Developing the profession as a volunteer

Profile of an APM volunteer

Name: Jacob Achenbach
Job title: programme lead - War on Waste, Rolls-Royce
Membership grade: Associate
Volunteer role: deputy chair and head of events, Midlands branch

Why did you decide to volunteer with APM?
I wanted to give something back to the industry. There is a lot of work ahead of us before the UK workforce and businesses achieve project management excellence. The opportunity to serve as a volunteer allows me to attract wide audiences of project management professionals to our events, which can develop their careers, grow their skills and expand professional networks.

What benefits have you gained from volunteering?
It’s a great chance to develop leadership, because leading volunteers is very different to leading full-time employees. It is also a fantastic way to gain new contacts in the industry and build relationships. It also makes you visible; by being an active volunteer, you can become the face of APM in your local area.

Which events are you most proud of being involved in?
All the events that benefi ted our attendees in some way and allowed them to grow. Our events are for everyone involved or interested in project management. Every time we help someone on their journey, I am very proud.

Any advice for members looking to volunteer?
Please get in touch. We are an open community with more ideas than time, and are always looking for help. If you see something that is not working and could be improved, please let us know. We make this organisation and you could make a real difference.

As a leading modern professional body, APM, the Chartered body for the project profession, relies on the expertise and commitment of its volunteer community for the development and promotion of project, programme and portfolio management. This includes the effective delivery of many wide ranging activities for the benefit of individuals, organisations and society including events, publications and product development. Opportunities to get involved with voluntary work with APM exist through: