The world of professional project management was surprised and saddened to learn of the death of Vladimir Voropaev, Doctor of Science, Professor, Honorary Fellow of International Project Management Association (IPMA), former IPMA Vice-President and Honorary President of the Russian Project Management Association “SOVNET”.

Vladimir was active in the project management professional community for many years and was well known among professional leaders globally as a very senior professional – Project Management GURU. 26 years ago he was a founder of the Project Management Association in Soviet Union and headed SOVNET as it’s President for 20 years; he was also a great promoter of modern project management in Russia and the former Soviet Union and many other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. Vladimir linked the activities of Russia with IPMA and brought SOVNET into the IPMA Family.

Following his studies in construction engineering, Vladimir spent more than 30 years with the Soviet Construction and associated industries in senior and top national management posts. His responsibilities included the network planning, management and automation of the water resources construction. For many years he worked as the Deputy Director of the USSR’ Central Research Institute of Economics and Construction Management.

Vladimir was the author or co-author of 7 monographs, 5 textbooks and over 260 publications and made over 150 presentations for national and international audiences He created a new generation of models and methods of project scheduling based on the cyclic network models.

Vladimir was founder and Chief Editor of the very successful and respected Russian professional Journal «Project and Program Management». He organised and actively participated in international symposiums, conferences, seminars and workshops, was a leader in establishment and promotion of IPMA 4 Level and Delta certifications in Russia, was a leader in preparation, served as a chairman and master of ceremonies for the very successful IPMA 17th World Congress held in Moscow in 2003.

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Vladimir held many top posts in the project management world; elected for 3 terms as IPMA Vice President, a founder of the Global Project Management Forum and Global Advisory Panels and a Global Advisor for PMForum. Не was enthusiastic, active and dynamic and brought a lot of passion and commitment to project management profession and all professional organisations.

Vladimir brought a world of experience, knowledge and wisdom to every encounter, to every new student and young leader, and to his friends as well. One of the roles that Vladimir has embraced in recent years was the mentoring of younger professional leaders to ensure the succession in SOVNET and on the international stage.

Vladimir Voropaev was an advisor, ambassador, author, expert, leader, mentor, teacher, visionary and wise man of global project management. He was also a father, husband and friend. Friends and colleagues considered Vladimir Voropaev to be not only a great project management leader but also a great human being. Vladimir was a man of high culture, true Russian intellectual, well versed in literature, fine arts, music, cinema, was a successful hunter, fisherman and mushroom hunter, a keen gardener, had a great sense of humour and a consistently optimistic view of the life and world.

Vladimir was widely respected worldwide for his project management advocacy, expertise, friendliness and professionalism.

With his death our professional community has suffered a great loss, we grieve and express our deep condolences to his family and loved ones! He will be very much missed!

The bright memory of Vladimir Voropaev, the memory of the meetings and work together with him will remain forever in our hearts.