Professional Development

The Project Management Institute of New Zealand (PMINZ) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the pursuit and improvement of project management in all its contexts.

The New Zealand “chapter” is registered with the parent organisation, the US-based Project Management Institute, and is divided into branches for ease of management. 

The three branches are:

• Northern
• Central
• South Island

they are governed by the PMINZ Board which consists of both elected and appointed members, all of whom are volunteers.

One of the appointed positions on the Board is the Director of Professional Development (the Director PD) who is responsible for developing a professional development strategy to meet PMINZ’s objectives as detailed in its:

• 3yr strategic plan and operational plan.

The Director PD implements the strategy with the help of the branches by introducing professional development initiatives at a national level that are available for branches and their various sub-branches to take advantage of. 

Examples include resources for volunteer facilitators to run regional study groups towards recognised PMI certifications; and the 2011 launch of the:

• PMINZ National Mentoring Programme for Project Professionals

The Director PD then provides support to the branches for their implementation.

At branch and sub-branch level, there is a lot of flexibility in the professional development opportunities offered to local members.

Branches each have a budget that can be used to support initiatives such as the range of local events held annually on:

• International Project Management Day  regular monthly networking events with speakers; and events for new members.

Some branches also partner with other professional bodies, such as the International Institute of Business Analysts (IIBA) to offer joint events of interest to a wider audience of project professionals.

PMINZ currently has over 1,500 members throughout New Zealand with active Branches and Groups operating in:

• Northern (including Waikato and Northland  Sub-Branches)
• Central (includes Hawkes Bay Sub-Branch) includes North Island from Wellington to New Plymouth and Gisborne
• South Island (including Nelson and Dunedin Sub-Branches)

Each branch committee maintains up to date information covering the locations, dates, frequency and topics of meetings offered to members across its sub-branches.

If you are new to PMINZ, the first thing to do is locate your nearest branch / sub-branch and go along to a meeting to introduce yourself to other members.

Most meetings are on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and involve an opportunity to network with other members, followed by a speaker on a project management-related topic such as risk, project rescue, stakeholder management, change management and case studies on high profile projects (eg. a very popular session by Martin Snedden in 2010 on the Rugby World Cup).

Most sub-branches tailor the frequency and format of their meetings to the needs of a regular member base. Some meet for breakfast, others for lunch and others for drinks after work, while some collectively explore topics of interest in an interactive format rather than having a speaker.

Search for your branch now and find out how you can get connected.