In Memoriam · GPM Global

William (Bill) Duncan

Director of Certification, GPM Global

It is with deep sadness that GPM Global announces the passing of William (Bill) Duncan, our Director of Certification, respected colleague, and dear friend.

Bill’s contributions to the profession of project management are immeasurable. Best known as the primary author of the original PMBOK® Guide, published by the Project Management Institute (PMI), Bill helped lay the foundation for modern project management as it is practiced around the world today. His vision, clarity, and insistence on practical application transformed what was once a loosely defined discipline into a recognized global profession.

Throughout his career, Duncan remained a steadfast advocate for advancing the profession through standards, ethics, and competence. He was a key contributor to many International Project Management Association (IPMA) standards and served for 17 years as Director of Standards for the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (asapm/IPMA-USA), where his leadership and rigor helped shape performance-based competency frameworks that continue to guide practitioners globally.

At GPM, Bill brought that same brilliance and commitment to excellence. As our Director of Certification, he played a vital role in developing and refining the GPM Competence Standard, the Complexity Framework, and successive editions of both the P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management and the GPM Practice Guide. His editorial precision and uncompromising standards for quality elevated every publication and piece of training material he touched.

Duncan’s influence extended far beyond his written work. He was a mentor, a teacher, and a trusted advisor — known for his sharp intellect, his humor, and his refusal to accept “good enough.” His colleagues and students will remember him for his generosity with knowledge, his storytelling, and his passion for helping others think more clearly and act with integrity.

While the global project management community has lost one of its true pioneers, Bill’s impact will endure through the frameworks he built, the organizations he strengthened, and the professionals he inspired. His work lives on in every project manager who values competence, clarity, and ethics in their practice.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of learning from or working alongside him.