Pre-Conference Focus Day

Download the Full Event Guide to see the expert speakers, a full in-depth 2-day agenda, the hours of networking opportunities, and how you can get involved in the discussion - all in one document!

Pre-Conference Focus Day

Tuesday 18th November 2025

12:00 pm Check-In & Networking Lunch

1:00 pm Chair’s Opening Remarks

Driving Retention

1:10 pm Evolving the Role of a Scheduler to Balance Technical Skills, Practical Construction Knowledge & Soft Skills

  • Sid Khot Scheduling Manager, Michels Corporation

Synopsis

  • Explore how new expectations and responsibilities are shaping the modern scheduler role, and the skills needed to be a strategic planning partner to meet today’s project demands
  • Bridge the gap between software and site: encourage schedulers to walk jobsites, integrate field knowledge, and challenge assumptions with confidence
  • Build the soft skills that elevate schedulers into trusted advisors to influence teams, driving collaboration, and share lessons learned to improve project outcomes

1:50 pm Panel: Positioning Scheduling as a Rewarding Career to Create a More Robust Talent Pipeline & Support Capacity Requirements

Synopsis

  • Developing effective college and student engagement programs that highlight the scheduling discipline as a career opportunity
  • Reviewing the value or opportunity of internal recruitment and transition into scheduling roles
  • Rethinking your requirements to expand your talent pool beyond college graduates or existing construction professionals

2:30 pm Defining Scheduler Career Paths to Drive Employee Engagement & Support Strategic Objectives

  • Cameron Sparks Director - Construction Planning & Scheduling, McGough

Synopsis

  • Exploring the career paths open to schedulers and matching individual motivations with departmental or company objectives
  • Defining performance criteria and KPIs to allow team members to take control of their own progression
  • Exploring how responsibilities change as you move into leadership and how to make that transition successfully.

3:10 pm Afternoon Refreshments & Networking

Scaling Departmental Capacity & Capabilities

3:50 pm Audience Discussion: Formalizing Knowledge Management & Training Processes to Improve Team Capabilities

Synopsis

  • Creating a formal knowledge management system to centralize organizational expertise and prevent over-reliance on individual SMEs
  • Exploring different formats to create an environment of continuous learning, such as bi-weekly meetings, workshops and mentoring
  • Utilizing training and knowledge sharing to spotlight SMEs and future leaders

4:40 pm Case Study: Building a Scheduling Team & Department from the Ground Up – Objectives, Lessons Learned & Next Steps

Synopsis

  • Define clear roles, processes and standard operating procedures that align scheduling with wider project controls and operations teams for seamless collaboration
  • Establishing standard operating procedures to clarify roles and responsibilities within the team and between departments to ensure consistent levels of service
  • Scaling team and processes to support company growth and evolving requirements, while maintaining departmental coherence
  • Understand how to communicate resource needs effectively with senior leadership and operations teams to avoid overload

5:20 pm Chairs Closing Remarks

5:30 pm End of Pre-Conference Focus Day