Conference Overview

The Project Management Institute (PMI) announced the successful conclusion of its 18th Project Management South Asia Conference (PMSAC) 2026, held at Bhartiya City in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 5 October 2026. The flagship annual event, themed “MORE, Together Future‑Ready In the Age Of AI”, attracted more than 850 delegates and featured over 20 speakers representing project professionals, industry leaders, policymakers and emerging talent from across South Asia.

Key Themes and Speakers

The conference opened with a conversation between Amit Goyal, Managing Director – South Asia, Project Management Institute, and bestselling author and motivational speaker Chetan Bhagat. Both highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping project success, emphasizing the need to blend technology with strategic thinking, human judgment, adaptability, leadership and execution. Throughout the three‑day program, keynote sessions, panel discussions and interactive conversations explored AI‑driven transformation, organisational readiness, the role of technology in creating human impact, and the leadership choices required in the AI era.

Senior leaders who addressed the audience included:

  • Ajit Chauhan, Chairman, Amity University Online
  • Ravi Kumar Dikshit, Global Consult Delivery Lead, Kyndryl
  • Dr. Geetha Manjunath, Founder, CEO and CTO, NIRAMAI Health Analytix
  • John Dawber, Vice President & Managing Director, Global Business Services, Novo Nordisk
  • Usha Srikanth, Managing Partner – FutureNow Centre Leader (India), IBM Consulting
  • Sumit Taneja, Senior Vice President & Global Head of AI Consulting & Implementation, EXL

These speakers shared practical perspectives on scaling transformation, assessing organisational AI readiness, and aligning technology with human impact to meet evolving workforce expectations.

Notable Insights

Amit Goyal referenced McKinsey’s 2025 State of AI report, noting that only 39 % of organisations report an enterprise‑level EBIT impact from AI, underscoring the challenge of converting AI adoption into measurable business outcomes. He asserted that India’s robust technology ecosystem positions the country well for the next phase of growth, but success will depend on how effectively organisations combine technology with human judgment, leadership and execution.

Closing Remarks

The conference reinforced PMI’s commitment to building future‑ready professionals and advancing project management practice across South Asia. Attendees left with actionable insights on navigating rapid technological change, increasing project complexity and meeting the evolving demands of the professional world.