DPRTE Engage: Interview with Costain's Gary Jackson

DPRTE Engage: Interview with Costain’s Gary Jackson

Homeland September 3, 2020

As part of our countdown to DPRTE Engage 2020 taking place on 3rd September, Defence Online chatted with Gary Jackson, Key Account Director, Defence & Security at Costain, about his hopes for the hotly-anticipated virtual defence procurement event.

What opportunities do events like DPRTE Engage 2020 afford the defence community?

We are excited to be involved as sponsor of the Supply Chain and Partnering Pavilion at DPRTE 2020, especially considering the extension of the event to cover both equipment and infrastructure. It’s always useful to connect with current and potential clients and suppliers but opportunities to make new connections are particularly welcome at this time in the shadow and influence of COVID.

What does Costain have on the agenda this year?

We are here to emphasise our behaviourally driven advisory and digital services. We think these differentiate us as a delivery partner for our clients and make us more attractive to the best suppliers. Costain has worked in Defence across a range of services in the past but this is the first year where we have organised our work under a single, market facing organisation. This helps us to package innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions to client problems in a more accessible and clear way.

Gary Jackson, Key Account Director, Defence & Security at Costain

Tell us more about Costain’s role in ‘project culture’ within the defence industry.

Costain are leaders and delivery partners in major complex programme management, delivery and behaviourally focused consultancy across infrastructure and equipment programmes. We have helped our clients in defence not only improve project and programmes through behavioural improvements but also focused on enabling our clients’ continuous improvement capabilities through coaching, train the trainer, and knowledge transfer.

We certainly bring to bear our long experience in delivery to ensure clients get the very best outcomes through collaborative leadership culture and productive supply chain relationships.

We recently explored leadership behaviours and culture in a paper published with support from industry experts and academia. We focused on improving project performance by applying behavioural change to project reviews and more broadly across the project lifecycle. Delegates can download a copy of the paper from our stand or here

What are Costain’s hopes for the event?

Costain is changing quickly. We want people to see Costain in a broader light and embrace our innovative and disruptive approach to solving complex problems across critical national assets. Yes, we continue to deliver landmark complex critical national infrastructure but so much more of our work these days is in technology products and services, moving the economy towards net zero carbon and in partnering with our clients to improve their capabilities to deliver to their customers.

Where can attendees find Costain at DPRTE Engage and what can they expect?

As sponsors of the Supply Chain and Partnering Pavilion, our stand is in the Supply Chain Exhibition Hall and can also be found in the company Index. Our Head of Risk Services, Andy Abu-Bakar is taking to the stage at 11am in the Supply Chain and Partnering Zone to discuss the influence that enterprise culture can have on programme risk management so we encourage you to join us there or view the recording on demand.

To have your say and input on the topic of risk in the supply chain, please complete the below survey and we will be sharing the insights at the event as well as afterwards. Our goal is to provide a benefit to the industry as a whole and focus on continued collaboration and improvement.

Attitude to risk survey

What are you most looking forward to during DPRTE Engage 2020?

I am looking forward to connecting with current and potential clients and suppliers to understand more about how to work collaboratively. Throughout the day we will have a number of Costain experts on the stand covering risk, behavioural management, P3M and digital solutions. Please engage with them or simply browse our content for more information.

Costain is sponsor of the Prime Contractor and Supply Chain Engagement Zone at DPRTE Engage 2020

The Prime Contractor and Supply Chain Engagement Zone will bring together many of the key Prime Contractors currently engaged within the delivery of MOD projects, allowing visitors to book appointments for 1-2-1 meetings. Please note appointments are booked on a first come first served basis, and are limited to one appointment per delegate.