Press Kit – Gary M Nelson

Biography

Author – Project Manager – Speaker – Game designer

Gary M. Nelson, BSC, PMP (Gazza) is passionate about sharing knowledge and making Project Management concepts more accessible, particularly to new and aspiring Project Managers (of all ages). Said another way, he likes to tell stories to help convey complex concepts in a way that helps the concepts ‘stick’. Who says learning shouldn’t be fun?

Born in Calgary, Alberta (Canada), Gary moved west to B.C. at the very early age of 2, where he spent most of his formative years – aside from a 6 year stint where he learned to appreciate living in a very small town of 800 people. He then attended high school in Surrey, B.C. and went on to graduate from Simon Fraser University (BC, Canada) in 1989 with a major in Computing science and a minor in English – an odd but useful mix (a techie who can write clearly)!

Gary was tricked into becoming a Project Manager by his first manager, and has never looked back. His international experience includes projects in New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the US and Canada, working on projects in the Telecom, Student Information Systems, Local Government and Healthcare sectors.

Having wanted to write books since high school, it took many long years of successful procrastination until he finally felt he had something useful to write about, and wrote his first book of stories in 2012…on Project Management, of all things. Next, presented with the terrifying challenge of writing for children, he enlisted his youngest sons to be the first victims (reviewers and editors) and the Project Kids series of books were born. Several years on, he is amazed to see the books being translated into multiple languages, and reaching into schools and homes around the world.

He enjoys speaking and training, has presented at numerous events and conferences and is also the author and host of Gazza’s Corner Project Management Blog and Podcast.

Gary currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, three sons and two cats, and is loving every bit of it.

Contact

Email: Gary.Nelson@GazzasGuides.com

PO Box 27055
Garnett Ave
Hamilton 3257
New Zealand

Photos, FAQs and Bio

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Speaking Engagements & Events

  • Noche del Libro 2022: PMI Madrid Chapter PM Author’s evening [Virtual session], April 19, 2022
  • What makes Speculative Fiction Tick: Creating Compelling Stories in Fantastical Worlds [Workshop] Hamilton NZ, December 4, 2021
  • Never too young to be a project manager: Experiential learning in uncertain times – Habib Public School, Pakistan Virtual CPPL Conference Keynote [Zoom], June 27 2020
  • Never too young to be a project manager – PMI Bangladesh Chapter [Virtual session], May 2020
  • Never too young to be a project manager  – PMI New Zealand 2018 Conference – Auckland Sep 22, 2018
  • Never too young to be a project manager – PMI Japan 20th Anniversary Forum – Tokyo, Japan July 15, 2018 | Workshop July 16, 2018
  • Never too young to be a project manager – learning through game play – PMI New Zealand Chapter – Auckland sub-branch Nov 15, 2017
  • PMI Portugal Projects Live – Project Management for Kids (webinar) – October 15, 2015
  • Why we should choose to have less choice – PMI New Zealand Conference, September 2015
  • Conscious Customer Engagement – Conscious Software Development Tele-summit, November 2014
  • Everything I Need to Know About Risk Management I Learned From My Pocket Umbrella, Auckland University School of Business, May 2014
  • Are you Covered? A Practical Journey in Risk Management, International Project Management Day Symposium, Alcatel-Lucent – Nov 7, 2013
  • There is No Accounting for Taste…Lessons in Perception and Communication, PMI New Zealand Conference, September 2013
  • Implementing Organizational Change? Learn how to Grow a Desert – YouTube, Aug 2013
  • Everything I Need to Know about Risk Management I Learned from my Pocket Umbrella – YouTube, Aug 2013
  • Practical Project Management in Sales & Marketing, PMI Marketing & Sales Community of Practice – Nov 30, 2012
  • Custom Project Systems on a Shoestring, PMI New Zealand Conference, July 2011

Industry Articles

Book Readings | News | Press Releases

  • New Youth Project Management book launches on Valentine’s Day – PMI Educational Foundation [February 8, 2016]
  • Book readings at Paper Plus – NZ Bookshop Day, The Base, Hamilton NZ [October 31, 2015]
  • Press release – Project Management books for kids to be translated into Portuguese [July 23, 2015]
  • Book launch – The Amazing Science Fair Project – Central Library, Hamilton NZ [July 15, 2015]
  • News – Kids adventure books teach life skills [Waikato DHB Newsroom July 9, 2015]
  • Book reading – The Ultimate Tree House Project – Semiahmoo Public Library, Surrey BC Canada [Dec 9, 2014]
  • Book reading – The Scariest Haunted House Project – Ever!  St Andrews Library [Sep 18, 2014]  (additional links)
  • Feature – Teen Illustrator’s Sketchy Future – Stuff.co.nz [Apr 25, 2014]
  • Book launch – The Scariest Haunted House Project – Ever! Chartwell Library [April 2014]

Interviews

Websites

Author pages

Social Links

Other books (Pen names)

Gary also writes science fiction novels under the pen name J J Mathews.