Sustainability, Defence And Megaprojects Dominate APM Party Conference Events

The Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, hosted a series of panel events at this year’s Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat party conferences. Across all three sessions, a shared message emerged: government projects must adopt a more coordinated, flexible, and collaborative approach to achieve lasting success.

The discussions brought together senior politicians, academics, business leaders, and project professionals to examine how effective project delivery can advance national policy goals while delivering long-term value for communities, the economy, and the environment.

Speakers repeatedly highlighted that siloed working, inconsistent planning, and rigid governance often undermine progress. They called for closer alignment between policy design and project delivery, ensuring that intent, execution, and stakeholder engagement are more closely connected.

At the Labour Party Conference, the session “Environment vs Infrastructure? Can Good Projects Deliver for Both?” explored whether major infrastructure development can coexist with environmental priorities. Chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, the panel included Vijay Luthra (Ceva), Henry Tufnell MP, Luca Sabini (University of Leeds) and Jane Simpson (United Utilities).

Panellists agreed that embedding environmental considerations early in the planning process can reduce opposition and lead to better long-term outcomes. They also discussed the structural challenges facing the civil service in delivering large-scale infrastructure amid political change, calling for delivery professionals to play a stronger role at the planning stage.

At the Conservative Party Conference, the debate “Is Britain Ready to Deliver the Strategic Defence Review?” examined the UK’s readiness to implement its defence ambitions. Chaired by Olivia O’Sullivan of Chatham House, the panel featured James Cartlidge MP, Alistair Godbold (APM Vice President), Dr Helen Greenhough (Frazer-Nash Consultancy) and Jayne Planitzer (Thales).

Discussion focused on defence procurement, collaboration, and supply chain resilience, with panellists emphasising the need for faster decision-making and improved coordination between government and industry. Lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine highlighted the importance of agility, consistent funding, and mapping critical suppliers to maintain operational readiness.

At the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, the panel “Nimbyism Recast: The Role of Local Stakeholders in Megaproject Delivery” considered whether local opposition to major projects could be turned into positive engagement. Chaired by Andrew Baldwin, APM’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, panellists Gideon Amos MP, Luke Taylor MP, and Sheilina Somani (APM Board Member) discussed how early, transparent community involvement can reduce resistance and build trust. The conversation underscored that opposition often stems from miscommunication and that projects succeed when local benefits are made clear alongside national objectives.

Reflecting on the events, Andrew Baldwin, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at APM, said:
“It was fantastic to host three events at this year’s party conferences, ensuring that the voice of the project profession was heard by key political decision-makers. While each discussion focused on a different theme, a consistent message came through — government projects need to adopt a more joined-up approach to succeed.

“Investing in project management and involving project professionals at the earliest stage will be critical to achieving national priorities such as the ‘build, build, build’ agenda, the new planning and infrastructure bill, and the Strategic Defence Review. It’s also essential to embed community engagement and adopt flexible decision-making to help projects adapt and deliver long-term value.”