AI, human leadership key to future of project management, says expert

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Artificial intelligence will transform project management, but human judgement and ethical leadership will remain central to the profession, John Dawber, Vice President and Managing Director of Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, said on Sunday.

Speaking after inaugurating WAVES 2026, the 16th Annual Project Management Conference of the PMI Kerala Chapter here, Dawber said organisations need leaders who can inspire people across disciplines and adapt to a rapidly changing technological landscape, according to a statement on Sunday.

While AI can analyse options and speed up decision-making, accountability for the final decision will always rest with people, he said, stressing that leadership is built on trust rather than authority.

Delivering the keynote address, Anwesha Majumdar, Regional Head of Community, PMI South Asia, outlined PMI's evolving global vision and said its new strategic framework encourages professionals to create organisational and societal impact beyond traditional project delivery.

She also unveiled PMI's Volunteer Journey System, designed to provide structured growth pathways for volunteers, and highlighted the organisation's expanding AI ecosystem, including AI-enabled learning resources, certifications and digital knowledge-sharing platforms.

The conference concluded with the presentation of the PMI Kerala Awards 2026.

BPCL won the Project of the Year (Large) award, while Cochin Shipyard and Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) were runners-up. UST won the Project of the Year (Medium) award, with H&R Block as runner-up. H&R Block also won the Project of the Year (Small) award.

Aries received the Sustainability Project of the Year award, ULCCS won the Social Project of the Year award, H&R Block bagged the AI Excellence Award for the Services Industry, FACT received the Innovative Manufacturing Project Award, and K-DISC won the Green Infrastructure Project Award in the Construction Industry category, according to a statement.