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Highlights: SuSu26 sneak peek
A glimpse at some of the diverse topics being covered at this year's conference.
Gabriele Bitine's response
Artificial Intelligence as a Sustainability Driver.
Gabriele Bitine is a co-author of PMBOK 8 (development team volunteer), certified as a PfMP, PMP, RMP, PMI-CP, CSPO, and CSM, with 14 years of experience in the energy, manufacturing, real estate, clinical research, and other industries. Currently leading the Project Management Department at Gijos in Lithuania, she inspires the project management community as a lecturer, PhD candidate, PMO Advisory Board member, and judge for the PMOGA Global PMO Awards (2024-2026).
Donnie MacNicol's response
Beyond the Bolt-On: Making Sustainability Core to How We Deliver Project — Proposes embedding sustainability data and reporting into standard project delivery using PMI's GPM P5 and human-centric data approaches. Aims to broaden team and stakeholder involvement, reduce reliance on specialists, and align sustainability decisions with ESG and carbon reporting.
Dr Edoardo Favari's response
Twin Transformation: How AI and Sustainability Are Rewriting Project Delivery — Proposes integrating artificial intelligence and sustainability via a 'twin transformation' approach to improve decision-making, impact, and portfolio sustainability. Focuses on benefits for project managers and PMO creators.
Edoardo Favari, PhD, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, is an Adjunct Professor of Project Management at the Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Management and at IE Business School Madrid. A Senior PMO Manager at Capgemini Engineering with extensive experience in complex infrastructure and organizational initiatives, he served on the core development team for the PMBOK® Guide – Eight Edition and currently contributes to the PMI Sustainability Outreach Committee. Edoardo bridges academic research and practice, focusing on megaprojects, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable value delivery—helping organizations turn large-scale ambition into measurable long-term impact.
Dr Felice Carlo Simeone's response
An overview of managing safety and sustainability for nanostructured materials in industrial environments. The response situates the topic within a chemistry and research background at the National Research Council of Italy.
Scientist
I am a Senior Researcher of the Environmental Nanotechnology and Nanosafety Group at the Institute for Science and Sustainability of Materials (ISSMC) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). I develop experimental methods for the investigation of the interaction of nanoparticles with biological membranes. I developed statistical and theoretical methods for ranking nanomaterials according to their hazards. I have been working for decades on physical-chemistry and characterization of nanostructured systems, nano-chemistry, nano-interphases. I received a PhD in nano-electrochemistry from the University of Ulm (Germany), Kolb’s group; I was a Post-doctoral Fellow at Harvard University (USA) in the G. Whitesides group. I worked in several international projects about nanosafety, which include regulation of nanomaterials (NanoDefine), experimental methods for assessing the hazard of nanomaterials (PATROLS), and the Safety-by-Design of nanomaterials (ASINA, SABYNA).
Frank Jäger's response
Sustainable project management gets put to the test in a real-world distribution case study.
Senior Manager Distribution Excellence & Sustainability
Frank volunteers as a PMI sustainability champion inspiring project professionals to realize how they can shape a more sustainable society through their day-to-day work, and helping chapters with integrating sustainability in their strategies. He works for adidas in the field of global distribution, shaping a more sustainable logistics profile for a global brand.
Haikal El Abed's response
Haikal El Abed proposes shifting sustainability from intention to defensible project success by documenting decisions, trade-offs, and long-term value protection. The session will offer practical methods to embed sustainability into project reporting and operating systems rather than treating it as an end-stage add-on.
Haikal El Abed is a senior programme manager, transformation leader, and sustainability-focused project professional working at the intersection of project leadership, digital transformation, AI, TVET, and sustainable development. He currently works with GIZ in Ethiopia, where he leads complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives linked to green and digital transitions, market-relevant skills development, and institutional transformation. He brings more than 20 years of experience across Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, the Gulf region, and Europe, combining field-based delivery experience with strong project management practice. Haikal is PMP®, PMI-ACP®, and GPM-b certified, and is actively engaged in the global project management community, including PMI sustainability-related initiatives and chapter-level contributions. His work focuses on helping project leaders move sustainability from intention into governance, measurement, decision-making, and defensible value creation. His spea
Dr Hugo Minney's response
The Weight of the Cloud: What AI-Datacenters ask from Project Manager — Describes a session exploring AI in data centers and their environmental trade-offs. It contrasts potential benefits for design and efficiency with harms like energy use, heat emissions, and community impacts, and invites audience input.
An accomplished chair and executive director, bringing curiosity, dynamism and decades of experience including with Cap Gemini. Minney’s strategic change work, based on solid benefits management, has changed the law to keep families together; reduced A&E (Emergency Room) visits by 1 million; improved health and well-being across a region; and saved £10 million in 12 weeks for an electricity distributor in UK. He has led organisations and alliances of organisations, and steered implementation of challenging strategy in complex situations, especially where employees, the public and other stakeholder engagement is vital. Minney is a Committee Member for bsi (British Standards Institute) where he chairs the panel on BS202002 Guide to benefits management in portfolios, programmes and projects, Chartered Manager (CMgr) with a Level 7 Diploma in Leadership and Strategic Management, Chartered Project Professional (ChPP), Change Professional (MChMI), MSP and PRINCE2 qualified and has a PhD in P
Dr Jo Jolly's response
Project Managers as Planet Stewards: The Evergreen Mindset — Advocates shifting project management from symptom-focused fixes to addressing root causes and enabling regenerative, value-driven decisions.
Dr Jo Jolly is Director for Natural Assets, Environment and Innovation at Ofwat. Jo has worked for over 20 years in infrastructure delivery, most significantly in the successful delivery of the Environment Agency’s £2.6bn 6-year flood risk management programme. Prior to joining Ofwat, Jo was Head of Project Futures at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in the Cabinet Office. Her team led the implementation of the Transforming Infrastructure Performance programme, championing a much-needed change in mindset and practice across the construction sector to unlock the best value for the economy, the environment and society as a whole. Jo is championing the use of data analytics in this transformation, including as a founding member of the Project Data Analytics Task Force.
Dr Joel Carboni's response
The sustainability confidence gap — The response highlights a large confidence gap between sustainability executives and PMO leaders and offers a summit session promising insights to close that gap and improve project delivery. It frames the session as practical guidance to align delivery with strategic sustainability goals.
Dr. Joel Carboni is a global authority on sustainability and regenerative approaches to project management, with a 30-year career spanning environmental science, sustainability strategy, and governance. As the founder of GPM®?, Dr. Carboni created the P5 Standard for Sustainability in Project Management and Business Practice
Lacey Swartz's response
The response introduces a presenter with long-term involvement in sustainability and community development, describing a summit session focused on New Life for Orphans Uganda. The session will present a case-study story about sustainable solutions for orphans, leadership development, and community transformation from dependency to abundance.
Originally from the US, a mother of 7, and involved in various aspects of natural health, sustainable business, and community development since 2004, Lacey moved to the UK with her family in 2015 to work with small churches across denominations and in diverse communities in the West Midlands. Passionate about seeing unhealthy and destructive divisions of all sorts in life transformed into healthy and life-giving boundaries for all, Lacey longs to live out Jesus’ call to be a peacemaker wherever she goes. Shortly after moving to the UK, she connected online with Davis, an inspiring young leader in Uganda committed to creating a better life for orphans in his community, having been himself an orphan. Ten years on, she continues to be inspired by the New Life for Orphans kids and community and loves to share their story and the many lessons learned from them. For fun, Lacey loves camping and board games with her family, going on hikes and crocheting with friends, and playing oboe and Engl
Lucila Dotto's response
Sustainability and the Future of Project Leadership — Sustainability is presented as a leading predictor of project success. The message invites attendees to learn practical ways to integrate sustainability to elevate project outcomes.
Lucila Dotto is the Global Head of Sustainability at the Project Management Institute and Executive Director of the PMI – Green Project Management (GPM) joint venture. She is an Organizational Psychologist with more than 15 years of experience. Her career spans consulting, for example at KPMG, where she contributed to major transformation programs and led the firm’s Purpose Reinvigoration Journey at a global level. Across every role, Lucila helps leaders connect performance with human value, ensuring that strategy and culture evolve together. She approaches sustainability as a mindset, one that fuels innovation, accountability, and long-term impact.
Manisha Lath Gupta's response
Embedding Sustainability into Project Delivery: Practical Lessons from a Real-world Housing Project — Outlines lessons from a 20-month permaculture-based housing project demonstrating sustainable, low-energy, non-toxic, resource-efficient construction using natural materials.
Manisha Lath Gupta is a sustainability champion, a permaculture practitioner and teacher. She is the founder of Aanandaa Permaculture Project - a place of learning & inspiration from the natural world. Under this project, she has transformed 12 acres of degenerated land into a lush green permaculture food forest through rainwater harvesting, topsoil regeneration, and extensive tree plantation. She has also built a sustainable house using natural materials like earth, stone and lime. Manisha is an experienced marketing professional with 25 years’ experience across FMCG, Banking, and Consumer Tech industries. She has worked with brands like Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Axis Bank, and Uber. She is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Merv Wyeth's response
The response promotes the Evergreen Project Manager Sustainability Summit, stressing a shift from awareness to execution and the integration of sustainability into project delivery. It promises global experts, practical tools and frameworks, and urges registration for the 25th of June event.
Merv combines programme leadership, facilitation, audience engagement, and his experience as a Mentimeter Champion. As creator of the AI Speech Evaluation platform, he transforms interaction into insight and action. A Benefits Management and PRUB-Logic practitioner, and Toastmasters VP Education, he leads the PMI UK Sustainability Community of Action (SCoA), convenes the annual Sustainability Summit, and aspires to achieve sustainable success through data, dialogue, and delivery.
Mita Broca's response
Project Management as a Force for Good: Delivering Long-Term Social Impact — The response frames sustainability as encompassing social inclusion and long-term societal transformation, not just environmental outcomes. It outlines a session using a case study on women's economic empowerment in India to demonstrate systems thinking, stakeholder collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership for lasting change.
Mita Broca is a sustainability consultant, facilitator, and keynote speaker helping organizations and leaders turn sustainability into meaningful action. With over 15 years of global experience across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, she works at the intersection of sustainability, leadership, and human development. She has partnered with organizations such as Unilever, IKEA, Shell, and Mastercard to embed social and environmental impact into business strategy. Her work—ranging from inclusive growth initiatives in India to integrating informal waste workers into South Africa’s recycling systems—is grounded in systems thinking, equity, and cross-sector collaboration. Mita also supports individuals—from emerging leaders to C-suite executives—in aligning their work with deeper purpose. Through her facilitation, she creates spaces for reflection, resilience, and authentic leadership. She was a speaker at the PMI Global Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, in November 2025.
Pauline Melnyk's response
Beyond Go-Live: Delivering Social Value Through Sustainable Change — Emphasizes that lasting social value requires people to see, adopt, and sustain change beyond Go Live.
Founder, Principal Coach Accredited Trainer
Pauline Melnyk, MCC, is a Change Specialist and Master Certified Coach who works at the intersection of organizational change, project delivery, and sustainable transformation. Through Melnyk Consultancy Ltd, she supports leaders, teams, and organizations to move beyond strategy and into measurable, human-centred outcomes that are adopted, sustained, and trusted.
Dr Phil Driver's response
What Really is Strategic Success? — The response argues that benefits realisation by project managers is generally impossible and introduces PrubLogic as a framework to explain this. It outlines two types of success (milestone and ultimate) and will illustrate them through United Nations Sustainable Development Goals examples.
Dr Phil Driver created the PRUB-Logic strategy framework and vocabulary which underpin the OpenStrategies’ system for collaboratively developing, validating, sharing and implementing strategies. PRUB-Logic provides a strategy vocabulary that is being globally recognised because it unequivocally and objectively represents the physical world. Phil’s background in science and engineering management, especially relating to sustainability, led to his facilitation of large-scale industry and public sector strategies which in turn provided the insights which have guided the development of PRUB-Logic.
Tao Chun Liu's response
From Play to Sustainable Value: Using AI and Project Management to Build Future-Ready Communities — The response emphasizes practical, community-level approaches to accessibility in project management through education and capability building. It describes a 45-minute session using AI learning and board games to teach critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, and AI communication in an accessible, family-friendly format.
Tao Chun Liu is an international speaker, educator, and project practitioner specializing in the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Project Management, and social impact. As a PMI Global Summit Speaker (2024), he is known for turning emerging technologies into practical, people-centered solutions that help organizations and communities create measurable value. With 9 years of experience in AI and 10 years in Project Management, Tao has led digital transformation initiatives, developed AI-powered solutions, and supported robotics and automation projects. As an Agile Coach and Scrum Master, he has guided more than 3,000 sprints and helped teams translate innovation into real-world outcomes. Tao has delivered over 160 engagements worldwide, including more than 80 GenAI workshops, and has collaborated with over 40 organizations on transformation, capability building, and applied research. His work focuses on responsible AI adoption, AI-enabled learning design, and sustainable project
Venkata Subodh Vadapaily's response
The response describes a session on embedding sustainability into project delivery using a North India construction case study that applies permaculture principles to project management's triple bottom line and the P5 green project management framework. It specifies the target audience as construction and built-environment professionals and gives the session date.
Subodh brings 8+ years of cross-functional experience supporting transformation, sustainability and research-led initiatives across project environments and stakeholder ecosystems. His work focuses on structured delivery, stakeholder engagement, operational coordination and governance-led approaches within evolving business and transformation contexts. At New Cambridge Project Management, he contributes to business development initiatives while leading selected programmes focused on AI, analytics, PMO capability and applied transformation environments. His work increasingly explores how governance and emerging technologies can support more structured and informed decision-making. Alongside industry practice, Subodh actively contributes to the professional project management community through leadership and engagement roles with the APM London Regional Network, Green Project Management (GPM), and PMI speaking engagements, supporting discussions around sustainability, innovation and mode
The question
Hello and welcome to PMI UK Sustainability Summit 2026 Speaker Community. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what your session will cover at this year's summit.
Created 11 June 2026