Registration and Networking

Welcome and Day Highlights

Redefining Project Success: Empowering Next-Gen Professionals to Drive Strategic Impact and Career Growth

In this keynote presentation, Hanny Alshazly, Regional Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Project Management Institute (PMI) will delve into the latest insights from our report redefining and measuring project success, and highlight the critical shift from traditional metrics of success, such as time and budget, to a more holistic approach that includes achieving strategic objectives and creating sustainable change.This keynote will also provide a comprehensive roadmap for next-gen project professionals to redefine success, measure it effectively, and leverage their skills to drive impactful change. By becoming strategic partners, they can ensure project success and accelerate their career trajectories.

Hanny Alshazly

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

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

The future of games and media

TBC

Thomas Vu

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

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

TBC

Alex Adamopoulos

The Execution Gap – Aligning Strategy with Action for Measurable Success

This session addresses the persistent challenge of translating high-level strategies into actionable project plans that deliver tangible results.

Frederic Casagrande

Bruno Morgante

Alaa Zeitoun

Belal Deiranieh

Rayyan Alhassan

Mubarak Al-Otaibi

TBC

TBC

Faisal J. Abbas

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

Lunch, Prayer & Networking

Panel Discussion

Opening Ceremony

Opening Keynote

Eng. Badr Mohammed Burshaid

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

Keynote Session TBC

GPMF Awards Launch

Networking and Transition Break

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

Abeer Albashiti

Tony Prensa

Taryn Ash

Fola F. Alabi

Sponsor Recognition

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

Join bestselling author and innovation thought leader Alex Osterwalder for an inspiring and interactive session on Mastering Change at Scale. He will explain what it takes to grow your company’s “change muscle.” Osterwalder will demonstrate this by using the example of building an innovation culture across the whole organization.

In his talk he compares mastering change and reaching a business goal (like building an innovation culture) to training for a fitness goal (like running a marathon or building strength). It requires the right exercises (tools), needs consistent practice (doing) and regular check-ins (measuring progress). Learn how to build your organization’s “change muscles” with repeatable routines, real-world practice, and smart ways to measure progress.

Whether you are just starting your transformation or trying to improve, this talk will help you build the strength, agility, and endurance to lead change with confidence. Outcomes: Understand best practices to build your change muscle at scale, Discover the key ingredients of building an innovation culture, Learn how to get started.

Alex Osterwalder

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

Margarete Schramboeck

Iris Meinl

Thomas Vu

Michael Hannan

Hilal Mengi

Alex Adamopoulos

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

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

Americo Pinto

Luke Goetting

Leaders Qualities in 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

Advancing Construction Excellence: Innovations in Technology Integration” will explore the transformative impact of emerging technologies on the construction industry

Joshua L Kanner

Joe Castner

Sherief Elabd

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

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

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

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.

Meshari Al Musayid

Musleh Alameri

Fahad Alosaimi

Mohammed Ali A. Hammad

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

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

This session delves into the essential skills that project managers must develop to navigate the evolving landscape of project management. Drawing insights from recent studies and industry reports, the discussion will highlight the top five competencies critical for future success.

Nadim K. Nassar

Roy Michael

Susana Patricia Ribeiro Mendes

Dr. Hanaa Namankani

Beyond the Site: The Role of Management in Civil Engineering

The presentation topic, titled ""AI - Prompt Engineering," explores the art and science of crafting effective prompts to maximize the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated outputs. It delves into: Understanding Prompt Engineering: The principles of defining roles, tasks, and expected formats for AI guidance. Components of Effective Prompts: Highlighting the importance of specificity, clarity, context, tone, and audience awareness. Addressing Ethics and Challenges: Ensuring data privacy, adherence to ethical standards, and overcoming ethical dilemmas. Practical Frameworks: Introducing and applying RTF (Role, Task, Format) and CREATE (Character, Request, Examples, Adjustments, Types, Evaluation) formulas for effective AI interactions. This session is designed to provide hands-on practice, real-world examples, and actionable techniques for leveraging AI in project management and beyond.

Alshaima Abdullah Alshayeb

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.

Mariama Zhouri

Alaa Zeitoun

George Avrmescu

Reframing Project Success

Ben Breen

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

Petrobras Excellence in Capital Projects: Developing People and Processes"

This work presents Petrobras' journey towards excellence in capital project management, focusing on the development of people and the implementation of effective processes. The presentation highlights the strategies adopted to develop team competencies and skills, combining best practices from PMI processes, IPMA competence baselines, and the Prince methodology. Additionally, it emphasizes the creation of processes that ensure business value delivery. Through practical examples and achieved results, Petrobras demonstrates how the combination of skilled people and well-structured processes can lead to success in complex projects.

Maiza Pimenta Goulart

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

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

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

The Power of Positive Mindset - Turning Pain into Power

Atif Rashid

Project Management vs Purpose Co-Creation

Shaping the future requires engaging, aligning and empowering all the stakeholders to innovate and co-create solutions together. This goes beyond project management to enabling engaged agile teams to deliver innovative value in cycles.

Lori Figueiredo

B2B Networking