APM Conference 2025 – Speaker Spotlight: Ashleigh Hargrave

Our APM Summer Conference 2025 is fast approaching. This year, we are heading to Coventry on 11-12 June to explore the theme of ‘projects for a better future’. During the event, we’ll be discussing the urgent need for the profession to respond to critical sustainability challenges, including the climate crisis, resource scarcity, and social inequity.

As part of the conference, Ashleigh Hargrave, the Interim Head of Strategy Projects and Management at King Edward VI Foundation, will be taking part in a panel discussion around managing stakeholder expectations on sustainable outcomes. Ahead of her session, Ashleigh spoke to us about her role, the opportunities in the project profession and what guests can expect from her panel.

Can you give a little background on yourself? 

"I began my career in environmental conservation before transitioning to secondary education and managing regeneration and education programmes. I have worked across secondary, further, and higher education, as well as in charitable organisations, local authorities, and industry. My projects range from practical conservation efforts to initiatives improving skills, employment, and mental health.

Currently, I am the Interim Head of Strategy Projects and Management at King Edward VI Foundation. Comprising 14 schools, it is the largest educator of secondary school children in Birmingham outside of Birmingham City Council. I lead the development of new strategic projects and Project Management best practices."

What do you see are some of the biggest opportunities for the project profession?

"The project profession is growing, but it’s also still quite new. With huge advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and a growing need for people with skills who can proactively manage projects across many different fields, it has never been so important to develop skills in this area. There is also an increasing need to recruit new people into the profession, raise its awareness with young people and those seeking to change careers of the opportunities in this field."

What do you see are some of the biggest challenges for the project profession?

"Recruitment into the sector and continuous learning within the profession to enable up keep with new technologies."

What can people expect from your session? 

"The session will focus on drawing out experiences and learning in stakeholder engagement from a group of panellists. Things we want people to take away from the session include that stakeholder engagement is crucial for project success, engaging people early and often and understanding their needs, concerns and areas for building capability, trust and alignment with the vision of the project, programme or portfolio is key."

Why is this topic relevant to the project profession? 

"No one can deliver a project in isolation and stakeholder engagement is a key skill that sits at the heart of alignment with vision and success. Plus, it is a vital life skill, transferable to everything."

What else are you excited at for the APM conference? 

"Meeting new people, sharing ideas and generally contributing. It is my first conference, post Covid and I am just so looking forward to networking in real life!"

The ‘How to manage stakeholder expectations on sustainable outcomes’ panel discussion will take place 11 June, between 15:15-16:15. If you are interested in finding out more about Ashleigh’s panel discussion, further details can be found here.

There is still time to book your place at our conference. Join us at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 11-12 June for a variety of discussions, panel sessions and networking opportunities. Single and two day passes are available, and discounts are available for group bookings of 10 or more. Secure your place here before tickets sell out.