APM Establishes Independence from IPMA

COMMENTARY

By Alistair Godbold

United Kingdom

The Association for Project Management’s (APM’s) charitable objectives are to advance the science, theory and practice of project and programme management for the public benefit. This has been its mission since it was founded over 50 years ago. It has delivered this through its individual members, harnessing their expertise and supporting their development. APM has facilitated the ability to network, as well as the development of its corporate and academic partners, learning from APM and each other. The majority of this has been done in the context of UK professionals, projects and businesses. However, many professionals, companies and projects are operating and delivering internationally, working with partners from around the globe. Nowadays, many projects are international in what, where, why and how they deliver. Project practitioners and academics move around the world to practice and develop their profession. Many come to the UK to enrol and study project management. There is much to do to help and learn from this international community.

For the past 50 years APM has contributed and learned in this international arena through its membership of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), as a very early member. This body consists of project management associations from over 70 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, as well as Australia.  It has been in existence as long as APM and, broadly speaking, shares similar values and objectives. IPMA exists to support project management associations. It allows them to network and share ideas and experiences, from Panama to the Philippines, Canada to China, Norway to Nigeria, Iceland to India.

APM has been able to contribute and gain from IPMA as it’s the largest and the most mature project management Member Association. This has allowed APM also to deliver on its international outlook and aspirations. APM’s membership in IPMA has been a long and successful one, with APM members taking up senior positions over the years, contributing to IPMA progression and that of its member associations. These people include Mary McKinley, Tom Taylor, Miles Sheppard, Rodney Turner, Peter Morris and Martin Barnes, among many others.

On a personal note, I have represented APM within the IPMA for many years, collaborating with professionals from all over the world. Many of these have become friends who share a common bond with the passion to raise the standards of project delivery. Each of these people contribute many hours of their own time volunteering and using their intellect and different perspectives for the benefit of all. I have chaired advisory groups, contributed to projects on the governance of IPMA and the development of standards. I have spent many hours traveling to meetings all over the world and spent even more time on zoom calls in the day, evenings and weekends with people in different countries and many different time zones, deciding who has to get up early or stay up late to join a meeting at a time convenient for others (the Australians usually make the most sacrifice!). It has been a tremendously enjoyable and rewarding role.

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Editor’s note: With the recent announcement that APM’s relationship with IPMA is changing from Member Association to operating independently, Alistair Godbold, former Deputy Chair of APM and representative for IPMA, reflects on the reasons behind the change and considers what it could mean for the project profession – Miles Shepherd, PhD, PMWJ editorial advisor.

How to cite this work: Godbold, A. (2025).  APM Establishes Independence from IPMA, Commentary, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue I, January.  Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pmwj148-Jan2025-Godbold-APM-establishes-independence-from-IPMA.pdf

About the Author

Alistair Godbold

London, UK

Alistair Godbold, Hon Fellow APM FAPM ChPP, former Deputy Chairman of the Association for Project Management, was recently named a Vice President of APM.  With over 30 years of experience in the project profession to the role, most recently working as a Director with The Nichols Group. He is a director of the International Centre for Complex Project Management. He has also worked as a director of the Major Projects Association and authored several chapters of project management books and sections of the APM Body of Knowledge. Alistair has also served as a council member of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), chairing their Advisory Committee and is an Honorary Fellow of the IPMA. Alistair is passionate about resolving the national and international shortage of skilled and experienced project professionals.