Mid-year community event explores challenges to managing contractors

Doha, 19 June 2013

TAFAWOQ, a world-class Project Management Centre of Excellence focusing on developing the competencies of project managers to deliver Qatar's extraordinary capital investment projects, brought together members of Qatar's project management community under one roof to have a thought-provoking discussion on managing contractors who deliver Qatar's large scale infrastructure projects. The mid-year 'Project Management Community Event' was hosted by TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee, which includes partners Qatar Petroleum, Hamad bin Khalifa University and Qatar Shell.

The event was opened by a welcome speech from Bader Al Jaidah, Operations Manager of TAFAWOQ, who stressed how TAFAWOQ continues to play a major role in developing project management competencies based on industry best practices.  Al Jaidah stated, "TAFAWOQ creates a platform for sharing information and transferring knowledge. It also lays the foundation for a professional project management community - and this is why we are gathered here tonight, to network, share information and discuss solutions."

TAFAWOQ holds bi-annual events to explore challenging issues that could impact Qatar's development. At this mid-year Community Event, the discussions focused on "How to Ensure Contractors' Performance in Complex Projects," and featured keynote presentations by world-class experts from industry and academia.  Herman Veenhuis, TAFAWOQ's Development Manager, moderated the session that shed light on best practices when dealing with contractors for capital projects.

The discussion followed on from speeches by Saad Al Muhannadi, Technical Director, QP and Chairman of TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee and Dr. Khalid Al Khanji, Vice President, Student Affairs at HBKU and Member of TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee.

Saad Al Muhannadi, Chairman of TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee and Technical Director, QP said:

" During year 2013 and beyond, Qatar's planned expenditures and investments on Road and Transportation infrastructures, deep water Sea Port, and state-of-art Stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, are significant.

As a lead player in the region, Qatar Petroleum's outstanding track record in managing and executing major Oil & Gas projects and large Infrastructures, supported by a robust project management system, reinforce and strengthen this important project management initiative. "

TAFAWOQ's learning programme will be expanded this year with a dedicated course titled "Effective Project Contracting" that will cover contract management based on best practices from the industry. It will also share lessons learned from world-scale projects on the development of contracting strategies and tactics to effectively manage project risks.

Dr. Khalid Al Khanji, Vice President, Student Affairs at HBKU and a member of TAFAWOQ's Joint Steering Committee, expressed his confidence that HBKU, together with partners QP and Qatar Shell can turn TAFAWOQ into a regionally-recognised Project Management Centre of Excellence."Hamad bin Khalifa University was established to hone national skills, whether in engineering, journalism, business administration or foreign policy," Al Khanji stated. "And we are delighted to add skilled project management professionals to the multitude of graduates who leave us every year to help build Qatar's economy and fulfil its National Vision."

Rob Sherwin, Secretary of the Joint Steering Committee of TAFAWOQ and Qatar Shell's General Manager Corporate Affairs, said in his closing remarks, "It is of prime importance to Shell, wherever we operate in the world, that we contribute to the communities in which we operate. When I look around me at what has been achieved here today, it is heartening to see the dawning of a project management community, networking, contributing and sharing knowledge that will ultimately have a positive and sustainable impact on Qatar's development goals in line with QNV 2030."

TAFAWOQ's method of education is based on the Shell Project Academy's 'Pentagon model', which is an internationally recognised and accredited programme that ensures that project professionals receive executive education and training opportunities. TAFAWOQ's participants gain valuable experience from accomplished and recognized project management professionals using virtual learning, work based activities and face-to-face training, in addition to coaching, mentoring and networking.   

- End -

About Qatar Shell
Shell is the largest foreign investor in Qatar investing up to $21 billion in the last 6 years. Qatar Petroleum and Shell delivered two of the largest energy projects in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) is the world's largest GTL plant and cements Qatar's position as the GTL capital of the world. At an investment of $ 18 - 19 billion it is the largest single investment in the Shell Group's global portfolio.

The Qatargas 4 Liquefied Natural Gas project (QP (70%) and Shell (30%)) combines Shell's global leadership in LNG with Qatar's position as the world's largest LNG supplier.

Shell has established a world-class research and development facility and a learning centre, the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Shell has a financial commitment to invest up to $100 million on programmes at the Centre over a 10-year period.

In 2010, Shell and PetroChina signed an agreement with QP to explore in the pre-Khuff interval in Block D. In December 2011 Shell and QP signed a HOA to jointly develop a world-class petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

About Hamad bin Khalifa University
Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is an emerging research university building upon unique collaborations with local and international partners. Located in Education City, HBKU seeks to provide unparalleled opportunities for scholarship, teaching, discovery, and learning for all of its students through an array of interdisciplinary programs.

HBKU's partners are Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar, and University College London Qatar. 

Media enquiries:
Qatar Shell
Alaa El-Dabaa
+974 4495 7639

© Press Release 2013