PMI® SeminarWorld Copenhagen 2025

It is as important to do the right projects, as it is to execute them well. Both public and private organizations have more projects than they have resources for. So, leaders need to choose carefully. A BC explains why a project should be done and is key in the selection process. It should clearly show expected benefits, costs, risks, and responsibilities. 

For business projects, a BC is needed even after the project starts. Things change, and so does the BC. It needs regular reviews, which can lead to changes in priority. Even after the project is finished, the BC helps ensure that the expected benefits are achieved. 

Gain valuable insights on: 

• How business projects differ from infrastructure projects 

• What should be included in a BC 

• How the BC should be used before, during, and after a project 

About the Speaker 

Frank Einhorn had a 32-year career with IBM South Africa, managing many business and IT projects, mainly in financial institutions, mining companies, and public utilities. After retiring, he continued to consult, manage projects, and teach at a business school. He earned his PhD in 2018 and has written several journal papers and a book. Frank has been a PMP since 1995. 

How do you feel about hybrid agile – combining agile methods with non-agile ones? Can it be beneficial at times, or does it lead to compromise and failure?  

In this session, we will differentiate between agile blends and non-agile hybrids. We will then explore case studies of both failures and successes, identifying patterns of problems and success factors. 

Gain valuable insights on: 

• Hybrid models - Left-to-right agile adoption vs. right-to-left implementation 

• Case studies in success, failure, and regression 

• Red flags, anti-patterns, and warning signs to stop 

About the Speaker 

Mike Griffiths is a project management author, trainer, and consultant working for the Project Management Institute (PMI). Before joining PMI, Mike owned a project management consulting company operating in Europe, South, Central, and North America. 

Mike was involved in the creation of DSDM in 1994 and served on the board of the Agile Alliance. He co-founded the PMI Agile Community of Practice and was part of the steering committee that created the PMI-ACP credential. Mike chaired the PMI Agile Practice Guide and has contributed to the PMBOK Guide since the 3rd Edition. He was co-chair for the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition 

The concept of working agile is often misunderstood and misused, and when the good intentions collide with the real-life constraints of organisations, things quickly unravel. Luxshan Ratnaravi captures these challenges through his comic strip, Comic Agilé, followed by over 98,000 professionals on LinkedIn. 
 
In this talk, Luxshan uses fun, visual and relatable scenarios to illustrate what happens when agile ideals clash with workplace realities when teams want to be agile, but the organisation keeps waterfall processes. 

About the speaker 
 
Luxshan Ratnaravi is a comic strip writer and independent agile coach, and holds an M.Sc. in Software Engineering. His mission is to use humour to spotlight the challenges of agile implementation, creating a space to discuss what doesn’t work, so organisations can get more value out of the agile ways of working.

While Generative AI has captured headlines in recent years, the true transformative potential for organizations and project leaders lies in the implementation of Applied AI across various industries. Applied AI currently accounts for 95% of AI investments, compared to just 5% for Generative AI.  

This session will delve into the 7 essential patterns that underpin successful Applied AI projects, providing insights into how to harness AI's power to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance decision making. 

Gain valuable insights on: 

• Key Differences between Generative AI and Applied AI, Including the 7 Essential Patterns that Guide Successful Applied AI Projects 

• How to Leverage Applied AI to Solve Specific Business Problems and Drive Tangible Results 

• Develop a Strategic Approach to Implementing Applied AI Solutions 

About the Speaker 

Jen Skrabak, PfMP, PMP, Chief Transformation Officer at Strategy+PM LLC 

Jen Skrabak s a dynamic and award-winning leader with a proven track record of driving transformative change within some of the world's largest and most successful Technology and Healthcare companies. As a global executive and Chief Transformation Officer at Strategy+PM LLC, she has built and lead PMOs that have delivered $1 Billion in enterprise transformation for some of the world's most prestigious organizations, such as Oracle, Teradata, UnitedHealth/Optum, and Amgen. Jen is also a sought-after international keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, inspiring audiences with her insights on leadership, innovation, digital transformation, AI, and portfolio management. Her expertise is further underscored by the prestigious PMI Distinguished Contribution Award and her role as lead Auth no or of PMI's Governance Practice Guide and Portfolio Management Standard. She is ranked in the Top 25 Global Thought Leaders in Project Management by Thinkers 360. 

Effective management of project portfolios is crucial for both private businesses and public organizations. 

This presentation provides insights into the value of implementing project portfolio management in both private and public sectors. It will explain the main processes involved in project portfolio management and demonstrate why its implementation brings value to organizations. The presentation will also discuss important prerequisites for successful implementation and touch upon project portfolio management from a sustainability perspective. 

Gain valuable insights on: 

• The main processes in project portfolio management and why managing projects in a portfolio brings value 

• The key decisions necessary for successful implementation 

• Project portfolio management from a sustainability perspective 

About the Speakers 

Anna Lund Jepsen, PhD, is an associate professor in project studies at the Department of Business and Management at the University of Southern Denmark. She has conducted research in project management for over fifteen years and has published in the International Journal of Project Management, among others. Her research focuses on project stakeholder management and project portfolio management. She teaches project and portfolio management to students from bachelor to master level across several disciplines. 

Eva Riis, PhD, is an associate professor in project studies at the Department of Business and Management at the University of Southern Denmark. Her research centers on the management and governance of projects and portfolios, as well as innovation organized as projects and programs. She lectures on project, program, and portfolio management at the master’s level across various fields of study. 

Over the past few years, Grundfos has developed and implemented Visual Project Management (VPM). This project management tool, based on Lean principles, emphasizes transparency across the project organization and drives the ambition of empowering teams and project stakeholders to a higher degree. Gain insight into the background, expectations, and lessons learned from Grundfos' first pilot projects utilizing VPM. 

Gain valuable insights on: 

• The core principles of VPM 

• Early experiences with VPM 

About the Speakers 

Kim Haugaard, Global Program Development Manager, has many years of experience working for Denmark's largest companies, including Lego, Velux, and Grundfos, specializing in managing projects, programs, and portfolios, as well as serving in leadership roles at various strategic levels. Kim holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a diploma in Management with a focus on cultural transformation. He also holds multiple certifications, such as PRINCE2. 

Eva Knudsen has worked for several years as a Scrum Master in both Scrum and Kanban teams and has been one of the key drivers behind Grundfos’ agile transformation in product development. With a background in marketing and communication, Eva holds a master’s degree in Corporate Communication. 

While many organizations adopt agile practices at the project level, Danske Bank has successfully implemented agile portfolio management for several years using the Spotify model. This model has enabled continuous focus on value-driven delivery, while allowing for flexible alignment of resources and priorities with the bank’s strategic goals and investment perspectives.

Gain Valuable Insights on:

• Strategic Agile Portfolio Management in Practice
• Active Use of the Spotify Model and Its Ongoing Development
• Key Success Factors of Agile Approaches in Portfolio Governance and Leadership

About the Speakers

Peter Andresen, Senior Vice President and Head of Better Ways of Working at Danske Bank
Peter is responsible for driving the agile operating model at Danske Bank, both from a governance perspective and in ensuring continuous improvements in the organization’s operational working methods.

Thomas Klysner, Senior Vice President and IT Lead - Financial Crime Prevention Lifecycle Management at Danske Bank
Thomas has extensive experience in leading projects, programs, and portfolios, mainly within the financial sector. He holds a range of certifications, including IPMA-A Project and Portfolio Director, Prosci Change Practitioner, SAFe Lean Portfolio Manager, SAFe Program Consultant, MSP Practitioner, and P3O Practitioner, among others.

While conceptions of project delivery success evolve over time, delivering a project within budget continues to be a crucial benchmark. Despite widespread reports of cost overruns, recent findings from transport infrastructure projects in England and Sweden contradict the conventional narrative. Rather than experiencing the expected failures, these projects were not only delivered on budget but also proved to be economically profitable, with benefits surpassing costs. These findings challenge traditional theories that attribute poor project performance to optimism bias, strategic misrepresentation, and decision-making flaws, offering a fresh perspective on the dynamics of successful project delivery.

Gain Valuable Insights on:

• Findings from research on infrastructure projects that challenge the narrative of poor project performance
• Insights into major public projects successfully delivered to forecasted budgets
• Questioning the traditional view of optimism bias as the key factor in project performance

About the Speaker

Dr. Paul Chapman, Senior Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Dr. Paul Chapman established Oxford University's MSc in Major Programme Management and serves as the Academy Director for the UK Government's Major Project Leadership Academy (MPLA). In this role, he leads the “Sponsoring Major Projects Ministerial Programme,” which equips UK Government Ministers with the knowledge and skills to sponsor major projects. Paul also co-directs the ‘Orchestrating Major Projects’ programme, designed for project sponsors who shape the environment for successful project delivery. He recently completed a report for the UK Secretary of State for Defence on procurement reform.

In addition to his academic work, Paul actively supports the project profession as Chair of the Association for Project Management’s Research Advisory Group. He previously served as a Board Director and Chair of the Professional Knowledge and Standards Committee and as Vice President of the Association.