2026 IPI Collaborate Conference and Awards
One of my favorite professional days of the year, the IPI Collaborate Conference and Awards, is coming up quickly This year is shaping up to be the biggest event yet, featuring an outstanding keynote speaker, a lineup of highly engaging and educational sessions, and more than 30 project teams submitting their work.
2026 IPI Collaborate Keynote Speaker
We’re excited to share that Kia Afcari with Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley will be joining us as a keynote speaker
As part of the upcoming IPI Conference, Kia will present How Kind Leaders Win: Building Trust and Organizational Energy from 1:15–2:30 PM.
In industries like construction—where projects are complex and stakes are high—the ability to build trust and foster collaboration can be the deciding factor between breakdowns and breakthrough results. In this session, Kia challenges the idea that kindness in leadership is a weakness, instead positioning it as a powerful driver of performance and organizational success.
Grounded in research, including a meta-analysis on trust and studies examining the impact of kind leadership on profitability, the keynote will highlight three essential components of trust within teams and partnerships. Attendees will be invited to reflect on their own leadership approach while gaining practical strategies to strengthen relationships, boost team energy, and support more effective collaboration across projects.
2026 IPI Collaborate Presentations
The IPI Conference will also feature three sessions centered on the power of trust, collaboration, and long-term partnership in project delivery.
In Built Together: Partnering Through the Unexpected, industry leaders will share how their teams navigated unforeseen challenges while staying aligned around shared goals. Drawing from real project experiences, this panel explores how trust, transparency, and teamwork help teams adapt, problem-solve, and ultimately turn disruption into opportunity.
RoadMAP to Trust: Three Projects, One Powerful Partnership highlights the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) team and their experience delivering a third project together. Their story illustrates how trust, alignment, and proactive collaboration deepen over time leading to stronger performance and more consistent outcomes. Attendees will gain insight into how intentional Partnering can evolve into a long-term strategic advantage.
Finally, From Projects to Policy: Designing Collaboration at Scale in California Infrastructure Delivery takes a broader view, examining how collaboration is shaped long before a project begins. This session explores how policy decisions, procurement approaches, and delivery structures influence Partnering success—and how California is working to intentionally build collaboration into its infrastructure systems at scale.
2026 IPI Collaborate Awards Ceremony
And let’s not forget the Awards Ceremony, highlighting the most collaborative partnered projects that completed in 2025.
I hope you’ll join us for the International Partnering Institute Collaborate Conference and Awards Ceremony on April 30 at the Grand Hyatt SFO—it’s shaping up to be an incredible event.
If you haven’t already, consider sponsoring this year’s conference. Click here to view the prospectus and connect with IPI on available opportunities. It’s a meaningful way to support the work of IPI while connecting with leaders across the industry.
Register here!
– Rob
Rob Reaugh is President of OrgMetrics LLC. He facilitates the City and County of San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Steering Committee and currently works with San Francisco International Airport, San Jose International Airport, BART, Caltrans, and others. He holds a Masters’ Degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
For more information please contact Rob Reaugh, RobReaugh@Orgmet.com / (925) 487-2404 (cell), or OrgMetrics, (925) 449-8300.