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Leveraging Projects and PMOs to drive Sustainability, 2 July 2025
APM event hosted by the SWWE Network on 2 July 2025 Speaker: Emma-Ruth Arnaz Pemberton supported by Nigel Chisnell Emma-Ruth Arnaz Pemberton, PMO Interest Group Lead, introduced the session, highlighting the importance of sustainability in projects, businesses, and PMOs, and set the stage for the discussion on how individuals and teams can influence sustainability. Emma focused the session on key areas for Sustainability: Challenges. Emma discussed the challenges of incorporating sustainability into projects, such as higher costs, longer planning processes, and unfamiliarity with sustainable technologies. This emphasised the need for better planning and information to make sustainable choices. Benefits of Sustainable Practices: There are competitive advantages of adopting sustainable practices, including increased consumer preference, shareholder appeal, and compliance with future regulations. Emma also mentioned the potential for attracting better talent and fostering growth. The Human Element: Understanding human behaviour is key to driving sustainable thinking into Project delivery; using tactics like ‘nudging’ encourages people to make sustainable choices. Emma provided real examples of how organisations can influence behaviour without lecturing, such as using visual cues and social norms. Role of PMOs in Sustainability: PMOs have a huge role in promoting sustainability, including reviewing scope and purpose, aligning projects with strategy, and incorporating sustainability into governance frameworks. Emma emphasised the need for education and fostering a culture of sustainability – and PMOs can provide a central hub to achieve this. Measuring Sustainability: Nigel introduced the concept of measuring sustainability in projects, mentioning the green project management organisation and the importance of incorporating sustainability into project management methodologies. Nigel also reinforced the important role PMOs offer - tracking and reporting on sustainability metrics. Exercise & Group Discussion: Following the presentation, Emma introduced a practical exercise for participants to consider sustainability strategies for different types of organisations. Emma provided guidelines for considering projects and programmes, infrastructure, and operational changes to achieve sustainability goals. Picking one of the themes, event participants subsequently engaged in group discussions. They then shared their ideas, such as incorporating solar energy, rainwater harvesting, electric vehicles, and sustainable packaging in retail organisations https://www.apm.org.uk/news/leveraging-projects-and-pmos-to-drive-sustainability/
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Leveraging Projects and PMOs to drive Sustainability, 2 July 2025
- 1. Leveraging Projects andPMOs to drive Sustainability SWWE and PMO Interest Network 2nd July 2025
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- 4. For discussion Sustainability inthe Modern World The Human Factor The Role of the PMO Overcoming Challenges and Barriers Actionable Insights Measuring Sustainability
- 5. Sustainability in theModern World of Projects Sustainability in the project profession is an approach to business that balances the environmental, social, economic aspects of project-based working to meet the current needs of stakeholders without compromising or overburdening future generations. Sustainability in the Modern World of Business A company's strategy and actions to reduce adverse environmental and social impacts resulting from business operations in a particular market.
- 6. Challenges in Projects Higher costs of sustainable building processes and materials Construction process is not geared right Long bureaucratic processes Unfamiliarity with sustainable technology Lack of awareness in project teams Lack of sustainable product information
- 7. Benefits of Adoption Competitive advantage Investor appeal Compliance with regulatory requirements Increased longevity of transformation investments Talent acquisition Revenue growth
- 8. The Human Factor Humansneed to understand the connection between cause and effect Humans are social animals Humans do not like to be lectured about sustainability Source: https://www.e3s-conferences.org/
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- 10. Challenges for PMOs It is hard for individuals or teams to change organisational attitude Resistance to change or the problem Resource constraints for investment (easier to do what we have always done) Lack of useful information Accountability for decision making
- 11. The Role ofthe PMO Scope, purpose, language Alignment & Prioritisation considerations Governance Frameworks Practices (procurement) Metrics & language
- 12. Evolving Roles Making sustainable decisions Encouraging and empowering teams Leadership Developinga broader view of the world Fostering a sustainability cutlure PMO Having option and tech information at hand Upskilling to understand the impacts Delivery Being part of the journey from the first day Becoming champions of change Everyone Else
- 13. #HumanFirst Strategies Understandthe organisational attitude Identify areas that you can influence Make it part of the day job Encourage ongoing learning Community collaboration and sharing Update your Change Management Strategy Strive for Portfolio Balance
- 14. Success Stories Professional Services Enterprise • Estates rationalisation •Flexible working & Travel Policy • Estates’ energy • Energy procurement • Transport procurement & offsetting • Digital technologies • Digital project execution Retail Organisation • Installed solar panels • Installed rainwater collection system for WCs • New buildings with thermal walls • Signage across all buildings • Employee reward schemes • Encourage life long learning Manufacturing Business • Packaging recycling programmes • Circular supply chain • Fair trade policies • Carbon accounting • Employee engagement strategies • Customer engagement strategies
- 15. Levers to measurethe journey to Net Zero Net Zero Literacy / Education Culture & change Funding Technology Real Estate Fleet Processes Security
- 16. 17 Potential function forPMOs: • Carbon accounting A framework of methods to measure and track how much greenhouse gas an organisation emits. • Whole life carbon assessment A whole life approach to reducing emissions in the built environment for single assets/projects. • Net Zero programme metrics Enable us to measure progress on the journey to Net Zero. • GreenOps A data-driven discipline and cultural practice to achieve lasting carbon reductions across an organisation's software stack. Net Zero PMO Functions
- 17. Net Zero Programme MetricThemes to be added to Performance Measures Dictionary 18 Net Zero Literacy Culture Enablement/Leadership Commitment Funding Technology Skills/Education Process/Ways of Working
- 18. Theme Examples: Culture 19 Totrack Net Zero related culture improvement we can measure: • Employee Training: By tracking the number of employees trained in sustainability practices. • Stakeholder Communication: By measuring the frequency and effectiveness of communication with stakeholders about the programme's sustainability efforts and how it aligns with the overall aims of the organisation.
- 19. Emma-Ruth Arnaz-Pemberton [email protected] www.wellingtone.co.uk PMONinjas Keysto Success Identify your sustainability reality Uncover where you can make changes Learn about sustainable practices Understand your first steps