Annual Recognition · Since 2011 · Seven Continents

GPM Sustainability Awards The Annual GPM®
Global Sustainability Awards

Since 2011, the GPM® Sustainability Awards have recognized outstanding achievements in advancing sustainable development through the power of project management. These awards celebrate individuals, students, and partners who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and measurable impact through the application of sustainable and regenerative practices.

With submissions from across all seven continents and supported by training partners in nearly 145 countries, the awards honor efforts that align with the United Nations Global Compact, contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, and embody GPM’s PRiSM™ methodology and P5™ Standard.

Project-level recognition has moved to a bigger stage. We are proud to collaborate with the Project Management Institute on the PMI Sustainability Project Award, developed through the PMI–GPM Joint Venture and now presented as part of the PMI Project of the Year Awards.

 

Award Categories

Individual Sustainability Award

Celebrates an individual who has championed sustainability in project management through thought leadership or measurable impact on practice. Recipients are nominated by their peers.

Student / Fundamentals Award

Awarded to a university-level or GPM practitioner-level student who has excelled in project or research work related to sustainable project management.

Partner of the Year

Recognizes a GPM training partner for outstanding commitment to sustainable development and excellence in delivering GPM services.

Recognizing sustainable projects

GPM presented the Sustainable Project of the Year from 2011 through 2025. Project recognition now continues as the PMI Sustainability Project Award, developed in collaboration with GPM through the PMI–GPM Joint Venture.

Nominations open in February and close in April, and are submitted on PMI’s website. Apply at PMI.org →

Note: Submissions must demonstrate alignment with sustainability principles, including people, planet, and prosperity. Judges evaluate based on submitted materials only. All decisions are final.


Submission Timeline

Submissions are accepted year-round. To be considered for the current calendar year, submit by September 22nd.

Nominating a project? The PMI Sustainability Project Award follows PMI’s calendar: nominations open in February and close in April, and are submitted on PMI’s website.

Key Date

Timeline

Final Submission Deadline October 17th
Review Period by October 24th
Final Selection by Commission by November 14th
Award Winners Announced -
Individual Award December 10th
Fundamentals Award December 12th
Partner of the Year December 16th

Download the Award Applications

The forms below are for the Individual and Student / Fundamentals awards. Project nominations are made on PMI’s website for the PMI Sustainability Project Award, February through April.

PDF

Individual Sustainability Award Application | Word Version

PDF Student / Fundamentals Award Application | Word Version

The PMI Sustainability Project Award

We are proud to collaborate with the Project Management Institute on the PMI Sustainability Project Award, developed through the PMI–GPM Joint Venture. It brings the work GPM began in 2011 to one of the profession’s largest stages, as one of four categories in the PMI Project of the Year Awards.

The award honors completed projects that weave sustainability — environmental, social, and economic — through planning, delivery, and outcomes, and that build lasting resilience for organizations, communities, or natural systems.

Sustainability principles built into planning, execution, and delivery, with measurable environmental or resource-efficiency benefits.
Environmental, social, and economic considerations balanced through sound project management to drive sustainable outcomes.
Innovative or regenerative solutions that support long-term sustainability for organizations, communities, or natural systems.

How to apply

Nominations are submitted on PMI’s website, not through GPM. The window opens in February and closes in April each year. Projects must have been completed within 18 months of the deadline, and may be from any industry, sector, or region.

Nominations for 2026 have closed. Winners are announced at the PMI Global Summit in October, and the 2027 window opens this December.

Apply at PMI.org →


Individual Sustainability Award

Established in 2011, this award is bestowed upon an individual for their efforts in advancing sustainability in project management. Recipients are nominated by their peers.

Past Recipients

2025Practitioners & Strategists: Felipe Moraes Borges, Brazil  •  Thought Leaders & Educators: Eman Ali Deabil, Bahrain
2024 — Pauline Melnyk
2023 — Prawindra Mukhia, New Zealand
2021 — Evgeniya Chistova, GPM-b, Russia
2020 — Oxana Klimenko, Russia
2019 — Winardi Sani, Indonesia
2018 — Mohd Faisal Abdur Rani, Malaysia
2017 — Richard Podos, United States
2016 — Aaron Troy Cassar, Australia
2015 — Dr. Norsaidatul Akmar Mazelan, Malaysia
2014 — Ron Schipper, Netherlands
2013 — A.J. Gilbert Silvius, Netherlands
2012 — Paola Morghese, Italy
2011 — Jeff Hodgkinson, United States

Partner of the Year

Launched in 2015 to recognize outstanding commitment to regenerative and sustainable development and excellence in the delivery of GPM services.

Past Recipients

2025 — Innovatel S.r.l., Italy
2024 — Algonquin College, Canada
2023 — Kalatea, Poland
2021 — UCI Global School of Project Management, Costa Rica
2020 — pm2pm, Poland
2019 — PM Alliance, Russia
2018 — Skema Business School, France
2017 — Language Works Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
2016 — UCI Global School of Project Management, Costa Rica
2015 — Language Works Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

The Fundamentals Award

Reintroduced in 2023 to recognize a student who excelled in project or research work focusing on applied sustainable project management.

Past Recipients

2025 — Duyen Le, United States 
2024 — Unbestowed
2023 — Yanira Bonificia Pop, Costa Rica

Sustainable Project of the Year 2011–2025

Now the PMI Sustainability Project Award

Established in 2011, this award honored a project and its leadership team for exceptional integration of sustainability throughout the project lifecycle. It recognized not just delivery success, but the meaningful impact a project had across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

To win, a project had to show how sustainability was woven into both the process (how the project was managed) and the outcomes (what the project delivered), using recognized best practices such as the P5™ Standard and PRiSM™ methodology. That work now continues through the PMI–GPM Joint Venture, and we are proud to see it recognized on a global stage alongside PMI.

Aga Khan Foundation — Sustainable Project of the Year 2024

Sustainable Project of the Year 2024: Aga Khan Foundation

Past Recipients

2025 — Danau Tok Uban Floating Solar Power Plant — Cypark Resources Berhad, Malaysia
2024 — Aga Khan Foundation
2023 — Christchurch City Council, CCSD Project Manager’s Toolkit, New Zealand
2022 — New Leadership Campus — Petronas, Malaysia
2021 — Wastewater and Sanitation Solution at Yen So, Hanoi, Vietnam
2020 — Hiatus due to COVID-19
2019 — Smog Free Project, South Korea
2018 — Climeworks — “Methanation with CO2 captured from air”
2017 — Sacramento Kings — The Golden 1 Center, USA
2016 — Green Infrastructure and Sustainable University Environment, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
2015 — Design and installation of cost-effective aerial security lighting, Mbabane Shanty Towns
2014 — Paseo Cayala Program, Guatemala City
2013 — South Australian Water Corporation — The Adelaide Desalination Plant
2012 — Sarfraz Malik, Pakistan — Renewable Energy Application to Mobile Data Networks
2011 — Mark Reeson, United Kingdom — Early Hazard Removal of Nuclear Power