Synergist at the Global Project Management Forum 2026 in Riyadh
Connecting AI, sustainability and business purpose in one transformation
At the Global Project Management Forum 2026 in Riyadh, Ewa Palarczyk, CEO of Synergist, contributed as both a speaker and a panelist. Her presentation, “Leading Twin Transformation: How AI and Sustainability Together Redefine Purpose-Driven Value Delivery”, focused on the practical integration of artificial intelligence, sustainability and project management to create measurable business value.
The Global Project Management Forum brought together experts, business leaders and project professionals, providing diverse perspectives on artificial intelligence, sustainability, organizational transformation and the future of the project economy.
For Synergist, one question was particularly important: how can organizations ensure that technology does not become an objective in itself, but remains an enabler of better business decisions?
Twin Transformation: two forces, one direction
Growing climate commitments, evolving regulations, stakeholder expectations and accelerating technological development mean that digital and sustainable transformation can no longer be managed as separate agendas.
Synergist’s Twin Transformation approach brings together three fundamental pillars:
- purpose, which sets the direction,
- people, who multiply and scale the impact of change,
- AI, which enables faster and better-informed decisions.
The starting point should therefore not be: “How can we implement AI?” Instead, organizations should ask: “What genuine business need are we trying to address?”
Only then can leaders set priorities, make informed portfolio choices, model scenarios and build stakeholder alignment. AI implementation should address a business need, not become the purpose itself.
From energy data to better decisions
A key part of the presentation was a demonstration of a practical tool supporting:
- energy consumption analysis,
- identification of energy cost reduction opportunities,
- carbon footprint measurement and reduction,
- investment scenario modelling,
- integrated assessment of ROI, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions,
- selection of the best course of action based on current data.
The presented use case demonstrated how energy data refreshed every 15 minutes can be used to build consumption profiles, compare alternative scenarios and support decisions that consider ROI, OPEX and GHG emissions in one view.
This enables organizations to move beyond reporting what has already happened and towards deciding what should happen next.
In practice, it means connecting environmental and financial objectives. Instead of measuring the carbon footprint only for reporting purposes, organizations can evaluate which reduction actions offer the strongest business case, how quickly an investment may pay back and how it may affect operating costs.
Technology supports decisions, but does not replace them
One of the key messages of the presentation was:
Don’t start with the technology. Start with the decision you want to make.
The most valuable first step is not always a large transformation programme. It can be one practical decision, one live data stream and one measurable result.
AI can accelerate data analysis, support scenario modelling, generate early-warning risk insights and enable carbon-aware prioritization. However, responsibility for defining the purpose, assessing the consequences and making the final decision must remain human.
Stakeholder engagement is equally important. Transformation scales when people understand its purpose and take ownership of the change, not when they are simply asked to comply with new processes.
From one use case to enterprise-wide transformation
The live tool demonstration also showed how addressing one tangible energy-related challenge can become the starting point for wider organizational change.
Once validated, the approach can be extended to other areas, including production, logistics, resource management and investment portfolio planning. This allows an organization to progress from isolated AI-supported insights to an integrated process connecting strategy, portfolios, projects, execution and measurable impact.
Within this model:
- purpose defines the direction,
- portfolio management aligns the choices,
- projects turn intent into delivery,
- AI-supported insights strengthen decisions,
- execution embeds the change,
- impact creates sustainable business, environmental and social value.
Inspiration from Riyadh
The conference provided an opportunity to explore different perspectives on artificial intelligence, sustainability and business value, particularly in the context of enterprise transformation and strategically important giga-projects.
The scale and execution of Saudi Vision 2030 offered a powerful example of transformation delivered through portfolios of programmes, investments and projects. The discussions in Riyadh confirmed that the future of project management will depend not only on delivery speed, but also on an organization’s ability to integrate technology, people, business purpose and environmental responsibility.
Synergist would like to thank the organizers, speakers, panelists and participants for the valuable discussions, shared expertise and inspiration.
From measurement to action
Synergist supports organizations in designing and scaling transformations that connect:
- strategic and business objectives,
- project and portfolio management,
- energy cost reduction and operational efficiency,
- carbon footprint management,
- data analytics and AI-supported solutions,
- people and stakeholder engagement.
Which decision in your organization could become smarter with live data, scenario modelling and AI? Contact the Synergist team to explore a practical starting point.
If the article inspired you to explore how we can support your transformation journey — we’d love to talk.
📧 office@synergist.eu.com
🌐 www.synergist.eu.com
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