Emerging Project Professional of the Year Award

Emerging Project Professional of the Year Award

The winner for this category has now been announced. Congratulations to all our finalists in this category.

Recognising talent in all sectors in those aged 29 years or under, or who have less than three years’ experience in their project management career.

The judges are looking for project practitioners who are demonstrating excellence in the delivery of their project(s) and/or programme(s), showing thoughtful engagement with the companies and clients they work with, and contributing to the profession more widely.  

This award is open to project, programme or portfolio managers and practitioners aged 29 years or under at the entry closing date (10 June 2024), or over 29 years of age at the entry closing date with less than three years’ experience in their project management career.

Entrants for this category have a choice about how to they submit an entry, either:

• produce a submission of up to 1,000 words (in English) based on the judging criteria through delivery of a project where their involvement has been greater than six months.

Or

• produce a video submission (in English) based on the judging criteria through delivery of a project where their involvement has been greater than six months. The video must be no longer than eight minutes in length and must only show the entrant speaking to the camera, no additional persons may be present, no graphics, images or documents included in the video entry.

In addition, video and written entrants may also submit up to four pieces of supporting evidence - images or graphics only (no text apart from captions). Evidence must support information already included in the submission and must not introduce additional elements. Please see further details on the ‘Supporting evidence’ tab of the Awards platform. Video and audio are not accepted as part of the submission evidence.

The Emerging Project Professional of the Year category is a two-stage judging category, the first stage is the written or video submission mentioned above, and the second stage requires all finalists to present virtually to a panel of judges. 

Project professionals from all sectors, and from across the globe, may apply. In this category we also encourage nominations (with the individual’s approval) from employers or colleagues. Please note that we can only accept one entry per nominee.

Having completed Project Management Degree Apprenticeship in 2023 and have since progressed to Assistant Project Manager, owning key work packages across multiple projects.

I have played a leading role in several company initiatives as a committed volunteer. I support the Calder Heat Exchanger Deplanting project, delivering the removal of 6 Heat Exchangers (weighing 360 tonnes and over 23m high) from the original reactor buildings. I have led critical work to characterise the Heat Exchangers and ground investigations to initiate the design of the Heat Exchanger Laydown Slab. I have also led on implementing Urgent Access Sanitary Supplies across Sellafield. 

As Project Manager for Teesside University’s £13.1m Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC), Glen Kelly led a high-impact project that established a state-of-the-art research facility in the North East.

His leadership fostered valuable industry partnerships, driving significant economic and environmental benefits for the region. The project’s success, recognised by multiple awards, positions Teesside at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial revolution.

At Yorkshire Water, Omair Khan thrived as Project Manager for the £3m Clean Water Lining Programme over the last 2 years.

Implementing efficient project management and prioritizing sustainability, Omair achieved a groundbreaking 60% faster completion time and a 70% cost reduction. His success reflects not only his leadership but also on his dedication to continuous learning, evidenced by achieving 72% in his APM PMQ and graduating with distinction from the Level 4 apprenticeship in the last few months.

Now entrusted with a new £80m program to reduce storm spills, his leadership is driving positive change across Yorkshire’s water infrastructure.

Diana successfully managed her team to deliver on the UK Government’s Food Strategy (FS) Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework, enabling Defra and the Agri-Food Chain (AFC) Directorate to effectively track and measure the success of over 30 policies and programmes.

The framework will support evidence-based efforts to improve and address environmental and economic outcomes for the food sector. This includes biodiversity, net zero, sustainable agriculture, upskilling and training the workforce, and improved trade after Brexit.

Diana’s team encouraged her to apply for this award citing her leadership, collaboration skills, and the positive outcomes she achieved for the client.

Eleanor has a dual role as Portfolio Management Office lead and Project Officer with responsibility for delivering projects that form part of the Authority’s change and savings programmes.

Eleanor led a project to review the cycle safety provision for over 100 schools which included a staff restructure and significant savings. She demonstrated excellent interpersonal and organisational skills that led to the successful delivery of the project inline with the business case and governance arrangements.

Eleanor is a rising star in her field, and instrumental in supporting the wider Transformation Team and we are delighted to nominate her for this Award.