Artificial intelligence, leadership take centre stage at Waves 2026

The future of project management will be shaped not merely by advances in artificial intelligence but by leaders who combine technological expertise with human judgement, adaptability and ethical decision-making, John Dawber, Vice President and Managing Director, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, said.

He inaugurated Waves 2026, the 16th annual Project Management conference of the PMI Kerala Chapter.

John Dawber said organisations today need leaders who can move beyond functional expertise and inspire people across disciplines. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, the true differentiator will be uniquely human capabilities such as judgement, contextual understanding, accountability, empathy and ethical leadership, he added.

While AI can analyse options and accelerate decision-making, responsibility for the final decision will always rest with people, he said. Stressing that leadership is earned through trust rather than authority, Dawber urged professionals to embrace continuous learning and adaptability, describing a career not as a ladder but as a journey of constant growth.

Delivering the keynote address, Anwesha Majumdar, Regional Head of Community, PMI South Asia, outlined PMI’s evolving global vision for the profession. She said the organisation’s new strategic framework redefines project success by encouraging professionals to think beyond traditional project delivery and create broader organisational and societal impact.

The conference concluded with the presentation of the PMI Kerala Awards 2026, recognising excellence in project management, innovation, sustainability and organisational transformation.

In the Project of the Year (Large) category, BPCL emerged as the winner, while Cochin Shipyard and Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) were adjudged runners up. UST won the Project of the Year (Medium) award, with H&R Block securing the runner up position. H&R Block also won the Project of the Year (Small) category.

Aries received the Sustainability Project of the Year Award, while Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) was honoured with the Social Project of the Year Award. H&R Block won the AI Excellence Award for the Services Industry for successfully leveraging artificial intelligence to create business value. FACT secured the Innovative Manufacturing Project Award, while K-DISC won the Green Infrastructure Project Award in the Construction Industry category.