Derek Smith is a senior project and programme management professional with over 30 years of experience in the technology industry. He is a servant leader with a solid track record of delivery on tough targets and large budgets — across global programmes, key accounts, and some of the most complex technology environments in the industry.
Project rescue is a speciality. When engagements go sideways — scope creep, fractured teams, missed milestones — Derek is the person organisations call. He brings structure, clarity, and momentum back to programmes that have lost their way.
He has held diverse senior roles throughout his career including Account Executive, CIO, PMO Lead, and Global Compliance Officer. He is a lateral thinker with sharp technical acumen and battle-tested negotiation skills, having led large, distributed teams across multiple geographies and sectors.
Beyond technology, Derek is a certified coach and mentor — a qualified fitness and boxing trainer with a genuine passion for teaching. He has contributed significantly to the PM community through PMI volunteering, corporate internships, and executive board membership for two publicly listed companies. He served as an Exco member for PMI International as VP of Technology and Communication.
Wellbeing, fitness, and continuous learning are pillars of how he operates. At his core, Derek is a techie — driven by curiosity, the potential of people, and the pursuit of collaborative outcomes that move the needle.