Align teams, eliminate friction, and secure buy-in with practical frameworks that keep your creative projects on track, on time, and on budget.
Stakeholders can make or break a design project. From regulatory authorities interpreting codes in unexpected ways to community objections that delay approvals, effective stakeholder management is often the difference between project progress and prolonged uncertainty. Yet within this complexity lies opportunity—stakeholders can also become powerful advocates who help drive projects forward.
This practical course introduces simple, effective tools to bring structure and clarity to stakeholder engagement in design projects. Participants will explore how to align communication strategies with stakeholder expectations using proven frameworks such as the Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix and the Interest/Influence Matrix. The session focuses on turning stakeholder complexity into a manageable, strategic process that supports smoother approvals, stronger relationships, and more successful project outcomes.
Key Topics Discussed:
Architect, B.Arch., MDE, OAA, PMP
Donald Ardiel is an architect, educator, and project manager. Following 30 years in architectural practice, Don assumed the positions of Director of Practice Support and the Director of Syllabus at the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada from 2016 to 2020. Following retirement from the RAIC, Don has provided project management education for design professionals to national and international clients. Don is the editor of A Guide to Determining Appropriate Fees for the Services of an Architect 2nd Edition, and editor-in-chief of the Canadian Handbook of Practice for Architects 3rd Edition. In addition to architectural practice, Don has been an instructor and workshop leader in project and practice management for 30 years. As an education consultant, he has provided curriculum development and instructional design services to post-secondary institutions and professional associations. He continues his commitment to the architectural profession through his active volunteer work with the Ontario Association of Architects, Canadian Architectural Certification Board’s Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect Program, and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Syllabus Program. Don received a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University in 1987 and a Master of Distance Education from Athabasca University in 2008. Don has been a member of the Project Management Institute since 1992 and certified Project Management Professional since 2008. Don is an active board member of the United Church of Canada’s children’s camp, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee in Komoka, Ontario.
