People, Leadership and Project Decision Making

 The inaugural APM Victoria Regional Meeting brings project professionals together on 11 August 2026 for an evening focused on the future of the profession and the human dynamics that shape successful delivery. The event opened with a welcome from the Regional Lead, followed by two focused panel discussions. The first session introduced the Association for Project Management, its purpose and standards, and the lived experiences of chartered professionals who shared why they pursued ChPP and how it has influenced their practice. After a short break, the second session turned to the people side of project delivery. The discussion explored leadership behaviours, client and supplier relationships, and the decision-making disciplines required in complex environments. Informal networking opportunities bookend the program, with support available for those who prefer guided introductions.

Attendees gained a clear understanding of APM’s global standards and the relevance of chartership in the Australian context. They heard real stories from chartered professionals, explore practical insights into leadership and human-centred delivery, and connect with peers across industries. The event offered a rare opportunity to help shape the emerging APM Victoria community and to be part of the first step in establishing APM’s presence in Australia.

This event was open to project professionals at all levels, including emerging practitioners, mid-career professionals and senior leaders. It also welcomes clients, suppliers, consultants and anyone working in or alongside project-driven environments who want to engage with a growing, chartered professional community.

Panel 1: ChPP

Moderator: Andrew Fox

Panellists:

Rob Loader

As someone who had made transformation and project execution their career for 35+years, and who believes deeply in the power of project management to make a difference to individuals, organisations and society at large, achieving professional recognition is crucial to differentiate your capabilities and signal your own professionalism. This helps immensely to position your skills, knowledge and experience when making connections, pursuing roles and credential your abilities in the wider market. 

Gaining Chartership was the culmination of a journey that began many years ago with achieving formal education qualifications and other professional body accreditation for project management. Chartership is at the apex of my credentials and complements them to enable me to demonstrate across industry, geographies and knowledge domains, that I'm a true project professional whose capability has been tested and recognised. 

Chartership matters to me because it formally recognises the standards, judgement and delivery discipline I’ve built over a long career, and signals to my employer and clients that my capabilities as a portfolio and project executive meets the highest level of professional project leadership standards and my continuing contribution to the development of the profession.

Cameron Mills

A Project Management and Controls expert with 30 years’ experience, Cameron began his career in 1996. He has managed large multidisciplinary teams in complex environments, on major international projects for private organisations and government, in multiple sectors. 

Cameron specialises in project management and controls including construction, planning & scheduling, estimating, cost control, integrated change management, information management, quality assurance, control and compliance, process improvement and digital technology innovations, standardisation, and implementation. 

Cameron also has significant experience in data management analytics and reporting, organisational and project strategy and risk, stakeholder engagement, commercial and finance management and continuous improvement, agile and lean methodologies.

After 30 years in the construction industry working on megaprojects all over the world, I have come to recognise chartership is more than a credential—it is a reflection of the experience, discipline, and professional judgement you build over time. For project professionals, it is a valuable way to recognise your career journey and demonstrate your commitment to leading with confidence, credibility, and continuous improvement.

Daniela Kellett - ChPP (APM), Fellow of IPMA Australia, CPPD (AIPM)

Across more than two decades spanning portfolio, programme and project delivery, I have experienced the full gamut: from $25m IT projects to $30m portfolios, to P3M3 maturity assessments and uplifts across major infrastructure portfolios. The lesson that has stayed with me is this: chartership is not a destination, it is a journey. No single project teaches you everything. The real gains come incrementally, one small refinement to your craft on every project, compounding over a career into something significant. To anyone considering chartership, my advice is simple: commit to learning and continuous improvement. That habit, more than any one assignment, is what shapes your career trajectory.

Panel 2: Leading in Complexity

Moderator: Tony Creef

Panellists:

Nuria Delle Chiaie

Nuria Delle Chiaie is a senior leader in organisational development and team performance, recognised for her ability to shape the behavioural, cultural, and structural conditions that enable high performing organisations. She brings deep expertise in guiding executive teams through complex delivery environments, strengthening leadership alignment, and embedding performance disciplines that elevate collaboration and decision quality. She brings an advanced approach to understanding how behavioural dynamics, collaboration patterns, and organisational structures influence delivery outcomes.

Across her career, Nuria has advised senior leaders and project teams on building cohesive cultures, enhancing decision making effectiveness, and enabling high performance behaviours under demanding conditions. Nuria’s work is distinguished by a strategic, outcomes focused approach that links human behaviour to project execution, ensuring organisations can operate with clarity, resilience, and sustained effectiveness. Her expertise offers a clear, disciplined perspective on the human factors that shape project success, making her a valuable contributor to discussions on behaviour in project delivery.

Katie Southway

Katie Southway is an Associate Principal at Arup with over 18 years’ experience in programme and project management and currently is the Australia and New Zealand Projects and Program Practice Leader and Victorian Advisory Team Leader at Arup. She is a highly experienced leader of multidisciplinary teams, bringing together engineers, planners, project managers and economists to design and deliver complex infrastructure outcomes aligned to client needs. Katie has a strong track record across major transport, water and infrastructure programs in Australia and the UK, including leadership roles on Melbourne Metro, Major Road Projects Victoria and national rail initiatives. Known for her clear communication, collaborative leadership and focus on continuous improvement, she consistently delivers high-quality outcomes while building strong client relationships and high-performing teams.

Lady Garzon Fernandez

Lady Garzon is a CAD Consultant who helps SMEs, manufacturing, and AEC businesses transition from traditional 2D CAD to BIM and 3D parametric drafting workflows. Over the past 10 years, she has redesigned drafting and documentation processes so SMEs can increase efficiency, minimise errors, and automate deliverables. With a background in engineering and digital design, Lady has worked across multiple industries, including mining, construction, manufacturing and aviation, developing practical training to build modern digital engineering skills for teams and individual learners.

The speakers have very kindly allowed their presented material to be made available for viewing. The webinar recording on Vimeo is now available in our APM resources area and also embedded below for reference.