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Telstra CEO Andy Penn awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Australian Institute of Project Management

Announcement posted by Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) 22 Jul 2015

Telstra leader becomes first Australian-based Honorary Fellow
The CEO of Telstra, Mr Andy Penn, was this week awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Australian Institute of Project Management (the AIPM) at an event at Telstra’s offices in Sydney. Mr Penn was bestowed the honour for his leadership and support of the profession of project management in Australia.
 
The Telstra leader becomes the first Australian-based Honorary Fellow of the AIPM, and in doing so his efforts to promote and acknowledge the importance of project management in the delivery and implementation of successful business strategies has been recognised.
 
Mr Penn has been a vocal advocate for the profession of project management throughout his career, and has led some of Australia’s largest organisations in their implementation of project management principles in their day-to-day dealings. In his previous role as CEO of AXA Australia Group he also led a turnaround program which signified the important role project management plays in the implementation of an organisation’s strategy.
 
Upon receiving the award, Mr Penn said “We are investing in our project managers across the (Telstra) organisation. As part of this we have appointed a Chief Project Officer to lead our community of project managers.” 
 
“Each and every Project Manager is critical to the success of their own organisation. I believe that project management is truly a very important profession, and one that can make a profound difference to the success, or otherwise, of the companies that project managers work for.” Mr Penn was quoted as saying. “Put simply, a good strategy expertly managed and delivered is one of the keys to organisational success.”
 
AIPM CEO, Ms Yvonne Butler, and National President Mr Ian Sharpe presented the Honorary Fellowship, and Ms Butler was glowing in her praise of the role Mr Penn has and continues to play in the awareness of the importance of the project management profession.
 
Ms Butler said “Project Management is about strategy implementation. Enlightened leaders such as Andy Penn understand the need to build this organisational capability.  As Andy has said, the problem isn’t developing strategy. The problem is strategy implementation. That is where AIPM can help”.
 
Mr Penn concluded by commenting that “not only can this (project management) make a difference to your company, it can make a difference to Australia by increasing productivity of the Australian economy overall”.
 
The AIPM’s Fellowship program aims to recognise members of the project management community who have rendered exceptional service to the institute and are prominent in the profession of project management. The awarding of the Honorary Fellowship to Mr Penn is another step for the AIPM as they continue in their efforts to work with Government and industry to highlight the critical role that project management plays in the delivery of sustainable, social and economic outcomes. 
 
With over 10,000 Members, the Australian Institute of Project Management is the peak body for Project Management in Australia. Its aim is to be the preferred institute and influencing body in the Project Management sector and to be regarded as a world authority and advocate on project management practices and competency.  Its mission is to foster the professional application of project management skills and techniques in order to deliver exceptional organisational outcomes.  The AIPM has been a key driver behind Australia becoming a world leader in professional participation in project management. 
 
AIPM Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Butler will be available for comment at request.
 
Media Contact: Michael Martin 
National Manager Marketing and Communications, AIPM
P: +61 2 8288 8751
E: mmartin@aipm.com.au 
Twitter: @the_AIPM
22 July 2015