2023 Symposium Speakers
Click to view the current program.
Keynote Speaker
PGCS are in negotiation with a number of international and leading Australian speakers. Watch this space.
Invited Speakers
To be part of the PGCS 2023 program submit your abstract for review or email your ideas and suggestions to .
Masterclass Presenters
PGCS will be running three international Masterclasses - See below.
Keynote Speakers

Mr Chris Deeble, AO, CSC
Deputy Secretary of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group
(CASG)
Chris Deeble is the Deputy Secretary of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) in the Department of Defence.
Chris has extensive experience spanning the defence, industry and commercial sectors and working with Government. He also served for 37 years in the Australian Defence Force, most notably as an Air Vice-Marshal.
His most recent appointment was Chief Executive at Northrop Grumman Australia. Prior to that he worked for Airservices Australia as the program executive for OneSKY, responsible for delivering the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System for Australia.
Chris returns to CASG after previously holding the role of Senior Program Manager where he managed more than $25 billion of complex acquisition and sustainment programs including the Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control, Multi Role
Tanker Transport and Collins Class Submarine.
Chris has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Sydney. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2007, and recognized in 2016 as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Chris is married to Donna and they have five adult children. They enjoy travel, movies and spending time with family.

Mr Gordon Kranz
President, Enlightened Integrated Program Management, LLC
Mr. Kranz is a research fellow supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense with research related to improving the Department's acquisition management policies and practices. He is a board member of the College of Performance Management, a non-profit organization serving performance management professionals. As the President of Enlightened IPM, he provides government agencies and contractors advice and guidance on performing disciplined, integrated program management on Agile programs. Before his current position, Mr. Kranz was the Deputy Director of OSD/AT&L/PARCA for Earned Value Management and provided policy and guidance to the US military acquisition enterprise. Mr. Kranz spent 16 years as chief engineer and program manager at General Dynamics C4 Systems and 11 years in the Air Force as a technical manager on tactical communications systems, strategic communications systems, and the F-22 program. He has an MS EE from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a BS in EE from North Dakota State University.

Antonio Rippe
Principal Analyst, Tecolote Research, Inc. USA
Antonio Rippe is a Principal Analyst with the NASA Operations group at Tecolote Research, Inc. Mr. Rippe brings 20 years of experience providing cost estimating, statistical analysis, risk modeling, and schedule risk analysis for US defense and civilian federal government. Mr. Rippe specializes in developing integrated cost and schedule risk models for various NASA programs, including aeronautics, science, and human space exploration missions. Mr. Rippe holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Science degree in Business Analytics from the University of Central Florida.
Mr. Rippe lives in Florida with his wife, three kids, and very large dog.
The FICSM Team: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Mr Rasmus Rytter
Partner, Implement Consulting Group
Rasmus Rytter is an author, speaker and renowned expert within benefits realisation and organisational change. His expertise and three books on the subject have helped a wide variety of companies and public organisations realise their benefit potential. Since 2013, he has been part of Implement Consulting Group as a partner, consultant and advisor. Before joining Implement, Rasmus worked for 10 years as a project manager, program manager and people manager. Rasmus has a master's degree from Aarhus University.
Invited Speakers

James Quilliam, PhD, PMP
Tecolote, LA, USA
James D. Quilliam, PhD, PMP is currently a Principal Analyst in the Los Angeles Division of Tecolote Research, Inc. a privately-held company that provides high quality, integrated services that rely on an empowered and experienced professional staff, proven business and analytical processes, and automated tools that are based on a strong knowledge of customer requirements and leading edge technology. He has supported multiple federal and military mission-driven organizations.
James has successfully assisted and consulted with a myriad of organizations to help them foster and implement initiatives to produce intelligent, fact-based decisions to improve mission effectiveness, resource efficiency, and resource savings.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a Masters of Business Administration, and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Address: 2120 East Grand Avenue, Suite 200, El Segundo, CA 90245
E-Mail:
Telephone: (424) 322-9116, Ext. 5108.

Helena Bograd
Senior Management Consultant, Implement Consulting Group
Helena Bograd is an expert within benefits realisation and organizational change and the author of several articles and cases about the topic. She is also a speaker, trainer and she helps companies implement the benefits realisation and change methods in their change projects as well as ensure benefit-driven decision making at portfolio level. Helena is a Senior Consultant and has been part of Implement Consulting Group since 2018. Helena has a master's degree from Copenhagen Business School.
Masterclass Presenters

Gordon Kranz
President, Enlightened Integrated Program Management, LLC
Mr. Kranz is a research fellow supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense with research related to improving the Department's acquisition management policies and practices. He is a board member of the College of Performance Management, a non-profit organization serving performance management professionals. As the President of Enlightened IPM, he provides government agencies and contractors advice and guidance on performing disciplined, integrated program management on Agile programs. Before his current position, Mr. Kranz was the Deputy Director of OSD/AT&L/PARCA for Earned Value Management and provided policy and guidance to the US military acquisition enterprise. Mr. Kranz spent 16 years as chief engineer and program manager at General Dynamics C4 Systems and 11 years in the Air Force as a technical manager on tactical communications systems, strategic communications systems, and the F-22 program. He has an MS EE from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a BS in EE from North Dakota State University.

Rasmus Rytter
Partner, Implement Consulting Group
Rasmus Rytter is an author, speaker and renowned expert within benefits realisation and organisational change. His expertise and three books on the subject have helped a wide variety of companies and public organisations realise their benefit potential. Since 2013, he has been part of Implement Consulting Group as a partner, consultant and advisor. Before joining Implement, Rasmus worked for 10 years as a project manager, program manager and people manager. Rasmus has a master's degree from Aarhus University.

Helena Bograd
Senior Management Consultant, Implement Consulting Group
Helena Bograd is an expert within benefits realisation and organizational change and the author of several articles and cases about the topic. She is also a speaker, trainer and she helps companies implement the benefits realisation and change methods in their change projects as well as ensure benefit-driven decision making at portfolio level. Helena is a Senior Consultant and has been part of Implement Consulting Group since 2018. Helena has a master's degree from Copenhagen Business School.

Antonio Rippe
Principal Analyst, Tecolote Research, Inc. USA
Antonio Rippe is a Principal Analyst with the NASA Operations group at Tecolote Research, Inc. Mr. Rippe brings 20 years of experience providing cost estimating, statistical analysis, risk modeling, and schedule risk analysis for US defense and civilian federal government. Mr. Rippe specializes in developing integrated cost and schedule risk models for various NASA programs, including aeronautics, science, and human space exploration missions. Mr. Rippe holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Science degree in Business Analytics from the University of Central Florida.
Mr. Rippe lives in Florida with his wife, three kids, and very large dog.