PMI Fellow Award Nominations

Our most prestigious individual honor, the PMI Fellow Award recognizes the leaders in PMI who most embody our spirit and cultural values.

PMI Fellow Award Nominations

Our most prestigious individual honor, the PMI Fellow Award recognizes the leaders in PMI who most embody our spirit and cultural values.
PMI Fellow Award

The PMI Fellow Award is the highest and most prestigious individual award presented by Project Management Institute.

The PMI Fellow Award recognizes the exceptional achievements of PMI Members who exemplify extraordinary and impactful leadership, and meaningful and widely recognized contributions to the profession of Project Management and to PMI.

This distinction aims to inspire others and reinforce the values and mission of the organization, in the following areas:

Excellence in Leadership: Reflects broad professional influence and strategic achievements.

Excellence through Impact on the Project Management Profession: Wide-reaching effects of an individual's work or contributions across various areas, sectors, or communities.

Excellence in Volunteer Service Commitment to PMI: A relational and selfless approach to leadership, emphasizing the well-being and development of others.

Why submit a nomination

Confer PMI’s highest individual honor

The PMI Fellow Award is the highest and most prestigious individual award presented by Project Management Institute for service to the Institute and the project management profession. This award recognizes PMI members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of both the profession and the PMI community.

Recognize a role model

The PMI Fellow Award recognizes the leaders in PMI who most embody our spirit and cultural values. Recipients demonstrate passion for the project management profession and PMI, and altruistic motivations for their work and its outcomes. They are role models in ethics, leadership, inclusiveness, and willingness to generously share their knowledge. Their contributions have impact well beyond their own local organizations and chapters.

Key dates
3 February 2025 - Nominations open
18 April 2025 - Nominations close
On or before 5 May - Finalist Candidates notified
August 2025 - Honorees notified
November 2025 at Global Summit - PMI Fellow Award presented

Nominee Eligibility

  • Nominees must have demonstrated measurable and meaningful expertise in project management, contributing to PMI for at least ten of the past fifteen years.
  • Nominees must be a PMI member in good standing at the time of nomination.
  • Current Board of Directors, Nomination Committee, BVAC members, PMI team members, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to be nominated for this award.

Nominator Eligibility

  • Nominators must be current PMI Region Mentors, Global Volunteer Leaders (including designated project teams), or current PMI Fellows.
  • PMI team members, Board of Directors, and Nomination Committee, and BVAC members are not eligible to nominate an individual for this award.
  • Current PMI team members, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to act as a nominator for this award.
  • PMI Fellows serving on the candidate review committees are not eligible to be a nominator or write a letter of reference.

Excellence in Leadership

  • Recognizes individuals whose leadership has advanced and influenced PMI and the project management profession on a broad scale.
  • Recognizes those who have shaped the project management profession's future through thought leadership—making it easy and being welcoming to others with groundbreaking initiatives, and impactful contributions that elevate standards, practices, and overall visibility.
  • Recognizes those that create an inclusive environment within the project management profession, encouraging collaboration and empowering others to contribute and thrive within the profession. Their actions propel the profession's ongoing growth, innovation, and long-term success while supporting its continuous evolution.

Excellence through Impact on the Project Management Profession

  • Recognizes individuals whose commitment to excellence and the pursuit of knowledge inspires others to grow and contribute to advancing the profession.
  • Recognizes individuals whose significant and lasting contributions, marked by demonstrable outcomes and transformative effects, demonstrate unwavering dedication and set a high standard of excellence.
  • Recognizes individuals who, fueled by a passion for exploration, have continually aspired to greater heights and expanded the boundaries of what is possible.

Excellence in Volunteer Service Commitment to PMI

  • Recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment, continuous engagement, and exceptional contributions through their service to the Institute, advancing the mission, values, and goals of the project management profession.
  • Recognizes individuals who embody dedication, integrity, and impact, they consistently go beyond expectations, inspiring, leading, and supporting others.
  • Recognizes individuals whose leadership and actions, remind us that together we can achieve more, fostering a collaborative spirit that drives the profession forward.

Process

The PMI Fellow Award follows a two-step selection process:

  • Nomination Submission:
    • An eligible nominator identifies a deserving candidate and submits a nomination letter.
  • Review and Selection:
    • An internal review committee, composed of PMI volunteers, evaluates all nominations and selects a group of finalists.
    • Finalists will be contacted and provided with instructions to submit a comprehensive package detailing their full credentials.
    • A separate team of PMI volunteers will review the finalist submissions to determine the honorees.

PMI reserves the right not to select any winner for a particular year if the evaluations performed indicate that nominations do not meet the stated criteria.

Nomination Guidelines

Each nomination must include a nomination letter, up to three pages in length, that showcases the nominee’s most impactful contributions.

As part of the submission, the nominator must disclose their relationship with the nominee, including any business, professional, or employment-related connections.

The nomination letter must adhere to the following formatting guidelines:

  • Font: Arial, 11-point:
  • Spacing: Single-spaced
  • Margins: Standard (1 inch/2.5 cm)
  • All submissions must be completed through PMI's designated award platform in PDF format. Submissions received through any other method will not be considered.

Nominate

The overview should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Nomination letters must be submitted in English, the official business language of PMI Global.
  • When preparing your nomination letter, please follow the structure outlined below to provide a comprehensive and clear submission. Each section plays a critical role in presenting the nominee's qualifications for consideration.
  • The nomination letter should adhere to the following guidelines:
    • Section 1: Nominee Introduction
      • Provide a brief introduction of the nominee.
      • Include details about your relationship with the nominee and how you are familiar with their work and contributions.
    • Section 2: Significant Contributions to PMI and the Profession
      • Highlight the nominee's most impactful contributions to PMI and the project management profession.
      • Organize your examples around the PMI Fellow Award Pillars and criteria.
    • Section 3: Embodiment of PMI Culture Values
      • Explain why you believe this individual embodies the character of a PMI Fellow.
      • Reflect on how the nominee demonstrates PMI's cultural values.

Initial Nomination Requirements

Nominator submits a one- or two-page nomination letter signed by the author and includes:

  • Describe the contributions deserving the award, including why the contributions meet the stated criteria, represent an improved or enhanced use of project management, or make a lasting contribution to the profession
  • Description of the contributions deserving the award, including why the contributions meet the stated criteria, represent an improved or enhanced use of project management, or make a lasting contribution to the profession
  • Highlights the impact, outcomes, and results of the nominee’s efforts
  • Documents personal knowledge of the nominee’s contributions
  • Notes length and type of association with the nominee
  • States any direct personal or professional relationship with the nominee
  • Includes the nominator’s contact information (phone number and email address)
  • The lead nominator and each additional nominator also need to sign the PMI Permissions and Release Form.
  • For more information on completing a thorough nomination, please see our PMI Fellow Award Nomination Guide

Finalist Requirements

Nominations advancing to the finalist round will receive detailed instructions on finalist package requirements and the submission process. For more information, please refer to the FAQ guidance document.

An internal review committee, composed of PMI volunteers, evaluates all nominations and selects a group of finalists.

Finalists will be notified no later than 5 May and provided with detailed instructions to submit a comprehensive package outlining their full credentials. Nominators whose submissions were not selected to move forward will also be contacted.

  • Crafting a Strong Nomination:
    • Focus on Impact: Rather than listing a comprehensive set of activities, emphasize contributions that demonstrate measurable and meaningful impacts on PMI and the project management profession.
    • Align with Criteria: Ensure all highlighted contributions align with the award’s stated criteria and pillars to enhance the nomination’s relevance and strength.
    • Be Specific: Provide clear examples of how the nominee’s contributions have advanced the profession, improved practices, or driven innovation within PMI and the professional community through leadership, impact, and volunteer service. 
  • Prohibition of Active Campaigning:
    • Active campaigning for nominations by both nominator and nominee is prohibited to ensure fairness and impartiality in the nomination process. Examples of activities that are considered active campaigning include:
      • Soliciting nominations directly from eligible nominators.
      • Promoting oneself through social media or other platforms specifically for PMI Fellow Award candidacy.

Confidentiality:

Nominations must remain strictly confidential. Nominators and nominees are expected to uphold and adhere to strict confidentiality throughout the process. This confidentiality ensures unbiased evaluation and preserves the integrity of the selection process.

Nominee Eligibility

  • Nominees must have demonstrated measurable and meaningful expertise in project management, contributing to PMI for at least ten of the past fifteen years.
  • Nominees must be a PMI member in good standing at the time of nomination.
  • Current Board of Directors, Nomination Committee, BVAC members, PMI team members, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to be nominated for this award.

Nominator Eligibility

  • Nominators must be current PMI Region Mentors, Global Volunteer Leaders (including designated project teams), or current PMI Fellows.
  • PMI team members, Board of Directors, and Nomination Committee, and BVAC members are not eligible to nominate an individual for this award.
  • Current PMI team members, PMI contractors, and/or PMI consultants are not eligible to act as a nominator for this award.
  • PMI Fellows serving on the candidate review committees are not eligible to be a nominator or write a letter of reference.