The Association for Project Management has appointed Joanna Quirk to its Board of Trustees, bringing additional expertise in organisational transformation, governance and operational leadership.
Quirk brings more than 20 years of experience across finance, technology, people and operational strategy within membership, charitable and social purpose organisations. She currently leads operations at the Building Societies Association, overseeing core enablement functions including finance, digital, data, human resources and organisational efficiency.
Her previous roles include Chief Operating Officer at the Chartered Institute of Building, alongside trustee and committee leadership positions within professional bodies.
Strengthening governance at board level
From a project management perspective, Quirk’s appointment reinforces APM’s focus on governance, capability development and strategic alignment. Board-level expertise in operational transformation is increasingly relevant as organisations manage complex portfolios under constrained resources and competing priorities.
APM Board Chair Amy Morley said Quirk’s experience would support the organisation’s continued development.
“Her background across charities and membership organisations will bring valuable insight to APM and support our work with the profession.”
Focus on delivery discipline and capability
Quirk highlighted several persistent challenges facing project delivery, including maintaining clear governance structures, ensuring reliable reporting and aligning projects closely with organisational strategy.
She also pointed to the practical difficulties organisations face in building capability, applying consistent standards and sustaining stakeholder engagement, particularly in periods of limited capacity.
These challenges reflect broader trends across the profession, where successful delivery increasingly depends on strong governance frameworks, clear accountability and disciplined execution rather than methodology alone.
Supporting the evolution of the profession
Quirk emphasised the role APM can play in strengthening delivery outcomes by promoting best practice, sharing insight and supporting skills development across the profession.
Her appointment forms part of APM’s broader approach to board composition, where additional trustees are selected to bring targeted expertise and support the organisation’s strategic direction.
As project delivery environments continue to evolve, particularly in response to digital transformation and resource constraints, governance and leadership capability at both organisational and professional body level remain critical to improving outcomes.
