Meet the Sustainability Summit 2026 Speakers
Joel Carboni
Dr. Joel Carboni is the founder and president of GPM and the architect of the standards, methods, and credentials behind Sustainable Project Management™, a GPM innovation delivered through the PMI-GPM joint venture. He created the P5 Standard, the Sustainability Competence Standard, the Sustainable Project Management™ Practice Guide, and the Project Sustainability Reporting Guide, now integrated into the PMI ecosystem through the CSPP™ credential. Over thirty years and across 60 countries, his work has translated sustainability commitments into governance-grade project decisions. A Forbes Business Council member and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) contributor, he was shortlisted for the inaugural regenerative business award by Thinkers50 in 2025 for his book 'Becoming Regenerative'.
Jo Jolly
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.
Hugo Minney
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 Protein Chemistry (Durham University). Minney specialises in putting a number on difficult benefits (such as sustainability and regeneration, best quality publicly funded healthcare, community development, employee health and wellbeing), and using this to motivate both team members and end-users by reporting what we are achieving together. If your CSR doesn’t show up on the bottom line, you’re doing it wrong!
Lucila Dotto
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.
Lacey Swartz
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 English horn in her local community orchestra, having previously played professionally in the US.
Manisha Lath Gupta
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.
Venkata Subodh Vadapaily
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 modern delivery practices.
Lela Machaidze
Lela Machaidze serves as Director of Education for the PMI Nova Scotia Chapter. With over 20 years of experience in project and program management, she currently holds the role of Director of Programs and Service Delivery at Capstone Project Solutions. Lela holds an MBA from European School of Management, a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University, and has completed executive education in Artificial Intelligence at MIT Sloan School of Management and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Her certifications include PMP, PMI-ACP, PMO-CP, and BRMP. Her career spans leadership roles at global organizations including Bechtel Corporation and CH2M, along with consulting engagements with NATO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She has served as an Invited Lecturer in Project Management at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) and taught Change Management at Caucasus University. A dedicated advocate for the profession, Lela is the initiator, co-founder, and first President of the PMI Tbilisi, Georgia Chapter, where she led the organization for nearly five years. She also contributed globally as a member of the PMI Community Collaboration Council (2023–2024) and served as Director at the International Institute of Time Management in Prague (2021–2025). Originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, Lela relocated to Nova Scotia in 2025, where she continues to champion professional development and knowledge-sharing within the local PM community.
Ines Garcia
Author | Agile & Climate Coach | Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame | www.inesgarcia.me With her work, Ines' helps individuals, teams and organisations to deliver better value & reduce waste (time, effort, materials energy) To focus on impact. To leave the place better than how we found: Product, People & Planet | https://tiny.cc/agilesustainability
Ilaria Perissi
I am an interdisciplinary researcher at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) working at the intersection of sustainability and systems thinking. Building on a background in chemistry and with a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Florence (IT), I am currently involved in European and national research projects focused on developing innovative materials for sustainable energy technologies. Alongside materials research, my work explores the dynamics of complex systems through interdisciplinary modelling approaches, with applications in natural resource management, climate change, and energy transitions. I contributed to the development of integrated assessment models within the H2020 MEDEAS Project (2016-2019) and developed the PLEDGES climate policy tool during a Marie Curie Fellowship at Anglia Ruskin University,(2022–2024). My research also investigates how systems thinking and modelling can support decision-making across disciplines. I co-authored the book The Empty Sea, a report for The Club of Rome, and currently serve on the editorial boards of the Journals Systems(MDPI) and Frontiers in Sustainability (Frontiers).
Felice Simone
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).
Gilbert Silvius
Gilbert Silvius is an experienced and innovative researcher, author, lecturer, consultant and trainer in the field of project management, with affiliations at several universities. He is one of the ‘early voices’ and a recognized expert on the topic of sustainability in project management, with several books and over 50 articles on his name. Gilbert is a member of IPMA’s SIG on ESG, and contributed to their guide on Sustainable Project Management. For his work, Gilbert received the Green Project Management Sustainability award (2013) and an outstanding contribution research award (2020).
Donnie MacNicol
Donnie has over 35 years’ experience, the last 10 of which have focused on developing the programme and portfolio delivery capability of public and private sector organisations. He advises on mega-project delivery in the UK and overseas. His focus is primarily on infrastructure clients who are looking to adopt more collaborative and integrated ways of working. Donnie has broad expertise allowing him to develop the necessary behaviours, collaborative structures and capabilities to support clients to make the changes necessary to be a capable owner. Donnie is a leader in providing leaders and teams with insight from Human-Centric Data (HCD) to improve decision making. He is also the Founder of Team Animation, Co-Founder of A7 Consult & AITLA AI and Deputy Chair of He is actively involved in a range of groups developing the latest thinking in the projects world in particular around AI and Carbon / ESG reporting.
Ben Featherstone
The Sustainability and Compliance Manager at Bagnalls, a national painting, decorating and industrial coatings business based in West Yorkshire, UK. Ben runs the sustainability programme at Bagnalls and is a member of the Kirklees CSR Network and has previously spoken at the Scope 3 Peer Group conference & the World Sustainability Congress.
Edoardo Favari
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.
Izzat Ali Khan
Izzat Ali Khan, Assistant Director, BD & Special Projects, EFSIM Facilities Management Company, Circular Economy & Sustainability Professional, Saudi ArabiaAn enthusiastic and seasoned professional specializing in Sustainability and Facilities Management (FM), with a strong passion for driving positive business impact through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and Data Analytics. He is deeply committed to advancing collaboration, empowerment, and innovative sustainability practices with a focus on achieving Net Zero ambitions. His work emphasizes the principles of business leadership, circular economy, recycling, and carbon footprint reduction, leveraging technology and innovation to enable businesses to operate more sustainably and contribute to a healthier planet. A dedicated researcher, he actively contributes to the field of sustainability and Net Zero through presentations at international conferences and summits, sharing valuable insights to inspire global environmental progress.
Haikal El Abed
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 speaking style combines practical tools, real project experience, strategic reflection, and human-centered storytelling. He is particularly interested in how project professionals can use standards, AI-supported analysis, and simple decision tools to make sustainability visible, measurable, and actionable in everyday delivery.
Gabriele Bitine
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).
Mita Broca
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
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.
Phil Driver
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
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 leadership that strengthens inclusion, future skills, and community impact.
Frank Jäger
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.