Dear Members,

Project management used to be judged by a simple test: on time, on budget, to specification. That test still matters, but it no longer tells the whole story. Today's projects run on data and AI, carry sustainability targets, and often become critical infrastructure the moment they go live. Leading them takes more than a good schedule. It takes judgement, resilience, and the ability to decide under uncertainty.

That is the focus of this year's PMI Switzerland conference, Swiss Iconic Projects & Innovations: The Future of Project Leadership, taking place in Zurich on 29 October 2026.

Why this conference, why now

Projects are changing, and so is the role of the people who lead them. Today's projects are shaped by technology, sustainability goals, and public expectations, and many outlive the teams that built them. As AI takes on more routine tasks, project leaders increasingly add value through sound judgement, decision-making under uncertainty, and the ability to lead people across generations and disciplines.

This conference is built around that shift. You will hear from people behind some of the most demanding projects in Switzerland and beyond, exchange ideas with peers across industries, and take home fresh perspectives for your own work.

Morning keynotes

Dominique Gisin, Olympic Champion

We are proud to welcome Olympic champion Dominique Gisin as our keynote speaker. Olympic gold medallist, physicist, and former member of the Swiss National Alpine Ski Team, Dominique brings a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and high performance. Drawing on her experience at the highest level of competitive sport, she will share lessons on performing under pressure, overcoming setbacks, setting ambitious goals, and staying focused on long-term success.

Project Management at the Extreme: How to Prepare on Earth for Space

Dr Eleonore Cassandra Poli, CSEM

Space is perhaps the ultimate environment for project management, where there is little room for error.

This session takes the conference theme to its most extreme setting.

Track 1: Iconic Projects

Exploring the Building Blocks of the Universe at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN

Dr Olaf Steinkamp, CERN Member

The Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, and one of the most complex scientific undertakings ever undertaken. A rare opportunity to hear from inside an organisation where international collaboration and scientific precision operate on an extraordinary scale.

Leading Beyond the Gantt Chart: AI, Innovation and the Future of Project Management

Christian Pieper, Nestlé

The Gantt chart has long been a symbol of project management. As AI and innovation reshape how work is planned and delivered, this session asks what project leadership looks like beyond the traditional tools.

Preserving Heritage, Enabling the Future: The Strategic Heritage Plan for UN Geneva

Cedric Kusendova, United Nations Geneva Office

Few buildings carry as much history as the home of the United Nations in Geneva. Projects that balance heritage with future needs raise questions many project leaders face: how to respect what exists while making room for what comes next.

Holcim's Decarbonization Projects

Roberto Nores and Sandeep Garg, Holcim

Decarbonisation is one of the defining challenges for industry today, and it increasingly lands on the desks of project leaders. A view into how a global building materials company approaches this challenge through its projects.

How Can Decades of Risk Expertise, Data and Modelling Be Made More Accessible to Large Organisations Through Technology?

Anja Naegli, Swiss Re

Every organisation holds valuable knowledge, but making it usable is a challenge in itself. This session addresses a question relevant to anyone working at the intersection of expertise, data, and technology.

Track 2: Innovations

Doing Things Right in the Age of AI

Luca Gambini and Alessandro di Giulli, Sunrise

AI is changing how projects are run, but speed and automation are not the same as doing things right. A timely session for any project leader navigating AI in practice.

CS to UBS Client Migration: "The Largest Client Data Migration in Financial Services M&A History"

Daniel Simonet, UBS

Few Swiss projects in recent years have attracted as much attention as the integration of Credit Suisse into UBS. A chance to hear from inside a migration of exceptional scale.

From Project to Critical Infrastructure: Lessons from 10 Years of Building the eBill Ecosystem

Daniel Berger, SIX Group

What happens when a project becomes infrastructure that people rely on every day? Ten years of building an ecosystem offers a long-term perspective that few projects can provide.

The Decision Advantage: What Swiss Iconic Projects Teach Us About Leadership Under Uncertainty

Dominique Chopard, EMCH + Berger

Uncertainty is part of every major project, and how leaders decide under it often determines the outcome. This session connects Swiss iconic projects with one of the most important leadership skills of all.

Track 3: Made in Switzerland

Building Bridges: Why Intergenerational Intelligence Needs to Be Added to Boardrooms Today

Stephan Hillert, Millennials4Boards

Organisations today bring together more generations than ever. This session makes the case for bringing that diversity of perspective to where decisions are made.

Orchestrating the Technology Programme of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

Chan Heng Hong, International Olympic Committee

Few projects come with a deadline as fixed or as public as the Olympic Games. A technology programme on this scale is a unique case study in coordination at one of the world's most high-profile events.

Where the Money Really Goes: The Five Silent Cost Drivers in Project Portfolio Management

Mike Portworsnick, Change Factory

Portfolio costs are not always where we expect them to be. A practical focus for anyone responsible for budgets, priorities, and value across multiple projects.

The Decision Before the Decision: Who Is Accountable When AI Shapes the Options?

Roland Bartl Andreoli, Grow2Flow

AI can shape decisions before they are formally made. This session explores how to recognise AI's influence, challenge what it makes visible or leaves out, and define clear points for human judgement, accountability, and escalation.

Advancing Project Management Culture: A Swiss Perspective

Anna Cisotta, Association of Project Management

Project management is evolving from a delivery function into a strategic business capability. This session explores how strong governance, portfolio alignment, and leadership can build a project management culture that connects strategy with execution.

Closing keynotes

Sustainable High Performance for AI-Era Project Managers & Teams: Lessons from an Olympian

Livia Altmann, Human Intelligence 2.0

Performing at a high level is one thing; sustaining it is another. Over a twenty-year ice hockey career, Livia Altmann captained the Swiss women's national team, won Olympic bronze, and played in the American college league, gaining first-hand experience of how performance, pressure, and team dynamics work when the stakes are high. She studied economics at the University of Zurich and Colgate University, began her career in consulting at EY, and later founded Human Intelligence 2.0, where she works with leaders and teams who want to perform at a high level with positive and sustainable energy. Her keynote brings the discipline of elite sport to the realities of project work in the AI era.

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Beyond Delivery: The Next Era of Project Leadership

Pat Lucey, Member of the PMI Global Board of Directors

If delivery is no longer the whole story, what comes next? A fitting keynote to bring together the themes of the day.

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The SIX PM Community – How SIX Connects and Develops Project Professionals

Evelyne Uhler and Sebastiaan Weekers, SIX

Strong project professionals rarely develop alone. A look at how a community can connect and develop project talent within an organisation.

The day closes with a networking apéro, a chance to continue the conversation with speakers and fellow members.

With Thanks to Our Sponsors

A conference like this would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our Gold Sponsors, Change Factory AG and itdesign GmbH; Bronze Sponsor, Capture (Switzerland) AG; and Venue Sponsor, SIX Group, for their commitment and support in making PM Conference 2026 possible. Their contribution helps us bring together inspiring speakers, ambitious projects, and the project management community for a day of learning, exchange, and connection.

Thank you for being part of PM Conference 2026.

Seats are limited – register now

Remaining places are going quickly. Don't miss the chance to hear an Olympic champion and the people behind some of the most ambitious projects in Switzerland and beyond, and to help shape the conversation about where our profession is heading.

👉 https://pmi-switzerland.ch/events/pm-conference

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