Lindsay Charles named Project Manager of the Year

The NSW Government’s project manager on the $155 million South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra has been named Project Manager of the Year at the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) awards held in Brisbane earlier this month.

Lindsay Charles took home the title of Project Manager of the Year at the AIPM’s annual Project Management Achievement Awards, contended by other state and territory finalists from both the public and private sector.

“Ms Charles’ award is an outstanding achievement and the department is fortunate to have such a highly skilled and experienced person in charge of delivering some of our largest and important infrastructure projects for our clients,” said Michael Coutts-Trotter, director of the NSW Department of Finance and Services.

Despite the many challenges inherent in the project, including an expansion to the scope during the construction phase, Charles overcame issues to deliver the centre on time and within budget.

The project distinguished itself due to a number of initiatives including participation by the Aboriginal community, stakeholder consultation, early tenderer involvement and an innovative OH&S alliance agreement.

As with many individual award winners, Charles thanked her team for their support. “Around 2,300 people worked on the project, with an average daily workforce of about 300,” she said. “There were 128 subcontracting firms, of which 84 were from the South Coast region.”

Charles was the first female to graduate from the Bachelor of Building course at the University of Western Sydney, finishing with first class honours and achieving the highest grade among graduates that year. In 1994, she became the first female construction supervisor to be appointed to the then Department of Public Works and Services.

NSW Public Works has an impressive record in producing winning project managers, with five of the last seven awards going to the department.