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John Grill Institute for Project Leadership

Shaping future projects and their outcomes

We advance breakthrough research into project leadership, deliver world-leading executive education and work with industry, government and communities to shape future projects and their outcomes.

The John Grill Institute for Project Leadership is a global leader in research and executive education on how we conceive, set-up, deliver and benefit from projects. Founded through a generous donation by John Grill, we are building leadership capability and capacity to transform the performance of projects.

Drawing on the strong research base at the University of Sydney, we bring together leading industry, government, policy and research. We deliver world-class executive education and support our growing network of alumni as they lead projects.

Through our flagship Executive Leadership in Major Projects program, customised courses, and public events, we seek to build capacity to better understand the practice of project leadership, building on the knowledge bank generated since our start as a Centre. We are becoming recognised in Australia and internationally as a go-to place for advice on project sponsorship, leadership and governance underpinned by research and research-led executive education.

As Director, Professor Jennifer Whyte brings substantial experience of leading interdisciplinary research teams to have impact on practice, working closely with industry, government and policy, collaborating across universities, convening Executive Education and running events with senior industry, policymakers and ministers. Please see our events, including masterclasses and an online symposium on Project Leadership for a Changing World on 10 November 2021.

To join our mailing list and get in touch please email: john-grill.institute@sydney.edu.au

Red staircase

Insights on project leadership

Project leadership is crucial in achieving positive outcomes. As projects grow in complexity, our research supports project leaders in setting up project governance.

Centres and institutes_

A team standing around a whiteboard

About us

Building on a significant heritage of work on projects and project leadership at the University of Sydney.

Puzzle

How to engage

Work with us to transform the way that projects are delivered, engaging through our research, executive education and engagement activities.

Red building and glass

Cross-sectoral expertise

Lessons shared across project-based sectors including infrastructure, new energy, software, organisational change and new project-based industries.

Our people

Academic staff

Professor Jennifer Whyte

Professor Lynn Crawford

Associate Professor Julien Pollack

Dr Fatima Afzal

Dr Marzena Baker

Professor Stewart Clegg

Dr Nader Naderpajouh

Dr Louis Taborda

Dr Shahadat Uddin

Learning facilitators

Professor Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld

Ms Silvia Damiano

Ms Jane Lowther

Administration

Tamara Kirby, School Manager

Ms Christine Colman, Project Officer

Ms Ana Skara, Administration Officer

Advisory board

Mr John Grill AO

Professor Stephen Garton

Dr Stuart McGill

Dr Ken Henry AC

Mr Kevin McCann AM

Professor Clinton Free

Professor Kim Rasmussen

Internal Management Group

Michael Bell, ITLS, Business School

Stewart Clegg, School of Project Management

Lynn Crawford, School of Project Management

Judy Kay, Computer Science

Jinman Kim, Telehealth Lab

Kevin Lowe, Business School

Petr Matous, School of Project Management

Donald McNeill, School of Architecture Design and Planning

Nader Naderpajouh, School of Project Management

Julien Pollack (Deputy Director of JGIPL and Chair of IMG), School of Project Management

Jennifer Whyte (Director of JGIPL), School of Project Management

Executive Leadership Program

Centre Director

Professor Jennifer Whyte

Professor Jennifer Whyte

Academic profile

Deputy Centre Director

Associate Professor Julien Pollack

Associate Professor Julien Pollack

Academic profile

John Grill AO

John Grill AO

Alumni, BSc(1966) BE(Civil)(1968)

"I will build new research and education capability in the realm of projects and leadership."

John Grill Institute for Project Leadership

Address

John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, Building K06A, Level 2, 21 Ross St, Forest Lodge NSW 2037

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