Registration & Networking

Welcome and Day Highlights

Presentation- KEYNOTE: Empowering Saudi Arabia: PMI’s Commitment and Building a Future of Excellence

In this keynote, Hanny will explore PMI’s strategic collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to empower project professionals and upskill the national workforce. We will highlight how PMI is enabling the success of AI-driven, sustainable giga projects through the three pillars of project excellence: people, processes, and technology. With a focus on innovation and impact, this session underscores PMI’s role in shaping a future-ready Saudi project economy.

Hanny Alshazly

Presentation- KEYNOTE: The One Shift That Changes Everything

What if everything you thought led to success was actually holding you back? It’s not about working harder, delivering more projects, or following every best practice perfectly. In fact, this one shift might turn everything you know about success upside down. The professionals who understand this become the go-to leaders in their companies. The ones who don’t? They keep wondering why their value isn’t being recognized. Whether you’re managing projects, running a PMO, or driving business transformation, this shift will elevate your IMPACT, accelerate your career growth, and make you indispensable to your organization. It will change how you apply everything you learn at this conference and how you position yourself in your organization moving forward. This is the shift that changes everything. Want to know what it is? There’s only one way to find out. Be in the room.

Laura Barnard

Presentation- KEYNOTE: Rewriting the Story – Rising Above with a Positive Mindset

Discover the power of perspective in this inspiring session on mindset transformation. Learn how to reframe challenges, overcome setbacks, and cultivate a positive outlook that fuels growth and resilience. It's time to rewrite your story—with intention, strength, and optimism.

Lan Phan

Presentation- KEYNOTE: 10 predictions for the future of games and media

Welcome to a world where creativity scales, reality blends with simulation, and tomorrow’s most beloved games won’t come from massive studios—but from passionate, nimble teams empowered by AI. In this session, we’ll explore the radical transformation underway across the gaming industry. As AI reshapes development pipelines, small teams are launching global blockbusters, defying the notion that size equals success. From Palworld and Valheim to Among Us, this is the age of the 10x developer and the 100x creator. Meanwhile, games themselves are evolving into living, breathing experiences. Non-player characters (NPCs) will know your name, remember your story, and engage in fluid, unscripted conversations that blur the line between code and consciousness. Your AI companion won’t just play beside you—it might play as you, learn your style, and continue the adventure while you’re away.

Thomas Vu

Presentation- KEYNOTE: Accelerating Journey to Sovereign AI

"Unlock the full sovereign AI value chain from development to application. As Korea's leading tech company with 20-plus years of experience, we share our expertise in building AI models trained on Korea's unique language and culture used across NAVER services such as CareCall. We hope to collaborate with local and global partners, including NVIDIA, to provide sovereign AI wherever it is needed and help nations and businesses accelerate their journey toward AI sovereignty and drive innovation."

Yuwon Kim

Presentation- KEYNOTE: The Project to Product Journey: Solving Transformation Fatigue Once for All

The importance of project management cannot be underestimated especially since the growth of product-centered operating models and capabilities are top of mind for both Business and IT executives. The phrase 'Project-to-Product' which was first introduced by Gartner has grown into a global initiative and collaboration effort to bring project and product management closer together to help companies solve large-scale change and transformation fatigue. The statistics and research that will be shared prove that this journey is the most important facet for how organizations can overcome stalled initiatives and product tangible, lasting, and measurable value.

Alex Adamopoulos

Presentation- TECHNICAL TRACK: The Next-Gen PMO: Value Creation Through Customer-Centric Leadership

PMOs are evolving into value-driven, customer-centric enablers of business success. This transformation is at the core of the newly released PMO Practice Guide by PMI, a groundbreaking publication that redefines how PMOs operate and create impact and value. If you want to understand where PMOs are heading, this session will provide a clear vision based on the experiences of the world's most successful PMOs. We will explore how PMOs are transitioning from rigid processes to a flexible, business-aligned approach that emphasizes real outcomes, while also evolving to be more adaptive and customer-focused, delivering measurable business value.

Americo Pinto

Presentation- KEYNOTE: The Challenges of Delivering Giga Projects in the Middle East

Large-scale, complex projects present a unique set of challenges for stakeholders. We'll explore the characteristics of Mega and Giga Projects in the Middle East and how a highly collaborative digital ecosystem can bring teams and data together to improve decision-making and drive performance.

Joe Castner

Networking Break

Opening Ceremony Begins

Keynote speech by Eng. Badr Burshaid, Chairman, Global Project Management Forum

Eng. Badr M. Burshaid

Keynote speech by Eng. Sultan Saleh Al-Sudais, CEO, Saudi Electricity Project Development Company (PDC)

Eng. Sultan bin Saleh Al-Sudais

Keynote speech by Khaled Fahad Aluraik, Planning & Project Management EVP, Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority

Khaled Fahad Aluraik

Keynote speech by Eng. Fawaz Alaa Alrabeh, CEO, National Transformation Program

Eng. Fawaz Alaa Alrabeh

Keynote speech by Eng. Suliman AlMazroua, CEO, National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP)

Eng. Suliman Al-Mazroua

Keynote speech by Yahya Abu Shal, Senior Vice President Upstream & Downstream Project Management, Aramco

Yahya Abu Shal

Keynote speech by H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President, Saudi Water Authority, Chairman of the Board, Water Transmission Company

Abdullah Abdulkarim

Keynote speech by H.E Eng. Bader Bin Abdullah AlDulami, Excellency Vice Minister of Transport for Road Affairs, Acting CEO of Roads General Authority

H.E Eng. Bader Bin Abdullah AlDulami

Keynote speech by H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing

H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail

Launch of the Global Project Excellence Awards by H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail

H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail

Sponsor Recognition by H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail and Eng. Badr Burshaid

H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail

Eng. Badr M. Burshaid

Networking Break

KEYNOTE- Process: The Inner and Outer World of Leadership: Resilience, Transformation, and Integrity

Core Idea: Leadership is not just about external achievements; it is deeply rooted in the inner psychological landscape of the leader. In this keynote, we will explore how personal integrity, emotional resilience, and self-awareness form the foundation of transformational leadership. Additionally, there is no clear boundary between personal and professional lives they are constantly influencing each other. The keynote also explores the interconnectedness of personal and professional identities. This approach equips leaders to navigate stress, inspire change, and lead authentically in an evolving business world.

Maryia Oayda

PANEL- Engineering Impact: How Strategy Drives Projects That Make a Difference

Join top leaders and innovators in a powerful panel exploring how to align projects with strategic vision to create measurable impact. If you aim to deliver real value through your projects—this is the session you can’t miss at the Global Project Management Forum.

Amin Al Jaber

Colonel/ Ahmad Hasan Salim Al Hafaity

Afaf Jassim Almheiri

Khalid Alomar

Sami Alhamzah

Aisha Shouk

PANEL: Empowering the Future – Building Competencies for the Next Generation of Project Leaders

Focused on the skills and traits needed for emerging project professionals, this chat explores how organizations can cultivate talent to navigate complex global challenges.

Stuart Easton

Tony Prensa

Taryn Ash

Saleh Khalaf AlDosari

Margarete Schramboeck

Fola Alabi

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Mastering Change and Transformation at Scale - how to create a company-wide innovation culture

Mastering Change and Transformation at Scale - How to create a company-wide innovation culture

Alex Osterwalder

PANEL: The Digital Frontier – Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Transform Project Management

This session delves into the transformative potential of technologies like AI, data analytics, and cloud collaboration in project management.

Lloyd Skinner

Iris Meinl

Thomas Vu

Michael Hannan

Hilal Mengi

Alex Adamopoulos

Think Tank Fire Session (by invitations): The Next-Gen PMO: Value Creation Through Customer-Centric Leadership

N.E.X.T. Horizon: Expanding the Boundaries of Project Management

Joe Pusz

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Leadership Qualities for Driving Consulting Project Success

This presentation explores the essential qualities that leaders must embody to ensure the success of consulting projects. It delves into how effective leadership drives collaboration, fosters innovation, and overcomes challenges in complex consulting environments. Attendees will learn about critical traits such as strategic vision, adaptability, communication excellence, decision-making under pressure, and team empowerment. The session will also provide actionable insights on how these qualities translate into measurable project outcomes, making it an invaluable resource for current and aspiring consulting leaders.

Moetaz Soubjaki

Fire Talk- TECHINCAL TRACK: Improving project and portfolio outcomes with AI - lessons from the field

AI is changing many industries. How can it impact construction and capital program management? In this presentation you'll hear specific examples of how AI is helping project and program delivery in the areas of safety, schedule, cost, and quality.

Joshua L Kanner

Sherief Elabd

Case Study- TECHINCAL TRACK: Project Management and Change Management are Allies NOT Adversaries

Project Management and Change Management are common ground for Transformations Management. However, while this is a legitimate and valid aspiration, the challenges and the competing agenda between Project Management and Change Management suggest otherwise. In today's practices, Project Management and Change Management are often confused. Although they both involve managing people and processes (and often work together to meet organizational goals), they are not understood and treated as different disciplines. In addition, business managers do not facilitate a structured discussion how Project Management and Change Management can be Allies rather than Adversaries. Based on my experience, there is an acute need to understand the differences between project management and change management and how both practices can (and should) work together to manage projects and their resulting changes and how that is crucial for the success of the organization. BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. Besides, there should be a clear guidance on WHEN either Project Management or Change Management should lead the agenda of change. Striking the right balance between the soft versus the hard side of change is the real challenge.

Hatem Shehab

Panel- TECHINCAL TRACK: The Tech Revolution: How Portfolio, Program and Project Management is Evolving for the Future

This session will explore the rapid shift of Portfolio, Program and Project Management toward technology-driven methodologies and tools. It focuses on how technological advancements are redefining project management practices, shaping the role of project managers, and setting the stage for the profession's future.

Lloyd Skinner

Akram Elnagar

Ivan Alves Moreira

Mohammed Ali A. Hammad

Nader Almutairi

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Leadership and the importance of robust values and culture

Shared Values & Culture: The Foundation of Business Success. In this engaging session, Hans Nilsson, a seasoned business scaling expert and former CEO of global enterprises, explores the critical role of shared values and organizational culture in driving business performance. Drawing from his extensive leadership experience, including at HP, Mars Electronics, and Spectris PLC, Hans will illustrate how well-defined cultural principles enhance decision-making, leadership effectiveness, and long-term success. Through real-world examples—both successes and failures—this talk will provide actionable insights on how businesses can build, sustain, and evolve their culture to navigate growth, acquisitions, and global expansion.

Hans Nilsson

Panel- TECHINCAL TRACK: Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Empowering Project Teams for Sustainable Success

In today’s rapidly evolving project management landscape, fostering a growth mindset within teams is crucial for achieving sustainable success. This presentation will delve into strategies for cultivating a growth-oriented culture, emphasizing the importance of purpose-driven leadership and continuous improvement. Attendees will gain insights into practical techniques for empowering their teams, enhancing adaptability, and driving project excellence.

Youmna Naufal

Meshari Al Musayid

Musleh Alameri

Fahad Alosaimi

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Agile and Waterfall: Friends or Foes? How to Create Effective Hybrid Methodologies

This practical session tackles one of the most pressing challenges in modern project management: how to effectively combine Agile and Waterfall approaches. Project managers will learn a structured framework for creating hybrid methodologies tailored to their specific project needs. Through real-life examples and hands-on guidance, participants discover how to assess project characteristics, design custom approaches, and successfully implement hybrid solutions. Particularly valuable for project managers working in dynamic environments, this session provides immediately applicable tools for bridging traditional and agile methods, ensuring better project outcomes through balanced, flexible approaches.

Ivan Vaptsarov

Panel- TECHINCAL TRACK: Future-Proofing Project Management: The Top 5 Skills for Tomorrow’s Leaders

The world of project management is evolving at an unprecedented pace driven by digital transformation, AI, and the increasing complexity of global initiatives. Yet, while tools and methodologies change, one factor remains constant: the need for visionary project leaders who can navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and create lasting impact. In this powerful keynote, Raphael Albergarias, a global authority in project leadership and education, shares strategies for preparing the next generation of project managers. From shifting mindsets and leadership capabilities to leveraging AI, agility, and cognitive psychology, this session explores how organizations and professionals can develop future-ready leaders who thrive in complexity and shape the future of project management.

Dr. Nadim K. Nassar

Dr. Roy Mikhael

Susana Mendes

Dr. Hanaa Namankani

Elmohanad Elsayed

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Beyond the Site: The Role of Management in Civil Engineering

Civil engineers today are not just builders—they are leaders. In this session, Alshaima Alshayeb shares how management skills and diverse leadership are shaping successful engineering projects, with lessons drawn from her own career and real-world case studies.

Alshaima Abdullah Alshayeb

Fire Talk- TECHINCAL TRACK: Empowering Future Leaders: Transformative Approaches to Project Management Development

This high-energy, no-fluff Fire Talk brings together industry experts to tackle the future of project management through sharp, to-the-point insights. We’ll explore global excellence, social impact, talent development, women’s leadership, and strategic transformation—all in a fast-paced, interactive format.

Alaa Zeitoun

George Avramescu

Elena Boheme

Tamer Elleisi

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Communicating in conflict: Common patterns and what is wrong with them, with bonus: 3 instruments to deal with conflict

A good deal of a project manager’s communication is solving and preventing disputes. With time, every project manager gets better at confrontation, but what if the tactics you use are not the most effective? Let’s analyze common patterns and find how to make them more effective and less time-consuming through a series of practical instruments.

Alexandra Klimenko

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: A Hybrid Model for Sustainable Value Creation

In today's complex environments, achieving both flexibility and control is a must. This hybrid model, fully customizable and designed for any industry, blends Predictive, Agile, and Lean practices to ensure alignment from strategy to product and service delivery. It empowers managers and teams to define their own rules, bridging the gap between business transformation and operations. By fostering continuous improvement and sustainable value creation, it offers a practical, scalable solution for real-world challenges.

Halio Rodrigues Costa

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Quality Management in Accelerated Projects

The session will showcase the critical role of structured quality management in accelerated- projects, emphasizing effective vendor assessments, proactive inspection strategies, and sustainable construction materials. By implementing advanced monitoring systems and innovative solutions such as modular cooling systems, recycled materials, and augmented concrete, the project not only maintains strict quality procedures, but also aligns with global sustainability benchmarks, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and operational efficiency.

Huda Nabil Aldabal

Husam Al-Dossary

Nawaf Alwadaah

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Unlocking AI's Potential with Blockchain - The Future of Secure, Scalable AI

AI is revolutionizing industries, driving unprecedented profits for companies that integrate it into their products. From smartphones to autonomous driving and advanced language models, AI is at the heart of technological innovation. Companies like Samsung and Apple have leveraged AI to dominate global markets, underscoring the competitive advantage it offers. However, as AI continues to evolve, individuals and businesses must ask themselves where they stand in this transformation. Despite its benefits, AI presents significant risks, particularly in sensitive areas like healthcare, military, and politics. AI systems can generate unpredictable outcomes, raising concerns about security and ethical implications. Moreover, tech giants have vast access to personal data, increasing privacy concerns. The potential for AI misuse by rogue nations further amplifies the urgency to implement control measures that ensure AI operates within safe and ethical boundaries. To unlock AI' s full potential while mitigating risks, a robust framework for oversight is essential. A certification system, similar to how app stores verify software before release, is necessary to ensure AI systems are safe and reliable. However, entrusting AI regulation solely to private companies or centralized institutions raises concerns about power concentration. A decentralized and transparent solution is needed one that empowers individuals and businesses to monitor AI independently. The answer lies in integrating AI with blockchain through a concept called AI Labeling. Blockchain's decentralized and tamper-proof nature allows for transparent verification of AI actions, ensuring accountability and security. Locus Chain, a high-speed blockchain designed specifically for AI, provides the scalability and efficiency needed to manage AI's vast data demands. As AI and blockchain converge, they will shape the future of technology and business, making AI both more powerful and controllable. The future belongs to those who act now to harness this revolutionary combination.

YoungBae Moon

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Future-Proofing Project Management: Cultivating the Next Generation of Visionary Leaders - How to Develop Agile, Strategic, and High-Impact Project Managers for a Rapidly Changing World

The world of project management is evolving at an unprecedented pace—driven by digital transformation, AI, and the increasing complexity of global initiatives. Yet, while tools and methodologies change, one factor remains constant: the need for visionary project leaders who can navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and create lasting impact. In this powerful keynote, Raphael Albergarias, a global authority in project leadership and education, shares strategies for preparing the next generation of project managers. From shifting mindsets and leadership capabilities to leveraging AI, agility, and cognitive psychology, this session explores how organizations and professionals can develop future-ready leaders who thrive in complexity and shape the future of project management.

Prof. Raphael Albergarias

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Striking the Balance: Integrating Human Capital, Efficient Processes, and Innovative Technology in Project Management

This session will explore the transformative journey of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) as a model of sustainable urban development in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. By examining key lessons from KAFD's design, planning, and execution, the presentation will highlight innovative strategies that integrate sustainability with large-scale urban projects. We will explore how KAFD utilizes cutting-edge green technologies, sustainable architecture, and forward-thinking urban planning to create a resilient, eco-friendly, and economically vibrant urban environment. Drawing on the project's successes and challenges, this session will offer valuable insights for project managers, urban planners, and developers aiming to implement sustainability principles in future urban developments.

Imtenan Almubarak

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Desire as Strategy- Circulating Organization Across the Discourses of Mastery, Expertise, Challenge, and Transformation

Why do some projects succeed or fail, and what does desire have to do with it? This session will explore how strategic agility can be developed within executive leadership by circulating organizations across the discourses of the Master (leadership and authority), the University (expertise, knowledge, and metrics), the Hysteric (innovation and challenge), and the Analyst (novelty and transformation). Becoming stuck in a single discourse—whether through top-down control, sterile data tracking, performative innovation, or critique without engagement—leads to organizational symptoms that undermine the ability to act with strength. The presentation will demonstrate how dynamic strategic agility, authentic innovation, and impactful leadership emerge through the circulation of desire across all four discourses, empowering executives to navigate future challenges with vision and a renewed sense of purpose.

Dr Nina Krajnik

Presentation- TECHINCAL TRACK: Essential Skills to Thrive in Project Management

In today's fast-paced and complex business environment, mastering essential project management skills is crucial for success. This presentation will cover key competencies that project managers need to thrive, including effective communication, strategic planning, risk management, and leadership. Attendees will gain insights into how these skills contribute to the successful execution of projects, fostering team collaboration, and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction. By honing these essential skills, project managers can navigate challenges with confidence and drive their projects to successful completion.

Sameh Makky