FuturePMO, Wellingtone’s flagship non-profit event for PMO professionals, kicked off its eighth year on October 30, 2025, once again drawing a sold-out crowd of delegates eager to learn, share, and grow in a fun, inspiring, sales-free environment.
This year’s “Roarsome PMO” theme transported attendees to the Jurassic era, with dinosaurs, prehistoric plants, bones, and fossils transforming the venue. Professionally, however, the event looked ahead, featuring a packed agenda focused on modern career development, bold conversations, and the critical role of emerging technology in PMO evolution.
Stephen Carver (Cranfield University) opened the event with his trademark fast-paced, irreverent style, energizing the audience. He then passed the baton to Sheilina Somani (Positively Project Management), whose insights on communication set the stage for this year’s Brave Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion. That discussion was carried forward by Anuli Changa (Creative Facilitator, Trainer, and Consultant), who explored the importance of building allyship in the workplace. Joining the Emerging Professionals and Talent stream were Federico Vargas (PMI board member and accomplished guitarist, as the delighted audience discovered) and Kiara Orchard (APM Emerging Project Professional of the Year 2024). Together, they examined a key priority for PMOs moving forward: the evolving nature of project management career paths.
“It was inspiring to hear from the young professionals at the heart of the PMO’s future as the sector continues to evolve and grow,” said Emma Arnaz-Pemberton, Consulting VP at Wellingtone. “Flagship educational programs by APM and others are creating diverse entry points into the profession—not just for young people but for career changers, especially veterans. This year, we were thrilled to partner with IntoUniversity, a nationwide nonprofit that helps young people realize their ambitions, reach their academic potential, develop essential skills, and gain workplace experience. We invited six of their students to join us for the day and explore what a career in project management could look like for them. As a company, we can’t wait to see how both emerging and transitioning talent will continue to elevate project management as a profession, with the PMO at its core.”
Meanwhile, attendees packed sessions led by technology experts exploring what’s possible with AI and data analytics. Among them was Baz Khinda, Wellingtone’s Commercial VP, whose presentation on AI in the PMO drew a standing-room-only crowd. “This is the most packed session I’ve ever delivered at FuturePMO,” he said. “That speaks to the level of interest in when, how, and why PMOs should adopt AI. I was honored to showcase Microsoft’s brand-new Copilot AI Project Manager Agent within Microsoft Planner Premium, along with PMO-focused generative AI examples using Marty, the PMO Copilot AI agent, soon to be available in the Wellingtone Accelerator+ Planner Power App. I think curiosity about AI is matched by some caution. But PMOs who embrace it strategically, especially in the context of Project Online’s retirement in 2026 and Planner’s new, natively available AI capabilities, will be able to truly leverage everything the technology has to offer, elevating their performance and impact at a business-critical level.”
Delegates were also eager to share their positive experiences at FuturePMO. Among them was Abby Henderson, Zurich’s Head of UK Portfolio & PMO (UK Operations). “This was the second FuturePMO I’ve attended, and both times it genuinely felt like a better experience than other conferences,” she said. “Reflecting on why that is, I think it feels inclusive and professional, but with the right touch of fun, and the content is relatable.” Commenting on FuturePMO’s no-sales approach, Abby added, “The event doesn’t have a bunch of awkward vendor booths—and the few that are there, representing APM and PMI, are completely relevant to the audience.”
In the afternoon, Wellingtone’s CEO, Vince Hines, hosted his ever-popular Fireside Chat, welcoming APM’s CEO, Adam Boddison, for a lively discussion and audience Q&A. “It was a real pleasure to talk with Adam about the key issues shaping the future of project management—and, indeed, the future of work,” Vince said. “It felt like a fitting close to a day defined by our sector’s shared enthusiasm for what’s ahead.”
The day concluded with a captivating keynote from Dr. Dean Lomax, award-winning paleontologist, author, presenter, and co-host of the primetime TV series Dinosaur Britain. His unique career journey inspired attendees to think creatively about their own professional development paths. And, as always, hosts, speakers, and delegates kept the energy going with evening drinks and networking. “I’m thrilled by the quality, relevance, and energy that all our speakers and attendees brought to this year’s FuturePMO,” Vince said. “Our philosophy has always been to keep the wow factor high and the ticket price low, and once again we’ve achieved that and more. I want to thank our amazing Wellingtone team for their creativity and hard work in delivering another outstanding event. We’re already looking forward to next year’s FuturePMO, which will feature a Ghostbusters-inspired theme. We can’t wait to welcome familiar faces and new delegates in 2026.”
Tickets for FuturePMO 2026 are available now at www.futurepmo.com. Book before the 12th December 2025 and use the code Slimer at the checkout to benefit from a 20% early bird discount.
