APM Thames Valley Network

🚀 Entries are open for the APM Project Management Challenge 2025/26! Submit your team entry form before 3 November 2025 — that’s just 18 days to go! ⏳ Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ehYqUKy7 Improving individual project management competence lies at the heart of the APM Project Management Challenge — an annual competition designed to inspire and develop the next generation of project professionals. Hosted by APM Regional Networks across the UK, the challenge has been running for over a decade and gives participants the chance to: 🎯 Gain real-world project experience 🤝 Work as a team to deliver a project from concept to completion 📈 Apply APM competences and best practices throughout the journey Whether you’re a student or new to the project profession, this is your chance to put your skills to the test and learn from experienced mentors — all while working on a project that makes an impact. 🗓️ The competition runs from November to April, culminating in a final awards evening where the highest-scoring teams showcase their projects and the winners are announced. How to Get Started: Step ❶ Confirm Eligibility You must be over 18 and either new to the project profession (less than 3 years’ experience) or currently a student. Step ❷ Form a Team Gather 3–6 peers or colleagues, find a project sponsor, and select a mentor (or request one from APM). Step ❸ Register Your Interest Include your team details, sponsor, and preferred region. Step ❹ Start Planning! Review the competition rules, align your project to the theme, and begin crafting your proposal. ✨ Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and showcase your project skills! 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eqyJYEw6 Bora Kusoglu Aalok Sonawala MBA,MAPM,ChPP Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM NECReg Cheryl Grant Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM James White Nindy Kaur Ioana Alexandra Tudor (MAPM) Natalie Keppler Hayley Marshall #APM #APMThamesValley #PMChallenge #ProjectManagement #Students #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowthj

🎓 Inspiring the Next Generation of Project Professionals! This evening, a few of our APM Thames Valley Network volunteers had the pleasure of visiting University of Reading for an engaging session with students, hosted by Prof Shu-Ling Lu 🎙️The discussion focused on the APM journey — from Student Member to Fellow Member — and the many benefits of joining the Association for Project Management . Our fantastic speakers, volunteer Ioana Alexandra Tudor (MAPM) and APM Member Machi Ma shared their personal stories of how they’ve grown their careers in project management, progressed through the APM PMQ qualification, and how becoming APM Members has had a massively positive impact on their professional development and opportunities. 💬 The students asked some thought-provoking questions about career paths, required skills, and real-world project challenges — showing curiosity and enthusiasm for the profession. A huge thank you to Professor Shu-Ling for organising and to all the students who joined us tonight! It’s inspiring to see so much future project management talent in the room. #APM #APMThamesValley #ProjectManagement #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureLeaders Bora Kusoglu Aalok Sonawala MBA,MAPM,ChPP Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM NECReg Nindy Kaur Natalie Keppler Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM James White Cheryl Grant

🚀 Next Event Alert! The APM Thames Valley Network invites you to our upcoming session: 💼 PMO Set Up and Configuration 📅 Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025 ⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:00 GMT 📍 Venue: Hilton Reading 📖 CPD: 2 Are you looking to establish or optimise a Project Management Office (PMO) within your organisation? Join us as we explore best practices, real-world challenges, and proven approaches to designing a PMO that adds measurable value and drives project success. This interactive session will provide practical insights into: ✅ Defining the role and scope of your PMO ✅ Aligning structure with organisational strategy ✅ Selecting the right tools and metrics for performance ✅ Managing people, processes, and change effectively 🎟️ Book your place now: https://lnkd.in/dXkSr-6y Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, share ideas, and network with fellow project professionals across the Thames Valley! #APM #APMThamesValley #ProjectManagement #PMO #Leadership #Networking Bora Kusoglu Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM NECReg James White Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM Nindy Kaur Cheryl Grant

Key takeaways from Association for Project Management #WiLM conference. Very inspiring speakers and message: “Feel the fear and do it anyway”

🔊 Save the Date! The APM Thames Valley Network, in collaboration with the Nuclear Institute , invites you to our next event: 💬 “We need to talk – better – about nuclear” 📅 Date: Thursday, 30 October 2025 ⏰ Time: 17:30 – 20:00 GMT 📍 Venue: Ridgeway House Book here: https://lnkd.in/erWcegVf Join us for an evening of thought-provoking discussion on how we communicate about nuclear energy — one of today’s most vital, yet often misunderstood, topics. Together we’ll explore how better dialogue can drive awareness, understanding, and trust in this critical field. 👥 Expect an engaging session, networking opportunities, and valuable insights into the future of nuclear and project management. ✨ Don’t miss out — add it to your calendar now and be part of the conversation! #APM #APMThamesValley #NuclearInstitute #ProjectManagement #FutureOfEnergy #Networking #Events Bora Kusoglu Aalok Sonawala MBA,MAPM,ChPP Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM NECReg James White Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM Cheryl Grant Nindy Kaur

⏱️ Final countdown to the Women in Project Management (WiPM) Conference 2025! 🎟️ Don’t miss out on booking your tickets: https://bit.ly/4mF2fqx Date: 2 October 2025 Time: 08:00 to 18:00 Venue: InterContinental London - the O2 by IHG, 1 Waterview Drive, London, SE10 0TW, United Kingdom CPD: 7.00 Aalok Sonawala MBA,MAPM,ChPP Bora Kusoglu Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM NECReg Cheryl Grant James White Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM Nindy Kaur

Leadership isn't about perfection. It's about intention. In high-pressure project environments, ethics and morality don’t always align. The MERI model helped Richard Graham lead with clarity. What about you — how do you lead when the pressure is on? Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/3J6J0aA #projectmanagement #leadership #projectmanager #APMblog

🚀 Our volunteers in action at the APM Volunteering Forum! Last week, our incredible volunteers Ioana Alexandra Tudor (MAPM) and Nindy Kaur proudly represented the APM Thames Valley Network at the APM Volunteering Forum — a dynamic two-day event that brought together over 120 volunteers from across APM’s Regional and Interest Networks, as well as mentors, assessors, and committee members. They took part in insightful sessions on: 🔹 Change management in complex environments 🔹 The future of projects 🔹 APM’s mentoring and mentee programme 🔹 And even joined in some fun, team-building games! Check out a few photos of Ioana and Nindy in action below! 📸 Whether you’re looking to grow or give back, the APM Mentoring Programme is a brilliant way to connect with others in the profession, share experiences, and support personal development. 👉 Learn more and sign up to be a mentee: https://lnkd.in/eyHbATuW 💬 What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger project self? Drop it in the comments — we’d love to hear from you! #APM #APMvolsforum #APMThamesValley #Volunteering #Mentoring #Leadership #FutureOfProjects #ChangeManagement

🎉 What a Night! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the APM Thames Valley Project Management Challenge Awards last night powerd by Association for Project Management . What an incredible celebration of collaboration, creativity, and resilience in project delivery! 👏 We were proud to welcome five outstanding teams to present their projects: 🔹 Team Realise 🔹 Project Pilots 🔹 Vision in Action 🔹 TGP 🔹 ProJET Management Each team faced real-world challenges, applied APM’s project management principles, and embraced tools like Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project to keep their plans on track. From risk management to stakeholder engagement, the depth of learning was clear. 💡 Key takeaway of the night? Everyone is a winner – because we learn the most through challenges and setbacks. These teams didn’t just talk about project management—they lived it! 🏆 And the winners are… 🥇 Best Project – Team ProJET Management Their inspiring Food Drive Competition in collaboration with a local food bank collected nearly 300 kg of food—a powerful example of project impact in action. Sam Daisley Norik Pallaska Theo Lockett Ethan Ng 🎤 Best Presentation – Team Realise With their Books for Children initiative, they built a website grounded in project management methodology, allowing children (guided by guardians) to create stories led by a character named Ed. The project even integrated AI to generate unique narratives based on user input—innovation meets heart! Felicity L. Kira Potts Suriyaa AG Catherine Hollinghurst 🎨 Best Poster – AtkinsRéalis Team 2 Their 5K Run Challenge raised £267 and gathered 31 participants, combining community spirit with a strong visual campaign. 🎖️Special mention for Team Ease x Headway Thames Valley for their resilience to finish the project while facing huge resource challenges. 💬 Lessons Learned: • Effective planning is key—but adaptability is everything. • Risk management tools aren’t just theory—they’re lifesavers. • Communication, teamwork, and a little creativity go a long way. We’re so proud of these emerging project leaders and can’t wait to see where they take their skills next! 😎Special thank you to our speakers Dr. Shu-Ling Lu, Associate Professor at UoR Shu-Ling Lu and Alex Rabey-Bennett for sharing their amazing journeys and passion for Project Management. ⚖️ Thank you to our judges Paul Bradley ChPP CEng MRAeS FAPM James White , Paul Walters for overseeing this challange for the past 6 months. 📸 Stay tuned – we’ll be sharing photos, posters, and more highlights from the evening right here on the APM Thames Valley page. #APM #ProjectManagement #PMChallenge #APMThamesValley #FutureLeaders #LessonsLearned #Teamwork #ProjectsForGood #Innovation #PrimaveraP6 #MicrosoftProject Kathy Stevenson MSc MCIWM MAPM Aalok Sonawala MBA,MAPM,ChPP Bora Kusoglu Natalie Keppler Ioana Alexandra Tudor (MAPM)Nindy Kaur