Leveraging Projects and PMOs to drive Sustainability

Leveraging Projects and PMOs to drive Sustainability event at AtkinsRealis on the 2nd July 2025 - Speaker: Emma-Ruth Arnaz Pemberton supported by Nigel Chisnell

Emma-Ruth Arnaz Pemberton, PMO Interest Group Lead, introduced the session, highlighting the importance of sustainability in projects, businesses, and PMOs, and set the stage for the discussion on how individuals and teams can influence sustainability. Emma focused the session on key areas for Sustainability: 

• Challenges. Emma discussed the challenges of incorporating sustainability into projects, such as higher costs, longer planning processes, and unfamiliarity with sustainable technologies. This emphasised the need for better planning and information to make sustainable choices.
• Benefits of Sustainable Practices: There are competitive advantages of adopting sustainable practices, including increased consumer preference, shareholder appeal, and compliance with future regulations. Emma also mentioned the potential for attracting better talent and fostering growth.
• The Human Element: Understanding human behaviour is key to driving sustainable thinking into Project delivery; using tactics like ‘nudging’ encourages people to make sustainable choices. Emma provided real examples of how organisations can influence behaviour without lecturing, such as using visual cues and social norms.
• Role of PMOs in Sustainability:  PMOs have a huge role in promoting sustainability, including reviewing scope and purpose, aligning projects with strategy, and incorporating sustainability into governance frameworks. Emma emphasised the need for education and fostering a culture of sustainability – and PMOs can provide a central hub to achieve this.
• Measuring Sustainability: Nigel introduced the concept of measuring sustainability in projects, mentioning the green project management organisation and the importance of incorporating sustainability into project management methodologies. Nigel also reinforced the important role PMOs offer - tracking and reporting on sustainability metrics.
• Exercise & Group Discussion: Following the presentation, Emma introduced a practical exercise for participants to consider sustainability strategies for different types of organisations. Emma provided guidelines for considering projects and programmes, infrastructure, and operational changes to achieve sustainability goals.  Picking one of the themes, event participants subsequently engaged in group discussions. They then shared their ideas, such as incorporating solar energy, rainwater harvesting, electric vehicles, and sustainable packaging in retail organisations

Paul Johnson, SWWE Network Lead