The benefits of long distance presentations make the North West conference a success

John Thorpe, an internationally recognised leader in the field of value and benefits management concluded the highly successful conference held at AstraZeneca on 20th February.  However, it was a conclusion with a difference in that John gave his highly passionate and entertaining presentation from Canada with the audience being entertained by both his sense of humour and the ability to have his slides synchronised with words over a telephone line.

The North West branch of APM together with the Benefits Management Specific Interest Group (BM SIG) militarily fashioned a full day event with 9 speakers taking part in discovering the mysteries of benefits management which, as you know is difficult at the best of times.  Interactive workshops and discussion groups broke up the day with some interesting feedback from the delegates which did show the high interest in unravelling how to identify and declare benefits in programmes and projects.

Peter Glynne, the Chairman and founder of the BM SIG opened with a very frank presentation, and delegates began to gain an understanding of benefits management when Gerald Bradley showed how to apply it to their own programmes and projects.  Further presentations from the BM SIG, NW Branch and other organisations continued to explore the theme, each delegate left the conference centre having learnt from the high level of experience of the speakers.

The hospitality of AstraZeneca (who hosted the event) was of the first order and the event would not have been as successful if it was not for the well-oiled and well planned programme of events; well that has to be a benefit for sure!  Andrew Bragg (Chief Executive) concluded that this was  one of the most successful joint events that APM have organised for its membership and it opens the door for more of the same in the future.