At the IPMA Global Project Profession Forum 2024, sustainability took center stage with the stream “Embedding ESG Principles in Project Management,” moderated by Prof. Dr. Vladimir Obradovic, IPMA Vice President of Finance & Operations. The session featured top speakers who explored how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are reshaping the future of project management.

Key Presentations:

1. Mrs. Shen Yanzi, Division Chief of the International Business Department at China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, presented on the topic “Going Abroad and Going Green: ESG Practices of Chinese Enterprises and Their Investment Projects in Developing Countries,” showcasing how Chinese companies are integrating ESG into their global ventures.
2. Dr. Robert Joslin, Founder and CEO of AIPMO, in his talk titled “Rethinking Sustainability: How PMOs Will Lead the Way Beyond Projects,” emphasized that Project Management Offices (PMOs) are uniquely positioned to drive sustainability initiatives beyond individual projects.
3. Mr. Orestis Trasanidis from EIT Digital shared valuable insights into the intersection of digital transformation and sustainability in project management.

Round Table Discussion Highlights:

The session concluded with an engaging round table discussion addressing the following questions:

• How can project management apply sustainability concepts to enhance outcomes at various levels (individuals, organizations, projects)?
• Is there a need for a project sustainability audit to track and improve results?
• Should a unique sustainability score for projects be developed, similar to ranking systems like Booking.com or TripAdvisor?
• What steps should IPMA take to raise the profession’s standards in terms of sustainability?

Leadership and Vision:

Vladimir Obradovic played a pivotal role in the development and execution of the IPMA Global Project Profession Forum, first launched in Seville, Spain, in September 2023, and successfully repeated in Šibenik, Croatia, in September 2024. In his welcome keynote, Vladimir highlighted the event’s unique format, designed to engage international businesses, multinational project organizations, PM practitioners, and academia.

Excitement is already building for the next edition of PPF, set to take place in Panama in February 2025, where project professionals from around the globe will gather to further explore how to drive sustainable outcomes in the profession.

Stay tuned for more updates on the future of ESG in project management, and be sure to join us in Panama for another landmark event!