Dubai: More than 50 key international speakers, including chairmen and senior executives of top international firms, will be participating in the second edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF), the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced.

The event is scheduled to take place from November 22 to 24, and will be held under the theme ‘Project Management is Support of Innovation’. The DIPMF, which is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, is being organised by the RTA in collaboration with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), Emaar Properties, and Project Management Institute (PMI).

The inaugural edition of the forum had more than 1,500 participants, 70 per cent of whom were CEOs and project managers.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said topics covered by speakers will include infrastructure, transportation, economy, trade, finance, sport, and art with particular emphasis on innovation and creativity.

“The inaugural edition of the DIPMF was a huge success. As such we are keen on hosting prominent international speakers to share their experiences, practices and success stories in various fields of the project management industry.”

Al Tayer said project management plays a pivotal and leading role in implementing plans, programmes and projects, and is a catalyst for realising the organisational objectives of any authority, agency or company.

“The DIPMF stems from the keenness of Dubai city to play a pioneering role in the development and growth drive across the region. For this it seeks to attract highly competent experts with international repute to take part in such a world-class event that can be utilised as powerful platforms for knowledge transfer.”

International experiences

Among international speakers hosted by the DIPMF are Dr. Ruediger Grube, chairman and CEO of Deutsche Bahn Company, Germany, which is one of the largest rail operators in Europe. The company operates Germany Railways stretching more than 33,000km. The company offers services to more than 130 countries all over the globe, and employs more than 300,000 employees.

Speakers from the UAE in the forum include Engineer Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, who is the Minister of Economy since 2008, and served earlier as the Minister of Transportation, and Minister of Government Sector Development.

Engineer Suhail Mohammad Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy, will also speak at the forum. The ministry is the responsible entity for achieving sustainable development, coordinating and representing oil, mineral, electricity, and water affairs to ensure optimal utilisation for the benefit of the national economy in collaboration with the concerned bodies in order to play a pioneering and excellent role in all fields.

Besides his ministerial post, Al Mazroui holds a host of posts, including chairman of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority, chairman of Mubadala Petroleum Company, and chairman of Emirates LNG Company.

The forum will also host Dr Edward J. Hoffman, Chief Knowledge Officer, Nasa, who caters to formulating policies, strategies, processes and practices for promoting a successful knowledge creation, retention and sharing culture in support of mission success. Before this appointment Dr Hoffman founded and led the Nasa Academy of Programme Project and Engineering Leadership (APPEL) for over 20 years.

The list of speakers also include Mark A. Langley, president and chief executive officer, Project Management Institute (PMI); Dr Terry Cooke-Davies, a practitioner of both general and project management since the end of the 1960s, and a consultant to blue-chip organisations for over 20 years; Dr Ali Bin Sebaa Al Merri, one of the young leaders in the Government of Dubai; and Dr Ali Al Merri, Chief Executive Officer of Mohammad Bin Rashid School of Government.