Award for top project managers

USQ Master of Project Management graduates, Kirsty Jeffrey (pictured) and Alan Tyson  recognised with AIPM award.

The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) has recognised Kirsty Jeffrey and Alan Tyson as the top two graduates in the USQ Master of Project Management Program for the 2010 academic year.

Kirsty works as a Partner Performance Coordinator at USQ and says she was surprised and excited to win the award, presented at the monthly meeting of the AIPM Queensland Chapter in Brisbane on 31 August 2011.

'It’s nice to know the hard work paid off. I was actually working full-time while completing the degree, so I was studying my heart out every weekend," Kirsty said. 

'It was a challenging degree, but very suited to my everyday work. So it was great to apply my knowledge practically while I was working.'

Kirsty is now looking to apply her event and project management skills on a larger scale.

'I have organised a lot of events and conferences in my current role, but I would ultimately love to work for a large sporting event, like the London Olympics.

'These days everything can be utilised as a project – it is not specific to defence or construction. I actually focused on event management and it was very, very useful. So the skills you learn are so versatile that you can manipulate them to any field or business.'

Civil Engineer and Manager of Planning, Sustainability and Environment at Goulburn Valley Water, Alan Tyson, was recognised as the off-campus student with the best grade point average (GPA).

'Over the past 20 years I have completed many civil engineering projects from a contractor, consultant and client point of view and thought it was time to formalise my practical experience with a master’s qualification in project management.'

Alan also praised the practical aspects of the degree.

'The practical projects enabled me to critically review some of my past projects in detail. This has led to the identification of possible project management systems improvement in my current work place,' Alan said. 

'The degree was also confirmation that current practical knowledge was 'in the right direction'.

'At all levels in your career the project management philosophy enables a 'can do' attitude which supports achieving all types of aims in all types of roles. Who knows what the future holds?'

Senior Lecturer in Project Management at USQ, Dr Jon Whitty, said Kirsty and Alan both received $1,000 in prize money and one year membership to the AIPM.

'AIPM is a national professional institution with formal connections to international project management professional bodies and formally endorses the USQ Project Management programs. Membership will enable Kirsty and Alan to network with their professional community and keep up to date with common practices in project management.'

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096