| Project Management Graduate of the Year

This category recognises excellence in achievement for someone who has completed a degree in project management.

The category is open to those who have completed their degree in the academic year 2022/23. Entrants can either self-nominate or be nominated by their employer or academic institution but may only enter/ be entered into this category once. Entrants can be members or non-members of APM, from both in and outside of the UK.

Entries must take the form of a 1,000-word statement addressing the criteria below and should be accompanied by a letter of support (as a pdf document) from your academic institution or employer. You may also submit up to two pieces of supporting evidence which must only include:

• images and/or graphics (no text, just short captions)
• a link to a video no more than 2 minutes in length

Congratulations to our winner...

Judges comments
The judges felt Georgia was an exceptional candidate for this award. Her submission was well rounded, academically strong - graduating with a First-Class BSc Honours Degree in Project Management and also a Distinction in the apprenticeship End Point Assessment. Georgia is a great STEM ambassador and fully committed to the project management apprenticeship, promoting STEM and volunteering as an APM apprentice ambassador.

Judges commented that Georgia is a graduate who is clearly destined for great things within the profession. There was a real sense of drive for improvement . She has a very promising career ahead!

Georgia is an exceptional project professional who has recently completed her project management apprenticeship in September 2023, achieving a First-Class Honours Degree.

Throughout and beyond her apprenticeship, Georgia has embraced all opportunities, promoting STEM careers and recruitment into the nuclear industry, volunteering as an APM Apprentice Ambassador, as well as being a role model and mentor for other apprentices. Georgia has performed tremendously with nothing being too much trouble for her, from academic studies to placements and extra-curricula activities. Within Sellafield Ltd, she is recognised as a committed, hard-working professional who can always be relied upon.

Judges comments
The judges would also like to acknowledge a special mention to Sophie Slimm, BAE Systems / The University of Portsmouth. Sophie has made an outstanding contribution to STEM and women in project management. She is clearly striving to drive change through STEM and taking on challenges and roles with great academic results. A great start to what will be a very rewarding career!

I have excelled in my university studies and Project Management career, receiving consistently high grades through my Project Management Degree Apprenticeship with BAE Systems.

I have led programme-critical development projects with UK and international customers, attained high-value business-winning opportunities, and delivered profit margin increases leading internal innovation projects. Seeking additional secondments within Procurement, Engineering and Safety, I have gained insights furthering my coordination across functional boundaries.

My passion as an ambassador for Women within Project Management shines through my leadership within STEM and business-wide gender equality initiatives, becoming the first Early Careers Steering Group Leader in BAE Systems’ Women's Network.

Rebecca is a career-returner, who received a MSc (Dist) Project Management and the Faculty of Business & Law Prize for Best Overall Performance on MSc Project Management from University of Portsmouth, 2023.

Since graduation, Rebecca has established Grow Projects, a consultancy founded on her commitment to commercially sustainable projects. Rebecca is currently managing a hybrid, AI and data analytics led digital agronomy programme, which seeks to advance sustainable commercial horticultural production.

Her blog, 'Up Close and Sustainable' was launched via the APM in November 2023. Rebecca is honoured to be nominated for this APM award by the University of Portsmouth.

I, Saad Rasool, achieved Distinction with the Best Performance Award in MSc Project Management from the University of Hertfordshire. My groundbreaking research on sustainability and risk management in event management garnered acclaim.

As a PhD candidate at London South Bank University, I am focusing on automating contractual risk identification using NLP. I excelled in internships, showcasing project planning and construction engineering skills. Actively contributing to student societies and serving as a Student Representative, I received the Student Rep of The Year Award. Recognized for ambassadorial work, I earned the Rising Star Award and Gold Badge in a career readiness program..

In 2023 I successfully completed my Level 6 Project Management Higher Degree Apprenticeship achieving a Distinction as well as gaining a 1^st Class Honours in my BSc PM Degree.

Working at BAE Systems Maritime Services I have had the opportunity to work directly with the upkeep and maintenance of the Royal Navy Fleet, delivering maintenance projects for the Ministry of Defence. I have also had a personal interest in promoting the PM profession and importance of apprenticeships in my role as STEM Ambassador. This has extended into my work with the early careers community to mentor apprentices on scheme.

Category criteria and weighting

Academic achievement   40%

• Examples of outstanding academic achievement in dissertation or unit work
• Originality of research topic and engagement with the profession

Contribution  20%

• Membership of student societies
• Examples of ambassadorial work undertaken while on the degree

Career  30%

• Examples of placements and internships undertaken while on the degree
• Examples of other engagement with the project profession while on the degree
• Demonstrates clarity on the skills the applicant needs for future success
• Demonstrates potential for future career development in the Project profession

Personal achievement section  10%

• Challenges overcome and achievements