🎯 Event Overview

The project workforce is changing fast - how we engage talent, structure delivery teams, and take on new engagements as contractors and professionals all look different in 2026.

Following on from our well-received Sydney CBD market update, PMI Sydney Chapter brings this session to Western Sydney University in Parramatta, making it easier for our Western Sydney members and project professionals to access the same insights closer to home.

In this session, we will explore the latest job market trends and predictions for project managers and delivery teams, how workforce engagement models are shifting beyond the traditional contractor-versus-permanent debate, and how to how to use LinkedIn when searching for your next role and make your profile stand out for all the right reasons.

Steve Tompkins will open the session with a job market summary and predictions as we head into the Q4, including how methods of client engagement are changing. Tom Mackenzie will then share insights on Workforce as a Service and structured, fit-for-purpose delivery models through Scale by Avec. James Nutt will close out the presentations with practical guidance on optimising your LinkedIn presence and usage.

Join us for an evening of practical insight, networking, and professional development as we journey onward through the AI era.

Professional LinkedIn Headshots: A photographer will be on-site to take high-quality professional headshots, giving attendees an opportunity to refresh their LinkedIn profile pictures with a polished, career-ready image.

💡 Event Objectives

• Understand current job market trends, predictions and demand signals for project managers and delivery teams heading into Q4 2026
• Explore how workforce engagement models are evolving beyond the traditional contractor vs permanent debate
• Gain insight into Workforce as a Service models and how they impact delivery risk, cost control and capability retention
• Use LinkedIn profile and engagement tools to optimise professional presence in today’s project management economy

👥 Who Should Attend

Project managers, program managers, delivery leads, contractors and professionals navigating today's job market, and anyone responsible for sourcing or structuring project workforce and delivery teams.

Presenters

Steve Tompkins – Talent International

Steve Tompkins has over 25 years' experience in the Recruitment Industry in Sydney and the UK, over a decade of which was spent in leadership positions. He is the Head of NSW Government for Talent International in Sydney and has enjoyed working closely with the PMI for the last decade. His main area of specialisation in recruitment is in sourcing, delivery and support of Project Managers, delivery teams and Project resources. Steve will open the session with a recent job market summary and predictions, why the methods of engagement are changing for clients and some tips in today's job market.

Thomas (Tom) Mackenzie – Scale by Avec

Tom leads the launch of Scale by Avec across NSW – a Workforce as a Service model designed for modern ICT project delivery. Working with project and program leaders to rethink how workforce design impacts delivery risk, cost control and long-term capability retention.

His focus sits at the intersection of project performance and workforce strategy, helping organisations move beyond the traditional contractor vs permanent debate and toward structured, fit-for-purpose delivery models.

At this session you will hear practical insights into how workforce trends are reshaping project environments and why not all contractor or max-term engagements are created equal.

Scale by Avec delivers Workforce as a Service for complex ICT projects across government and enterprise. Combining specialist consultants with structured governance and stability guarantees, Scale enables organisations to balance contractor flexibility, permanent workforce strategy and managed team delivery. 

James Nutt

James is a skilled HR Tech and recruiting professional with over 15 years of experience across the UK, NZ, and now in Australia. With a proven track record of success, he has worked for the likes of Glassdoor as they set up in Europe, and now with LinkedIn in Australia. Prior to this he worked in recruitment for Hays and Kelly Services.

At LinkedIn he is a Regional Account Director delivering innovative solutions to global staffing companies within ANZ. With extensive knowledge of HR Tech and recruiting, he is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the complexities of the industry and make data-driven decisions that drive business success. This experience has given him a deep understanding of the talent acquisition landscape and the critical role technology plays in transforming the recruitment process.

With a specific focus on sales strategy, account management and leadership of high performing teams, he prides himself on the relationships he develops and takes a longer term view of turning business relationships into long-term business partnerships.