With the passing of Hans Knöpfel, the Swiss Project Management association (SPM) and the International Project Management Association have lost a dear friend. Throughout his life, Hans demonstrated unwavering dedication to project management as both an academic and a practitioner. His profound experience and exceptional motivation spanned several decades and left a mark in the discipline of project management.

Hans Knöpfel held a prominent position as a Board Member and was also recognized as an IPMA Honorary Fellow, reflecting the high regard in which he was held within the Swiss PM board and the IPMA International community.

For over 28 years, Hans served as the first assessor and validator for the Swiss and Foreign Certification Bodies, contributing significantly to the establishment and operation of IPMA’s integrated system for certifying project, programme, and portfolio management competence at various levels.

As a practitioner, Hans excelled as a manager and Senior Consultant in the Construction Sector with the esteemed Swiss Company, Rosenthaler + Partners AG Zürich, where he dedicated 32 years of his professional life.

His passion for educating the next generation of project managers was evident in his role as an academic lecturer and course manager at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Engineering & Architecture for 23 years. Moreover, he made remarkable contributions to the Master-level Advanced Study courses in Construction Project and served on the Exam Committee of Project Management at the Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt. Notably, he demonstrated his expertise as a team leader for the sector of project management in civil engineering at the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), where he was also a lecturer and research manager for over 15 years.

Hans Knöpfel’s impact was not limited to Switzerland; his influence extended to the international arena. He served as an Associate Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.

Hans’s remarkable legacy was defined not only by his professional achievements but also by the high level of commitment, motivation, and cultural appreciation he demonstrated throughout his life. He was a role model, inspiring and guiding numerous individuals across generations.

As we bid farewell to Hans Knöpfel, may his memory be honored and his dedication and pursuit of excellence be carried forward.

On behalf of the Executive Board, management office and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Hans. For those that wish to offer messages of condolences to Hans’s family, please reply to info@ipma.world.

Regards,

IPMA Executive Board

Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Projektmanagement – the Swiss Project Management Association (SPM)