The project management industry, and our concept of what a project constitutes, is always changing. Nowadays, even non-PMP-certified workers are taking on work that closely resembles a traditional projects, and the desire to manage them better is growing every year.
One way to keep up with the latest project management trends is to attend a project management conference in 2023. It’s a great way to further your education and learn about new project management software tools that are on the market.
February
Festival of Education & Research
Where: Virtual
When: Feb. 9
Website: https://www.apm.org.uk/
The Association for Project Management (APM) is a chartered membership organization representing project professionals worldwide. Through its annual Festival of Education & Research, it’s committed to recognizing excellence in project management academia, education and research.
What To Expect: This education conference is focused on academics but is also suitable for students and those in the early stages of their careers as project professionals. There will be an award ceremony for the project management graduate of the year, project management postgraduate dissertation of the year, project management apprentice of the year, project management educator of the year and many more. Develop your skills, learn about new project management research and become more employable.
Technical Project Management Conference
Where: AMA Conference Center, Atlanta, Ga., USA
When: Feb. 23-25
Website: https://10times.com/
Project management at its core is a technical discipline, and the Technical Project Management conference, produced by the American Management Association, is a great place for those in the IT and technology space. They expect 2,000 to 5,000 professionals to attend based on previous project management conferences.
What to Expect: This three-day event focuses on the importance of planning, scheduling and how to manage scope. There will be breakout sessions on using project management tools and techniques to help with more accurate estimates, how to keep projects on track and on evaluation of project performance. Communication skills will be addressed, as well, to help with building better project leaders.
AIPM National Conference
Where: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia
When: Feb. 27-March 1
Website: https://www.aipm.com.au/
The 2022 Australian Institue of Project Management (AIPM) National Conference is themed “Forward With Purpose.” It plans to address how to plan for a future beyond the Covid crisis. Part of that is how to move into the future with purpose and optimism. It will look at preparations in projects and organizations considering the inevitable surprises that are sure to recur.
What to Expect: Featured speakers include Jarrod Ball, chief economist, the committee for the economic development of Australia (CEDA); Shade Zahrai, leadership strategist and global peak performance consultant; Phile Slade, behavioral economist, psychologist and journalist, Rachael Robertson, leadership and teamwork expert; Dr. Greg Usher, executive general manager, buildings and property, RPS, Australia; and His Excellency General the Honorable David Hurley, AC DSC (retired), governor-general of the commonwealth of Australia.
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March
The Resource Planning Summit
Where: Park MGM, Las Vegas, Nev., USA
When: March 20-23
Website: https://www.resourceplanningsummit.com
The annual two-and-a-half-day Resource Planning Summit is a place where the industry meets to explore resource planning and is welcome to professionals of all levels.
What to Expect: Some topics of discussion include multiple organizational units competing for the same resources, low resource planning maturity derailing key initiatives, ad-hoc staff planning contributing to poor annual operating plan (AOP) forecasting, management not supporting resource planning in an agile environment and HR, finance and PMO competing for the resource system of record. Project management professionals (PMP) can early up to 20 PDUs. As with most of the in-person events being held this year, the Resource Planning Summit is monitoring the evolving public health recommendations to keep participants safe.
April
ProjectSummit Business Analyst World
Where: Orlando, Fla., USA
When: April 11-13
Website: https://www.pmbaconferences.com/
Project Summit Business Analyst World is a huge North American conference, so big in fact that it happens several times over the year in various locations (this one and in Washington, DC, May 2-4; Toronto, Ont., Canada, May 16-19; a virtual world conference, June 20-23, with other dates to be announced in Boston, Ma., USA; Vancouver, BC, Canada and Chicago, Il., the USA in the fall).
What to Expect: Industry innovators help professionals be more productive, and learn best practices, skills and strategies to succeed with over 25 educational sessions and four hands-on workshops. Attendees can earn up to 18 PDUs.
May
Project Management Symposium
Where: Virtual
When: May 5-6
Website: https://pmsymposium.umd.edu/
The pandemic has moved many of these conferences online, including this project management symposium produced by the University of Maryland Project Management Center for Excellence. One of the benefits of this trend to virtual conferences is that anyone anywhere can attend. That means no travel, no hotel or food costs, just pure project management.
What to Expect: Attending the conference and viewing the recorded sessions can earn participants up to 44.25 PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle towards maintaining their PMP certification. That’s obviously geared to certified professionals, but with potential topics ranging from agile, DevOps and hybrid approaches to new project management tools and solutions the conference should have something for everyone tasked with managing projects.
Agile & Beyond
Where: Detroit, Mich., USA
When: May 24-25
Website: https://agileandbeyond.com
Agile is not new. It’s been around for a couple of decades. But it continues to speak to project managers who are looking for a more iterative and flexible approach to managing projects, rather than the traditionally planning-ahead model. Agile & Beyond is a great opportunity to mingle with a community of like-minded professionals and executives.
What to Expect: Sessions focus on agility, software engineering and lean business. Each day opens with a keynote speech and ends with social events for everyone to connect in person and catch up. The conference is following local and federal safety protocols to ensure the health of everyone who participates.
June
Global Scrum Gathering
Where: Denver, Colo., USA and Virtual
When: June 5-8
Website: https://www.scrumalliance.org/
The Global Scrum Gathering is produced by the Scrum Alliance, which is a member-driven nonprofit certifying body that has supported the agile movement since 2001. This is the organization’s first in-person conference since everything changed due to Covid in 2020. But the event is not only on-site, it’s a hybrid conference with a wide suite of offerings for both physical and virtual attendees.
What to Expect: It’s a great opportunity to hear from experts in the agile environment, a way of approaching projects that have moved from software development and now touches almost all business sectors. The Scrum Alliance offers a Gathering Insider option to be the first to hear what’s planned for the Global Scrum Gathering 2022.
10th IPMA Research Conference
Where: Belgrade, Serbia
When: June 19-21
Website: https://www.ipma-research-conference.world/
The International Project Management Association (IPMA), a federation of 72 member associations worldwide, will be having its 10th IPMA Research Conference on value cocreation in the project society. The conference lists its goals as an exchange of ideas, dialogue between practitioners, knowledge sharing on the latest trends, networking and more. There will be plenary sessions, presentations of papers, inactive workshops, round tables and more. The major tops are on project society, business projects, project value and leadership and digitalization.
ACMP’s Annual Conference
Where: Virtual
When: June 28 – July 1
Website: https://www.acmpglobal.org/page/GC2022
The Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) is taking its 2022 conference virtual because of safety concerns related to the pandemic. The theme of this year’s conference is Embracing the Changing World: Diversity, Technology and Adaptability. ACMP wants to lead the way change works with the aspiration to innovate and lead change practices and the management of change in projects.
What to Expect: They focus on professional expertise to achieve business and organizational results. It’s an independent and trusted source of professional excellence, advocating for the discipline and creation of a thriving change community. Change is a part of every project so this conference should be of interest to all. More details are forthcoming on the link above.
July
Agile 2022
Where: Nashville, Tenn., USA
When: July 18-22
Website: https://www.acmpglobal.org/page/GC2022
Agile Alliance is a global nonprofit membership organization founded on the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. Its Agile annual conference is all about the exploration, innovation and advancement of agile values and principles.
What to Expect: The conference brings a spectrum of agile communities together to share experiences and network. Global professionals attend to learn about the latest practices, ideas and strategies in agile software development from leading experts, change agents and innovators. The conference is open to all but members get a significant discount on registration.
October
Future PMO
Where: London, England
When: October 6
Website: https://www.futurepmo.com/
Future PMO is a one-day event that is for PMO and project management professionals of all levels. Attendees gather from across the globe.
What to Expect: The speakers are a balance of PMO and project portfolio management but this is also a social event in a non-sales environment, which adds to its attraction. For example, this year’s theme is retro gaming. So get ready to level up! Speakers include Federico Vargas, CEO, GE360 and keynote speaker Laura Barnard, training and consultant, on PMO strategies.
December
PMI Global Conference 2022
Where: Las Vegas, NV, USA
When: Dec 1-3
Website: https://www.pmi.org/global-conference
The Project Management Institute (PMI), a leading industry trade organization, produces the annual Global Congress North America for professionals in project management. The date and venue have yet to be announced, but keep an eye on the Global Conference website—this is an event you’ll not want to miss.
What to Expect: The three-day, project management conference gathers industry professionals and gives them an opportunity to learn about project management, share their insights into the industry and network with other professionals throughout the world. PMP-certified individuals can earn up to 18 PDUs.
It’s still early in the year and many organizations are likely debating whether to have their annual conferences in person on virtual. Be on the lookout for announcements and keep your datebook open.
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