These awards recognise senior executives who drive organisational success through excellence in project, programme and portfolio leadership. Candidates may be nominated through open submission (self, peer, organisation or stakeholder) or identified by the Awards Committee based on demonstrated industry impact.
Open & invited nominationsC-suite & board-level leaders6 awards
Each nomination may be entered once, under a single category. Each category is judged on its own set of criteria — expand any card to see the full breakdown.
01
CEO of the Year
Project Leadership Excellence — a CEO who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in driving organisational success through effective project, programme and portfolio management.
Measurable business outcomes through revenue growth, cost optimisation, operational improvement or transformation success that strengthened organisational performance.
2
Leadership & Influence
How the nominee led teams, inspired performance, influenced stakeholders and drove change across the organisation.
3
Innovation & Strategy
Strategic thinking, innovation and digital, operational or business advancement that improved capability, competitiveness or value delivery.
4
Project / Portfolio Excellence
Effective use of structured methodologies, governance, prioritisation and execution discipline to achieve successful project, programme or portfolio outcomes.
5
Industry & Community Contribution
Contribution beyond the organisation through mentorship, thought leadership, professional engagement or broader industry and community impact.
02
CIO of the Year
Digital Transformation Leadership — a CIO who has led impactful digital-transformation initiatives delivering measurable business value, aligning technology strategy with organisational objectives.
Measurable business outcomes through revenue growth, cost optimisation, operational improvement or transformation success that strengthened organisational performance.
2
Leadership & Influence
How the nominee led teams, inspired performance, influenced stakeholders and drove change across the organisation.
3
Innovation & Strategy
Strategic thinking, innovation and digital, operational or business advancement that improved capability, competitiveness or value delivery.
4
Project / Portfolio Excellence
Effective use of structured methodologies, governance, prioritisation and execution discipline to achieve successful project, programme or portfolio outcomes.
5
Industry & Community Contribution
Contribution beyond the organisation through mentorship, thought leadership, professional engagement or broader industry and community impact.
03
COO of the Year
Operational Excellence in Project Delivery — a COO who has achieved exceptional operational performance through effective execution of projects and programmes.
Measurable business outcomes through revenue growth, cost optimisation, operational improvement or transformation success that strengthened organisational performance.
2
Leadership & Influence
How the nominee led teams, inspired performance, influenced stakeholders and drove change across the organisation.
3
Innovation & Strategy
Strategic thinking, innovation and digital, operational or business advancement that improved capability, competitiveness or value delivery.
4
Project / Portfolio Excellence
Effective use of structured methodologies, governance, prioritisation and execution discipline to achieve successful project, programme or portfolio outcomes.
5
Industry & Community Contribution
Contribution beyond the organisation through mentorship, thought leadership, professional engagement or broader industry and community impact.
04
Chief People Officer of the Year
People & Culture Leadership in Project Excellence — a senior people leader who enabled organisational success through strategic talent management, culture transformation and workforce capability.
Distinctive criterionTalent, culture & capability
View all judging criteria
1
Strategic Talent Leadership
People strategy, talent management and workforce planning that strengthened the organisation's ability to deliver projects and programmes.
2
Culture Transformation & Engagement
Shaping a high-performance, inclusive, values-driven culture supporting collaboration, accountability and delivery excellence.
3
Workforce Capability & Development
Building capability through leadership development, skills growth, succession planning and learning initiatives that enhanced delivery.
4
Impact & Organisational Value
Measurable impact through improved talent outcomes, engagement, leadership effectiveness or retention that contributed to strategic execution.
5
Leadership Influence & Change Enablement
Influencing executive decision-making, enabling change and positioning the people function as a strategic delivery partner.
05
Chief of Staff of the Year
Strategic Execution Excellence — a Chief of Staff who enabled executive leadership, aligned organisational priorities and drove execution of strategic initiatives through coordination, governance and influence.
Aligning executive priorities, translating strategy into coordinated action and ensuring focus on the most critical initiatives.
2
Governance & Execution Discipline
Strengthening governance, decision-making, accountability and follow-through to support successful execution.
3
Executive Enablement & Leadership Support
Supporting executive leadership through structured coordination, insight, communication and management of cross-functional priorities.
4
Stakeholder Coordination & Influence
Building alignment across functions, influencing stakeholders and enabling collaboration to remove barriers and accelerate execution.
5
Impact & Organisational Value
Measurable impact on strategic delivery, operational effectiveness and organisational alignment enabled through the role.
06
Chairperson of the Year
Governance Excellence in Project Leadership — a Board Chair who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in governance, strategic oversight and stewardship of project, programme and portfolio performance.
Strengthening governance effectiveness, accountability structures, decision-making discipline and board oversight in support of project success.
2
Strategic Influence
Shaping long-term direction, guiding organisational positioning and influencing strategic priorities for sustainable delivery success.
3
Value Realisation
Ensuring projects, programmes and strategic initiatives delivered measurable organisational value, benefits and intended outcomes.
4
Ethics & Stewardship
Upholding integrity, transparency, responsible governance and ethical leadership in board responsibilities and oversight.
5
Industry Contribution
Broader contribution beyond the organisation through leadership, influence, mentorship or impact within the profession or community.
Before you nominate
Eligibility & supporting documents
Eligibility
Who can enterNominees must hold (or have held within the last 12 months) the relevant executive role, with a minimum of 5–10 years' leadership experience, demonstrate direct or indirect leadership of projects/programmes, and show measurable organisational impact.
Confidentiality & fairnessAll nominations remain confidential. Active campaigning, self-promotion for candidacy and reciprocal nomination arrangements are prohibited.
One entry per categoryEach company may submit a limited number of nominations across all categories, with only one nomination per category.
Eligible submissions & periodEligible submissions include projects of any type, from any industry, and from either the public or private sector. Projects may originate from any province in South Africa. To be eligible, the project must have reached formal closure during the eligibility period, from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. The Lead Nominator is not required to be affiliated with PMI.
Nominations that are incomplete, incorrectly formatted, late, or not in English will not be considered. PMI committee members, contractors, consultants and current board members may not apply or nominate. Full rules apply per the official nomination form.
Supporting documentation
Executive SummaryMax 2 pages — overview of the nominee's leadership impact and achievements.
Case StudyMax 5 pages — key initiatives, the nominee's role, challenges, solutions, and benefits realised.
Measurable Results (where applicable)KPIs (financial, operational, digital), ROI / cost savings / revenue impact, and performance improvements.
Supporting Documentation2–3 letters of recommendation, organisational or project reports, and any media or recognition. Visual evidence encouraged.
PMI South Africa will not reimburse any expenses incurred in preparing nomination or presentation materials. PMI reserves the right not to present an award where submissions do not sufficiently demonstrate the stated criteria.
13 September 2026 · DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Nominations close 22 July 2026
Ready to put a name forward?
Submit your nomination for the Executive Leadership Awards and help us celebrate the people and projects shaping the profession.
