Interview with Ben Breen
Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Global Head of Construction
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Interviewed by Ipek Sahra Ozguler
International Correspondent, PM World Journal
Istanbul, Turkey
Introduction to interviewee
Ben Breen is Managing Director, Asia Pacific, and Global Head of Construction for the Project Management Institute (PMI), where he oversees regional activity to ensure PMI can stay close to the needs of stakeholders and provide solutions that create value for individuals and organizations. Ben also represents PMI chapters in the region, allowing a like-minded community of professionals who share a passion to drive change in their organizations and communities to come together. Most recently, Ben spearheaded PMI’s first industry-specific offering, Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (CPBEP)™ to help individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to transform the global construction industry.
Originally from Australia, Ben moved to Singapore in 1994 and has since supported or led hundreds of projects including iconic developments such as Marina Bay Sands and the award-winning Suntec Convention Centre. He has founded several project management and design companies, helping them to grow and develop into best-in-class providers.
Ben has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in building engineering from Victoria University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, and is based in PMI’s office in Singapore.
Interview
Ipek Sahra Ozguler (Ozguler): First of all, thank you for accepting an interview request from PMWJ about the new infrastructure bill that recently passed. What does the infrastructure bill entail?
Ben Breen (Breen): Thank you for having me. The bipartisan, $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that U.S. President Biden signed into law will deliver key federal investments in America’s infrastructure, enhancing bridges, roads, and water and energy systems, as well as the nation’ s broadband. The bill also provides funds to modernize public transit, in addition to investing in passenger and freight rail, connecting people and goods more efficiently throughout the country.
There’ s a lot of work that will be done as a result of this infrastructure bill, opening up a host of jobs and opportunities in various industries and sectors, with many looking to project professionals to ensure the work is carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
Ozguler: What role do project managers play in carrying out the work under the infrastructure bill?
Breen: Project managers will play a critical role in carrying out the work under this bill, as they are the backbone of the projects that will be carried out — the key in ensuring work is done on time, efficiently and within budget. But more than that, the project manager’s role is evolving to center on strategy more than ever before, and we’ll see this even more so as project professionals work with teams to carry out the important work behind this new infrastructure bill.
Ozguler: How can construction professionals make themselves more marketable as the need for skilled workers intensifies?
More…
To read entire interview, click here
How to cite this interview: Ozguler, I. S. (2021). Interview with Ben Breen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Global Head of Construction, PMI; PM World Journal, Vol. X, Issue XII, December. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/pmwj112-Dec2021-Ozguler-Interview-with-Ben-Breen-pmi2.pdf
About the Interviewer
Ipek Sahra Ozguler
Istanbul, Turkey
Ipek Sahra Ozguler graduated from the Istanbul University, Turkey with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and from Middle East Technical University, Turkey with an MSc degree in Software Management. As a project manager, she has more than 13 years of experience in various areas such as portfolio management, program management, project management, software management, business analysis. She became a certified PMP in 2012 and a certified SCRUM Master in 2014.
She has gained broader insights in a variety of projects across manufacturing, defence, FMCG (Cola Cola), insurance (Euler Hermes), audit (Deloitte), telecommunication, aviation and finance sectors. In addition, she has been working as an international correspondent for the PM World Journal since 2014.
Ipek is the creator and editor of the highly acclaimed book, The Perspective of Women Project Management Professionals, interviews with leading female PM experts and professionals around the world. The book was published in March 2020 and is available here
Ipek is based in Istanbul,Turkey and can be contacted at ipeksahra@gmail.com. Her portfolio is published at the http://ipeksahra.strikingly.com/ and https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/ipek-sahra-ozguler/
