Can we Client Differently to Deliver Better Outcomes?

Defence capital investment is increasing and current international instability requires us to deliver faster and with greater predictability.  A client’s capabilities and qualities will be a decisive factor in delivering complex programmes on time, on budget and with desired benefits. Emma-Jane Houghton and Jim Carter will share their personal insight on how we can evolve the client to better deliver outcomes in the short and long term.

Building on her article ‘Let's Harness the Power of the Incomplete Client’, Emma-Jane will explore the effectiveness of the current client model and provide initial insights of the work with the Major Projects Association (MPA) and International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) to appraise industry perspectives on effective Clienting.  Key to this is the question of what role does and should the Client undertake and how does the Client work with and through others.  Jim will set out some of the ways in which the SDA is already addressing these challenges and championing a new way of leading complex major programme delivery. The SDA Commercial Strategy that underpins this thinking sets out a long-term partnering approach, leveraging mission focused collaboration to improve performance, pace, and productivity. This extends to unlocking supply chain potential, optimising category alignment, and developing joint incentive models for mutual benefit. Together, they will set out how an enterprise approach is an essential enabler to success.

Emma-Jane Houghton:

Emma-Jane is a highly experienced infrastructure and built environment specialist. Her background and professional accomplishments span major project and programme delivery with clients in both the private and public sector.  Currently with Atomic Weapons Establishment, she has previously held client positions in the Cabinet Office and Heathrow Airport as well as Big Four consultancy and front-line delivery roles.  She has a strong track record across the full investment lifecycle setting up and delivering major infrastructure investments in the transport, power and defence sectors.  Emma-Jane has also led a number of successful major project turnaround mandates covering complex construction disputes and major project resets.  She is passionate about the transformational nature of outcomes-based public sector investment programmes and the importance of getting both the commercial strategy and client model right to enable that transformation.  Emma-Jane is a chartered surveyor, a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Lt Col in the Engineering and Logistics Staff Corps.

Jim Carter:

Jim Carter is the Submarine Delivery Agency’s Commercial Director, responsible for leading all commercial activity for the organisation. He’s had a 25-year Commercial career across the private and public sector including Director roles at Cable & Wireless, Commercial Director at Network Rail, and Transformation Director in the Cabinet Office. For his work at Network Rail, Jim won the CIPs Procurement and Supply Chain Professional of the Year Award, and has won 7 CIPs awards across his career. Jim is passionate about improving Diversity & Inclusion, and has developed and launched a mobile app to promote gender equality.  Jim is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supplier and a Certified Director with the IoD.