REPORT
By Adam Boddison, OBE
CEO of APM
United Kingdom
A message to project professionals from the CEO
of the Association for Project Management
Over the past three months, the pace of change across our profession has continued to accelerate. Here, at the Association for Project Management (APM), we have been focused on ensuring that all project professionals are fully equipped to lead confidently through these times of change.
A defining theme over the past couple of years has been the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on project delivery. As highlighted in our recent AI trends for 2026 article, the question is no longer whether AI will shape our work, but how we respond. We are entering an era of hybrid human–AI collaboration, where intelligent systems increasingly support planning, risk management and delivery. This shift creates an opportunity to free up project professionals so they can focus on strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and more complex decision-making.
Alongside this, APM has continued to champion excellence across the profession. It was particularly encouraging to see project professionals recognised in the UK’s 2026 New Year Honours, reflecting the vital contribution our community makes across infrastructure, innovation, health and beyond. These accolades reinforce what we already know, which is that project delivery is central to societal progress.
Recognition and learning remain core to APM’s mission. Over recent weeks, we have shared insights from award-winning initiatives such as the Home Office’s Hendon Evolution Programme, demonstrating the impact of strong leadership, clear vision and disciplined execution in delivering complex transformation. By showcasing these examples, we aim to provide practical lessons that you can apply in your own work and your own contexts.
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To read entire report, click here
How to cite this work: Boddison, A. (2026). A message to project professionals from the CEO of APM, APM Update for PMWJ, End of March 2026, report, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue IV, April. Available online at: https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pmwj163-Apr2026-Boddison-APM-Update-for-PMWJ.pdf
About the Author
Prof. Adam Boddison, OBE
Buckinghamshire, UK
Adam Boddison joined APM as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2021 having formally held CEO and senior executive roles in multiple educational organisations. Beyond APM, Adam has a portfolio of consultancy and volunteering supporting organisations and initiatives that benefit society.
Adam is a visiting Professor at the Stranmills University College and the University of Leicester (School of Business). He has authored several books and is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist. In 2022, Adam was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
As CEO of APM, Adam is a leading figure in the UK’s project management professional and business communities, a popular keynote speaker at major events, and a prominent voice for the project profession with the UK government and general public.
About APM
APM (Association for Project Management) is a professional membership organisation that sets the standards for the project profession and raises its profile. As a registered charity, APM delivers learning and networking opportunities, qualifications, research, resources, events and best practice guidance for the project community, helping the profession deliver better. APM is the only chartered organisation representing the project profession in the world with over 45,000 individual members and more than 470 corporate partners based across 140 countries. For more, visit https://www.apm.org.uk/
