How to Train Project Leaders for Future Alliances

Background and Summary

Sukumar Pathmanandavel is Coffey Geotechnics' Global Leader and has over 25 years experience as a geotechnical engineer and senior manager. In his current role, Sukumar is responsible for the growth performance and technical excellence of a specialist geotechnical consultancy business within Coffey with over 600 staff that operates from Australia, NZ, Canada, and the UK. Sukumar has been a driver of major projects culture in Coffey Geotechnics.

This conversation with Sukumar highlights his personal experience within and passion for major project culture. Coffey wholeheartedly drives and promotes collaborative approaches within major projects and is driving internal resources and talent to develop themselves to work in more relationship based environments effectively and productively.

Major Project Culture

Sukumar is currently Coffey’s SERG (senior executive review group) member for the Ballina Bypass Alliance. He is a key figure in the transformation of Coffey through the recently released 3 year strategic plan, driving growth and change through strategic management. Sukumar’s major focus in alliance innovation is to leverage Coffey’s specialist knowledge to deliver extraordinary outcomes including significantly reduced costs and construction times and improved overall outcomes for local communities.

Assessing the role of Leadership in Project Delivery and alliances

Sukumar asserts that the role of the leader is critical for the success of any project that works on relationship princicples. The conversation focuses on the following core topics:

How can you drive the internal development of potential alliance project leaders?                                             Qualities and skills that are essential for project leaders                                                                                   Differences between operating in an alliance style versus a traditional contracting environment                 Preparing internal future team members for this new 'collaborative' environment

Coffey are engaged in the Annual Alliance Contracting Excellence Summit in June 2010. For more information please call 02 9229 1000