About this Presentation
In 2014, BAE Systems Australia faced a challenge in its Lead-In Fighter program. Critical Chain was identified as a methodology that had some credence and believability. The implementation saw an increase from 40% to 100% in on-time delivery. The success of this pilot has led to a need to embed a BAE Systems – Systems-Based Way of Working to enhance our reputation for delivery. This presentation will talk through: The BAE Systems – Systems-based Way of Working – how we have defined this, got agreement across the organization and are embedding it The collaborative approach we have adopted to provide mentoring, tools and resources to effect the change How we have developed a Learn from the Masters strategy How we have created the internal capability How we have used the Strategy and Tactics Tree to drive change How we have achieved cross-functional alignment to achieve Operational Excellence The results achieved, so far… The challenges of sustaining the methodology.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Large corporates need to adopt a systems thinking approach to problem-solving.
Adoption of TOC and CCPM can significantly improve project management in large corporates.
Change management is crucial for successful adoption and implementation of TOC and CCPM.
Instructor(s)
Andy Watt
Andy Watt: Transformational Leader with 35+ Years of Expertise Industry Expertise: Production, Distribution, MRO, Supply Chain, Project Management. Track Record: 15 years in senior roles within the defence industry; over 30 years implementing Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). Career Highlights: Joined The Goldratt Institute in 2000, delivering TOC training, coaching, and consulting. Worked directly with Dr. Eli Goldratt, applying TOC principles to solve critical business challenges. Took over Goldratt UK in 2007 to extend TOC consultancy across the UK. Led the team at Goldratt UK in the implementation of TOC and CCPM across hundreds of organisations worldwide.
Simon White
Simon M White is Chair of TOCICO and a senior leader at WiseTech Global, where he works across enterprise delivery, organisational capability and education. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has led major projects and transformation initiatives across defence, logistics and technology in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Simon is a long-standing Theory of Constraints practitioner, speaker and advocate, with a particular interest in helping organisations see the system clearly, identify what is genuinely limiting performance, and improve flow. His work is grounded in a simple belief: capable people usually do not need fixing, but the systems around them often do.
Rene Nibbelke
René Nibbelke, Strategy and Business Development Director at Goldratt UK
René is a transformation leader with more than 30 years of experience across the aerospace, maritime, and defense sectors. He specializes in accelerating delivery, removing organizational bottlenecks, and improving performance through practical systems thinking.
He joined Goldratt UK in 2026 after leading major improvement and transformation programs at BAE Systems and within the UK Ministry of Defense. Following his introduction to the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) in 2020, René supported award-winning implementations across land, air, and maritime programs. He also played a central role in developing the Association for Project Management’s Senior Managers’ and Project Managers’ Guide to Critical Chain.
An Honorary Industrial Fellow at the University of Bristol, René combines extensive industry experience with academic rigor. He is a Chartered Project Professional, Chartered Quality Professional, and recipient of multiple industry awards, including TOCICO’s TOC Champion Award and Outstanding Implementation Awards for his work on major defense programs, including Challenger 3 and Hawk Jet MRO.