29 June 2022
This June, we are delighted to be bringing back the much-missed Risk Decisions Community Event. We have been running the event since 2017 as an opportunity to connect with our customers and thought leaders from around the industry.
This invitation-only event gives our network of Risk Practitioners a unique opportunity to share their experiences of not just using our software, but operating in the risk space more generally. They are able to learn from each other as well as influencing the direction of Risk Decisions in the future.
This year we are delighted to have enlisted 3 guest speakers who are experts in the risk community as well as our very own CEO, Val Jonas.
Gary Singleton, Planning & Risk Capability Manager, BAE Systems
Gary started his career in the Civil Service in Blackpool back in 1992, leaving to join BAE Systems as a planner in 2006. He quickly progressed to lead planner, responsible for all F-35 integrated scheduling solutions and schedule risk analysis.
Gary moved into the Air PM Function in 2010 where he performed a similar role for the whole of the Air Sector. He became the Planning Manager for Air in 2015 and in 2018 took on his current role which, among other things, is to ensure the Air Sector works towards a standardised set of processes and toolsets in the planning and risk arena, which he has since been rolling out across the wider business.

Rolling out risk
This presentation will explore the challenges of implementing the Predict! toolset into a line of business within the Air Sector at BAE Systems that has never used Predict! before.
Parts of the Air Sector have historically used earlier versions of Predict! whereas others are still using bespoke databases and spreadsheets. Gary’s aim as Risk Manager is to promote a consistent approach to Risk & Opportunity Management. Throughout this presentation, he will explore some of the barriers to success when it comes to moving parts of the organisation from their trusted systems onto something new and different, and how BAE are attempting to get through them as a business.
Dale Shermon, Head of Planning, Monitoring and Control (PM&C), QinetiQ
Dale is a QinetiQ fellow and a domain leader. He leads a team for the sustainment and development of the project professional community across the business globally.
Having worked in the Aerospace and Defence environment for more than 35 years, Dale has detailed knowledge in cost estimating, forecasting and risk analysis and experience of project and programme management disciplines.
He has presented and spoken at more than 90 conferences, written numerous papers and books, delivered training worldwide and won multiple industry awards including the prestigious ICEAA Frank Freiman award for ‘lifetime contributions to parametric estimating’.

When is 50% confidence not 50% confidence?
When carrying out risk analysis, many organisations apply the 50% confidence level, ensuring that across their whole portfolio or programme, the organisation’s projects will succeed on average.
Dale will share a QinetiQ case study with techniques and approaches applicable to domains beyond the Defence and Security industry focusing on how organisations conduct risk identification.
This presentation will explore the effect of combining cost and schedule risk analysis rather than assessing them separately, leading to a very surprising outcome.
Agenda
09:00 – Registration
09:30 – Welcome – Val Jonas
10:00 – Rolling risk out to new business units – Gary Singleton, BAE Systems
10:45 – Tea/coffee/networking break
11:15 – Dashboards and Predict! Connect – Hatch
12:00 – Lunch
13:00 – Predict! roadmap and demo – Trevor Jay
13:45 – Combined cost schedule contingency – Dale Shermon, QinetiQ
14:30 – Tea/coffee/networking break
15:00 – Are opportunities in your sights? (discussion session) – Val Jonas
15:30 – Final comments and close – Val Jonas
Watch the video below to find out more about what you can expect from our Community Event.
Get in touch to find out more about our Community Events.
Can't make it? Find us at other events throughout the year.