Alan Harpham Award

The Alan Harpham Award will honor and recognize an individual with distinguished actions in promoting the project and program management professionalization in the international development and humanitarian sectors by using PM4NGOs methodologies and tools, such as Project DPro.

The selected winner will demonstrate not only leadership in advocating for project and program management professionalization but, most importantly, in innovation of Project DPro tools application, impact on project management maturity, and promoting the access to those who are most in need and to a range of stakeholders in the sector such as community based organizations or local NGOs.

The award is named in honor of Alan Harpham, a global citizen dedicated to making his sector and community a better place.

Alan Harpham, 12/5/1945 – 1/6/2014

Originally a civil engineer, Alan’s professional experience ranged from major North Sea construction and petrochemical projects to chairman of the APM Group. Within the sphere of project management, Alan was an early director of Cranfield University’s MSc in Project Management, then Managing Director of a leading consultancy in program and project management with Nichols Associates. He also served as chairman of Cranfield University’s Science and Research ethics committee and SPD’s medical ethics committee.

As Chairman of the APM Group from 1997 to 2014, Alan worked tirelessly to build APMG’s international networks and reputation. Apart from his professional career, Alan was dedicated to serving his community. His portfolio of pro-bono activities included chairing the Ecumenical Partnership Initiatives Limited, where he also served as a volunteer chaplain to the East of England Ambulance Service. He was a director of the International Center for Spirit at Work; a board member of the Cranfield Management Association, and a Certified Management Consultant and Fellow of the Institute of Business Consultants. Alan was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants and was a pro-bono mentor and consultant.

Alan managed to further contribute to the discipline of project management and community by writing several books and leading articles. One of our favorite stories about Alan was when the phone rang late at night at his home. A distressed elderly lady explained that she had a burst pipe and she needed urgent assistance. Alan assumed she was one of his wife’s parishioners, noted down her address and quickly got up so he could go stem the leak. When Alan arrived he gave her quite a shock – the lady thought she had rung her son. Alan applied this can-do attitude to everything and never seemed to run out of energy.

He was appreciative of other people’s views and had a way of finding common ground when these views were opposed. His ability to embrace diversity of thought acted as a catalyst for improvement and change.

Alan served on the PM4NGOs Board from its inception until his passing in 2014.