Head of our University’s Enterprise Project Management Office Pepijn Wyffels (right) and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis with the national PMO of the Year trophy at the recent Project Management Institute New Zealand 2024 awards ceremony.
A strong focus on ensuring projects deliver their expected benefits has helped Otago's Enterprise Project Management Office become national PMO of the Year.
It stood out from the pack by being one of the few actively developing benefits realisation, say the judges of the Project Management Institute New Zealand 2024 awards.
Our great coverage of Project Management Office services and a well-considered, successful long-term approach to developing maturity – including seeking an independent review – meant the judges “unanimously felt we would love to meet and hear more of your story”.
That review found Otago is among the best of its kind worldwide at choosing building, IT and transformation projects that will benefit us the most, then managing those projects so they produce the expected benefits.
Our EPMO achieved that review result in only 3.5 years, when only 20 per cent of globally benchmarked organisations reach that level in six to eight years, said the independent report by Crystal Consulting.
Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis says our University recognises projects and transformational change involve a significant investment – in time and money – so set out to ensure our EPMO would be well-positioned to lead and support that investment.
He believes that could not have happened without the skill and sheer dedication of the staff since the EPMO was created in 2018 – they worked extremely hard to help Otago achieve its strategic goals and vision.
Head of the EPMO, Pepijn Wyffels, says he was proud to accept the award on behalf of present and past staff, for the rewarding work they do helping our University.
Enterprise Project Management Office Senior Analyst Bailey Sprosen with the award on the Dunedin campus.
The three other finalists for the PMO of the Year award were:
- Christchurch City Council
- Foodstuffs South Island
- New Zealand Defence Force Defence Estate and Infrastructure
The EPMO is part of the Operations Group, which has three top priorities:
Enable – the University to achieve its visions and mission.
Engage – with our students, each other, our customers and externally.
Experience – of our students, our customers, and externally to be outstanding.