It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Dr. Faez Tuma, Chair of the PMI UK Chapter London Branch, who peacefully left us on Saturday 4th October 2025, surrounded by his children, following an accident while walking in Edinburgh.
His loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of working alongside him and benefiting from his wisdom, warmth, and generosity.
I first met Faez two years ago, shortly after he retired and moved from Austria to the UK and contacted us offering his availability for volunteering. From our first meeting I sensed a remarkable harmony in values and work ethic, passion, availability, experience and human qualities. He quickly became an esteemed colleague and a dear friend.
Besides his human qualities, which belong to the friendship side, Faez was capable of representing the Chapter at the highest level in academia. Beyond his formal role, he supported me in strengthening the PMI UK Chapter’s national Branch/University liaison strategy. His contribution was concrete and far-reaching: he helped to establish the connection of University College London with the London Branch, and fostered relationships linking Cardiff University and the University of the West of England, Bristol, with the PMI UK Chapter South Wales and South-West Branch. He also provided guidance in liaising with The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen for our Scotland North Branch, demonstrating a rare blend of diplomacy, professionalism, and enthusiasm for learning.
Faez’s professional life reflected the same depth and breadth of commitment.
Faez graduated in Mechanical Engineering and went on to earn a PhD in Applied Mechanics from the University of Liverpool. The decades following his studies shaped a rich and varied career in project and programme management across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
Before entering the international stage, Faez built a solid technical and managerial foundation that later supported his many achievements. In 1991, he joined IBM UK, where he spent nearly a decade directing major IT and banking-sector initiatives, leading large teams, and managing complex financial-systems projects. His dedication and results earned him several corporate awards for excellence and the respect of colleagues who valued his calm authority and practical insight.
In 1999, he accepted a senior leadership position with Saudi Business Machines (SBM), the country’s largest systems integrator. Over more than ten years as Senior Banking Executive and Programme Director, he managed major multimillion-dollar programmes for Al Inma Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Mobily, and the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), among others. His work enabled institutions to modernise their infrastructure, strengthen governance, and deliver innovation to customers. Twice he received Outstanding Contribution Awards for his achievements, a reflection of both his technical mastery and his ability to inspire teams to achieve excellence under demanding conditions.
From 2011 onward, Faez continued his professional journey as a freelance IT and project-management consultant, contributing to international assignments in Austria, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. He also served as Programme Manager for Light for the World in Vienna and as lecturer and project advisor at Fachhochschule Vienna, where his students benefited from his deep experience and his ability to translate complex ideas into practical guidance. His focus on quality, structure, and the human dimension of leadership remained constant throughout his career.
Faez’s service to the Project Management Institute was a defining aspect of his later life. A PMP since 1999, he served on the PMI Austria Chapter Board as Vice President for Volunteers and Events Officer, organising the well-known Light Up 360 cross-chapter events and representing Austria at PMI Region 8 meetings and Global Summits. His long-standing commitment to volunteerism was matched only by his belief in the power of community and shared learning.
Those who knew Faez will remember not only his professional brilliance but also his personal grace. He listened with care, offered advice without judgment, and approached every challenge with quiet determination and good humour. His presence had a calming effect on those around him; his encouragement inspired many to give their best.
Faez often reminded us that successful projects are not only about deliverables but about people, about trust, integrity, and collaboration. His life exemplified those values in every respect. His capability, availability, and generosity were qualities that I, and the entire Chapter, will miss.
Yet his legacy endures: in the links he helped establish, the volunteers and students he mentored, and the bridges he built between academia and professional practice.
As we honour his memory, may we continue the work he cared for so deeply, advancing our profession with the same dedication, curiosity, and generosity that defined his life.
Representing the PMI UK Chapter, I, together with the Director of Chapter Operations, Jinxiu Li, attended on Saturday, 11 October, a memorial event organised by the family at the Pavilion, Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club.
Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.
May he rest in peace, and may his example continue to inspire us all.
Franco Guarrella
President, PMI UK Chapter