Professor Ali Jaafari
ME, MSc, PhD, FIEAust, CPEng

Founding President, Asia Pacific International College
Past Professor of Project Management (Personal Chair),
The University of Sydney
Past (Founding) Director, Project Management Programme,
The University of Sydney

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As a long time international consultant, author, researcher and educator in project, program and business management Professor Jaafari has wide expertise and professional experience.

Professor Jaafari has acted as an expert consultant to industry and governments worldwide for more than 15 years. In 1994 he acted as a special consultant to the European Commission on the management of the Productivity Initiative Programme as part of TACIS. This program (TACIS) with a US$1.2 billion budget approved by the G7 Summit sought to transform top level Russian Organisations, including the re-training of some 3,500 senior executives of the Russian businesses, institutions, government and industry. Professor Jaafari´s most recent assignment was in April 2004 on Transformation of Military Academies of Taiwan. During 1990-93 Professor Jaafari held the position of Chief Manager, Project Management, with SMEC in Australia. From 1969 to 1982 Professor Jaafari held numerous senior appointments in the UK and the Middle East working on major projects and programs, and advising top level government bodies.

Professor Jaafari has conducted courses and seminars for over 3,000 executives, managers and professionals in Australia, Asia and Europe. He specialises in graduate education and professional development, and has developed innovative on-line graduate programs that have won numerous Excellence Awards.

Professor Jaafari has been a regular contributor to, and invited speaker at high level international conferences and seminars, including IPMA World Congresses on Project Management. He has chaired many functions both nationally and internationally.

Professor Jaafari has held visiting professorial appointments at a number of prestige universities, in the US, UK, Europe and Asia.

Professor Jaafari has, to-date, authored 150 publications in project, program, organisations and business management. Professor Jaafari´s current research efforts are focused on strategic management of projects, programs and organisations, project, program and portfolio management, innovation and change management, information management systems, total quality management and management of risks and liabilities.

Professor Jaafari received his PhD in Business Economics (Quantitative Modelling & Forecasting) from Surrey University in the UK, in 1977 (Joint SSRC-SRC scholarship holder and Swan Award), and his Master of Science (Distinction) in Highway Engineering and Transportation Management in 1974 from the same University. He has a Master of Engineering (Distinction) from Tehran University awarded in 1968.

Professor Jaafari and his research team have conducted numerous research projects, including two major projects funded by the Australian Research Council.

Professor Jaafari currently supervises a number of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers at The University of Sydney and collaborates widely in the international scene.