This year PMI Switzerland reaches an important milestone—our 25th anniversary.

For 25 years, our chapter has been shaped by a strong community of professionals, volunteers, and partners who believe in the value of project management to drive progress. This anniversary clebration was an event to remember for many years to come. Thank you for all that have joined us in Biel to celebrate what has been built, but also to look ahead and continue strengthening our impact in our community.

Our Focus for 2026

In 2026, PMI Switzerland will focus on a set of strategic priorities that support our continued growth, relevance, and contribution to the profession:

• Member & Volunteer Engagement

We will strengthen the experience of our members and volunteers by improving onboarding, increasing engagement opportunities, and offering events across Switzerland with new locations such as Lucerne, Bern and others.

• Conference 2026

We will deliver our flagship conference, this year showcasing some of the greatest industries, projects, innovations and excellence in project management.

• Partnerships

We will enhance PMI Switzerland’s visibility by building and expanding partnerships

with corporate, academic, and non-profit organisations.

• Talent Acquisition & Academia Outreach

We will continue to engage young professionals and want to expand our collaboration

with universities to support the next generation of project leaders.

• Women in Project Management

We will further advance initiatives that support women in leadership and professional

growth within project management.

• Social Impact

We will strengthen our role in applying project management to create positive social

impact, contributing to sustainable development and community resilience.

Recognising Our Volunteers and Leaders

The strength of PMI Switzerland lies in its people.

We would like to sincerely thank our volunteers and board members for their ongoing commitment, professionalism, and dedication. Their contributions—across events, partnerships, operations, and community building—are essential to the success of our chapter.

As we celebrate this milestone, we recognise that this milestone has only been possible thanks to the collective efforts of those who have contributed over time. 

Looking Ahead

2026 represents both continuity and ambition.

We will continue to build on the strong foundation of our chapter while focusing on delivering value to our members, strengthening our partnerships, and expanding our impact across Switzerland.

We invite you to be part of this journey—whether by engaging actively as a member, contributing as a volunteer, or joining our PMI Switzerland events for the first time.

Together, we will continue to grow our community and advance the profession.

Mafalda Amaro
President, PMI Switzerland

Ready, set, go — the Mentoring Program 2026 has officially started. Following the closure of the application phase and a dedicated matching process, our mentoring pairs are now ready to embark on their journey from April to December.

A sincere thank you to everyone who applied and dedicated time and thought to the process — your commitment is what makes this initiative possible.

Each year, we see a remarkable diversity of profiles, experiences, and industries, all connected by a shared interest in project management. This diversity remains a key strength of the program, enabling richer discussions and broader perspectives.

To all mentoring pairs, we wish you a constructive and rewarding journey ahead. Mentoring is not only about sharing knowledge, but also about learning through dialogue, reflection, and different viewpoints. The value of the experience builds over time, through consistency, openness, and active participation.

We trust that this program will provide meaningful insights and support both personal and professional development throughout the months ahead.

For those who were not able to participate this year, or who are interested in future editions, to learn more, please contact the mentoring team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On March 26, PMI hosted its annual PMXPO, one of the largest virtual events for project professionals, attracting over 100,000 registrations.The event is free and offers expert insights, case studies, practical tools, and PDUs at no cost.

I joined this year with a simple question in mind: Is PMXPO worth my time?

Three Key Highlights

1. Thoughtful Event Setup
Registered participants gain access to the platform one day in advance, allowing time to build a profile, explore sessions, and create a personalized agenda. During the event, you can explore multiple session formats, the exhibit hall, and networking features. Luckily, most content remains available afterward on demand, offering flexibility for busy professionals.

On-demand access to the platform for latecomers:
https://www.pmi.org/shop/p-/digital-product/pmxpo-2026/ve008

2. Focused and Relevant
The program is structured across keynote speakers, breakout sessions, bonus sessions, and sponsored content.

This year’s keynotes centered on complexity. As our world becomes increasingly complex and unpredictable, the general sessions explored what this means for project managers and the profession. Key questions included:

• What drives complexity?
• How do we navigate growing complexity?
• Which skills are essential to remain relevant?

Breakout and bonus sessions complemented the keynotes with concrete case studies, expert insights, and actionable tools.

3. Interview with Chief Catalyst from Bayer
The keynote session “2026: Pulse of the Profession” with PMI’s CEO Pierre Le Manh featured PMI’s latest research and vision, as well as an interview with Michael Lurie, Chief Catalyst at Bayer (at minute 34:35). Michael shares his insights on Bayer’s major organizational transformation from a hierarchical model to what they call Dynamic Shared Ownership. A very valuable interview to listen to!

The Exhibit Hall: A Gateway to PMI Resources

The virtual exhibit hall primarily features PMI-curated booths covering basic topics and emerging trends. Each booth aggregates resources such as blogs, podcasts, and certification information.

It serves as an easy, user-friendly entry point into PMI’s broader ecosystem—particularly useful for newcomers seeking orientation or for those looking for specific content.

Final Takeaway

PMXPO is a valuable event for staying current, gaining fresh perspectives, and finding inspiration in the diverse field of project management. While not perfect (particularly in terms of networking feature performance), it is a low-cost, low-barrier opportunity for professional growth.

Who Should Attend?

• Early-career professionals looking to understand the expectations and opportunities within project management
• Experienced practitioners exploring their next move
• Professionals who prefer virtual to in-person events
• Certification holders looking for PDUs ;)

In today’s rapidly shifting organisational landscape, Project Managers are no longer just implementers of plans - they are navigators of uncertainty, catalysts of transformation, and anchors of stability for their teams. As Swiss organisations continue to undergo major change and restructuring, the ability to lead with clarity, resilience, and agility has become a defining professional advantage.

On 27 May, the Swiss Project Management community will gather at SIX for an interactive workshop designed to strengthen exactly these capabilities: Navigating Change: How to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty as a Project Manager. This session offers a rare opportunity to step back from day-to-day pressures and reflect on what navigating change truly means in your own professional context.

If this resonates with you, you’re warmly invited to explore the details of the workshop and secure your spot on pmi-switzerland.ch

Why This Workshop Matters Now

Across industries, from financial services to technology, FMCG, and consulting, change is no longer episodic. It is continuous. Project Managers are expected to deliver results while managing shifting priorities, evolving stakeholder expectations, and increasing organisational complexity.

This workshop creates a space to explore three themes essential for thriving in such environments:

• Change Agility - How to adapt quickly and guide others through ambiguity.
• Resilience and Wellbeing - How to sustain performance without compromising personal balance.
• Leadership Behaviours - How to show up as a steady, credible, and empowering leader during transformation.

Rather than offering generic frameworks, the session draws on the collective experience of participants Project Managers who are living these challenges every day. Through facilitated reflection and peer exchange, attendees will uncover practical insights that are directly applicable to their own roles.

What Participants Will Gain

By the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with:

• Insights: A deeper understanding of how to navigate change effectively, enriched by the diverse approaches of fellow Project Managers across the Swiss ecosystem.
• Actions: Concrete steps to strengthen personal leadership, resilience, and wellbeing in times of uncertainty.
• Connections: New relationships and a stronger professional network built through meaningful dialogue and shared experience.

This is not a lecture. It is a collaborative, energising, and highly practical learning experience.

 A special thank-you to the SIX PM Community and SIX Group for sponsoring the venue for this event. Your support helps make this meaningful and high-impact learning experience possible.

Meet the Facilitator: Matt Lanfear, PhD | Executive Coach to Leaders Driving Change

The workshop will be led by Matt Lanfear, PhD, an Executive Coach with extensive experience supporting leaders driving change in global financial institutions, multinational corporations, and high-growth technology startups. Matt helps leaders to accelerate business transformation, enhance financial performance and increase leadership effectiveness.

Matt brings:

• Over 25 years of experience as a Finance professional in roles spanning Business Transformation and Corporate Restructuring, M&A, and Finance and Accounting
• Professionally-trained as an Executive Coach and Leadership Team Coach and accredited with the two leading coaching bodies, the ICF and EMCC 
• A proven track record coaching leaders across the Banking, Financial Services, PE/VC, Automotive, FMCG, Consulting, and Technology sectors over the past 9 years
• Deep familiarity with the Swiss Project Management community as a PMP and Swiss Chapter member since 2004

Matt’s approach blends strategic insight with human-centred coaching, helping leaders accelerate transformation while strengthening their own effectiveness and wellbeing.

A Space to Learn, Reflect, and Grow

Whether you are leading a complex transformation, managing shifting organisational priorities, or simply seeking to strengthen your leadership in uncertain times, this workshop offers a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and grow.

It is an invitation to step into a community of peers, share experiences openly, and walk away with renewed clarity and confidence.