he’s leaving us with some goodies: handouts, tools, and pointers to his book All Change!, so the inspiration doesn’t stop when the session does.
Join us for what promises to be the perfect end to a celebratory day – a session that looks back on what we’ve achieved and prepares us to leap forward into what’s next. Let Eddie Obeng help you find the courage and creativity to embrace change and lead the PMO of the future.
Prof. Eddie Obeng
Learning Director | Pentacle
Lead Facilitator | QUBE Campus
Dr. Nick Karamanis
Head of PMO
AlphaPlus
The People-Centric PMO: Redefining Roles and Driving Growth
Join Nick Karamanis, Head of the Project Management Office at AlphaPlus, as he shares the journey that led the education service consultancy to win the APM PMO of the Year Award in 2024.
This session will explore AlphaPlus’s innovative approach to building a people-focused PMO. Discover how a commitment to professional development has created a fulfilling work environment and fostered happiness and engagement among team members. Learn how shifting perceptions of the PMO, particularly by integrating early career graduates and professionals, has strengthened succession planning and future-proofed the organisation.
Key highlights include AlphaPlus’s unique PMO model, featuring the ‘player-manager’ concept—a hybrid PM/PMO role designed to deliver excellence through collaboration and versatility. Witness how this people-first strategy enabled this small business of just 60 to achieve a threefold growth trajectory, delivering results typically expected from much larger organisations—all without extensive financial investment.
This is a story of innovation, empowerment, and high-impact outcomes—proof that a people-centric approach can truly transform a PMO
Nesta Shingler
Project Manager
AlphaPlus
Abi Fielding
Trainee Project Manager
AlphaPlus
Themes for Success – Universal Lessons in PMO Transformation
Join the Senior PMO Director of Universal Studios Florida on an exhilarating journey through the transformative power of “People, Process, and Technology (PPT).” Drawing inspiration from the creative energy and strategic precision that brings world-famous theme parks to life, this session from Mehul Shah reveals how the right themes—innovation, agility, and value—can revolutionise your PMO.
Key themes explored include:
• Building Blocks for a Modern PMO
• Strategic Technology Integration
• Focus on Behaviours and Competencies
• Engagement and Strategic Foundation
This session is a great opportunity to gain unique industry insights from one of the world’s leading entertainment companies and how applying the lessons behind launching blockbuster attractions applies to the building of their world-class PMO.
Mehul Shah
Senior Director, PMO & Operations
Universal Orlando Resort
Sarah Darracott-Hawkins
Head of Portfolio & Planning
National Fire Chiefs Council
Growth of the Centre of Excellence
In this session we focus on the growth of a PMO Centre of Excellence with the National Fire Chiefs Council. We’ll start with an overview of the NFCC, comparing its past and present landscapes. By conducting thorough health checks and quality assurance reviews, several key areas were identified and actioned for improvement. A crucial element to boost delivery capability across the organisation led to the creation of various training workshops and masterclasses to boost project management skills. The session details some of the key areas including risk management. Additionally, the session discusses the development of a PPP Network in collaboration with Fire and Rescue Services and highlights how the PMO CoE model can expand its reach with best practice approaches.
Anna Milnes
Change Governance Lead
Pets at Home
Change Governance to PMO – How Pets at Home Made It Work
How do you build a PMO that truly enables business change rather than just governing it? That’s exactly what the PMO at Pets at Home are focusing on, where their team operates at a portfolio level, driving visibility, consistency, and value across the business.
In this engaging session, we will hear about the PMO transformation journey – from getting started with portfolio reporting to embedding a Change Delivery Lifecycle (CDLC) that works for the business, not against it. Sharing the lessons learned from launching a PPM tool, evolving just-enough governance, and tackling resource management in a way that’s pragmatic, not prescriptive.
Looking to the future, exploring the role of AI in PMO, how Power BI dashboards are changing decision-making, and how they’re taking benefits management and sustainability to the next level. Expect practical insights, real-world stories, and honest reflections on what it takes to build a PMO that really adds value.
Whether you’re setting up a new PMO, driving a maturity journey, or simply looking for inspiration on how to make your PMO a strategic enabler, this is a session you won’t want to miss!
Niamh King
Senior PMO Analyst
Pets at Home
Dave Turnbull
EDF Energy
The Power of the Triple Set: Mindset, Skillset, Toolset for Data – Driven Project Management