APM Conference 2025
This year’s theme for the APM Conference was ‘Projects for a Better Future’. The event focussed on how future trends may impact the types of projects that are delivered, and the skills needed to deliver them. One of our consultants, Carla Shipley, attended a day of the event, joining project professionals from across the industry to explore how the consulting profession is adapting to global challenges and fast-moving change. Here are some of their key takeaways from the day:
1. Bringing clarity to global challenges
Project management is evolving and taking on a greater role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Zoe le Grand, Managing Director of the UK/EU Team at Forum for the Future, opened the event by highlighting how the field is gaining recognition for bringing structure and clarity to global issues while delivering real, measurable outcomes. This is an exciting moment for the consulting profession. As projects grow in scale and importance, it’s a time not only to embrace new opportunities but also to ensure we are equipped to meet the demands ahead.
2. AI is here to stay
Artificial Intelligence featured heavily throughout the event, underlining its growing influence in project delivery. While predictions were shared that some elements of the project manager’s role may become automated, the sessions reinforced that we should see AI as a tool to enhance efficiency, not as a threat.
There was an insightful panel discussion around the skills and competencies of project professionals of the future. On this topic, speakers encouraged us to think of AI as a colleague whose work we are quality assuring. We can use it to accelerate output while maintaining responsibility for evaluating its recommendations. This can include assessing accuracy, and checking outputs are relevant to the intended audience and context. As we see technology advance, the human skillset and ability to think critically become even more valuable.
3. Communication is everything
Communication was highlighted as a foundational skill in delivering successful projects and featured heavily throughout the day. We know this to be true in change management, where engaging key users and stakeholders early and throughout the change journey is a critical element of project success. The ability to build relationships and convey complicated ideas will be particularly important in the context of increasingly complex projects and larger scale transformations.
Sadie B Okiji, Head of Projects at NHS Sussex shared her method of improving key project management skills through setting practical steps over a set period to enhance your development. We can apply this directly to communications. Some practical steps to improve this competency could be to lead a stand-up once a week, or to run a lunch and learn session. These steps will incrementally enable you to more effectively engage and build relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
At Nine Feet Tall, this reaffirms our people value and our investment in communication capability as a critical strength.
4. Evolving careers alongside the profession
When discussing projects of the future, it was clear the consulting profession is changing. Digital transformation, stakeholder expectations and the importance of the project profession are accelerating and so we must move with this change to keep up. In times of change it is important we take time to reflect on how we can develop our own knowledge and skills to reflect this. A number of sessions focused on the importance of continuous learning and personal development, particularly in the context of rising complexity in the project space.
We are challenged to think of ourselves as adaptable assets: not only solving today’s problems but also preparing for tomorrow’s demands. This reinforces the importance of maintaining curiosity and humility throughout our careers in the project space.
The APM conference highlighted the vital role that project professionals will play in building a more sustainable and resilient future. Whether it’s solving complex social issues, or leveraging new technology, it was clear: the future of projects is human-led and tech-enabled.
At Nine Feet Tall, we are experts at combining the power of technology and people to achieve outcomes and realise benefits. Reflecting the dynamic project space, we embed continuous learning and sustainable results in the way we deliver change.
If your organisation is navigating change or looking to deliver impactful, future-ready projects, we’d love to help. Get in touch today.
