Managing Disadvantaged People as Project Key Stakeholders 

One of the key elements that can make a project significantly more complex is the stakeholders' profiles. In this case study, Elissa Farrow and Noela provide information based on year's of experience managing community projects and programs in which their main stakeholders are made up of vulnerable people. Considerations for their main stakeholders require a need to be agile and adaptable. Elissa and Noela will also focus predominantly on the Stakeholder Management skill set required to be applied to Projects and Programs delivered by the Dept. of Communities, QLD.

Elissa Farrow – Director of the Portfolio & Program Office, Dept. of Communities

Elissa Farrow is the Director of the Portfolio and Program Office located in the Department of Communities. She has lead the development and application of a centre of excellence within the Department of Communities and has seen the maturity and capability level rise quantitatively over a three and a half year period from 0 to 2.6.

Elissa’s work in the Department of Communities is highly regarded by her peers and a number of other government agencies have leveraged off the models developed by Elissa and her team. Elissa has a number of academic qualifications including a Masters of Social Welfare, Administration and Planning and is a certified project and program manager, life coach, mediator and trainer.

Elissa has assisted many organisations with business transformation activities. Over the past 17 years she has personally contributed to the successful positive transition of people individuals and whole organisations. Elissa has worked as a counsellor, coach and transition strategist in the not-for-profit sector and held senior management roles in government in areas of corporate and business governance, public transport, social housing, and social policy. Her project and program management experience ranges from small high impact projects in the community sector to larger transformational change processes in the government context.  

Elissa has worked with people with a disability, young people, women and children escaping family violence situations and has a strong understanding of the how to support people from groups that are often perceived to be disadvantaged in the community. She is passionate about bringing positive outcomes and benefits for both people and organisations she works with.

Noela Suttle – Principal Program Officer of the Portfolio and Program Office, Dept. Of Communities

Over the past 20 years, Noela has been employed in project, program and portfolio work within numerous industries including construction, mining and engineering in the private sector; and rail, road, transport and human services in the public sector.  Her roles varied from specialist-lead project management functions through to process-methodology developer. Most recently, Noela has been the lead developer of the project and program methodologies within a human services organisation, adapted from the whole-of-Government recommended methods.

Noela contributes her knowledge and experience to projects where significant stakeholder analysis and engagement is essential.  She has been a mentor for graduates, local and regional staff in relation to program and project management practice.

She has acquired a degree in Applied Science and Business Management, as well as APM Group ‘Practitioner Certification’ in PRINCE2®, Managing Successful Programmes, and P3O.  Noela holds an AIPM RegPM Certification, and is a member of the PMI.