The 9th Annual Pharma Project & Portfolio Management 2026 concluded successfully in Goa, bringing together senior leaders, CXOs, R&D strategists, PMO heads, digital transformation experts, and execution specialists from across the pharmaceutical ecosystem. Held at Renaissance Goa Hotel from February 4th to 6th, the three-day flagship program once again reinforced its position as one of India’s most respected platforms for integrated portfolio and project leadership discussions. The Founder and Managing Director of Eminence Business Media stated that, based on...

research conducted for the learning program, project management teams often experience insufficient recognition and frequent criticism. Consequently, a gala awards evening was incorporated to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication and achievements of project managers and their teams.

Awards Lamp Lighting

She stated, “A key visual feature of the 9th annual program was the launch of the Project Management Awards 2026 – Pharma, intended to recognize outstanding achievements and motivate continued excellence.” The awards stage reflected both celebration and purpose, recognizing teams and leaders who demonstrated disciplined execution, governance maturity, digital transformation, and cultural excellence in project delivery on the day 2 evening of the conference (February 5th).

Jury Members

Guneet remarked, “The jury- Mike Teiler, John Robert, Dr. Tejal Choksi, Sanjay Bhanushali, and Dr. Parizad Elchidana- were outstanding. Despite working across different time zones, they showed no bias when adjusting their schedules for one another, and evaluated every form with the utmost impartiality.”

Guest of Honour

The awards ceremony was graced by the Guest of Honour- Director of FDA Goa- Smt. Shweta S Dessai, and evening concluded with NDTV coverage, media interactions, celebration, and a networking cocktail session, strengthening industry collaboration.

Winners 2026

The jury, with unbiased thoughts and meticulous ratings, selected 4 winners in individual and organizational categories.

Digital Transformation Project Leader – Pharma – Tahseen Rana

Excellence in Pharma Program Management (Team) – Zydus Lifesciences Limited

Jury’s Selection Awards

The most awaited moments of the evening - the Jury’s Selection Awards - a special recognition celebrating pioneers in Pharma Project and Portfolio Management. These awards were not nomination-based, they were awarded solely by the jury to recognize and celebrate the leaders whose excellence has shaped project and portfolio practices within the industry.

A special highlight of the evening was the Visionary Leadership in Pharma Project Excellence award presented to Mr. Kane, recognizing his outstanding leadership and lasting contribution to advancing project and portfolio management practices within the pharmaceutical industry.

Cipla Ltd. was awarded the Outstanding Pharma Project Culture award, celebrating it being the only organization in India with a Chief PMO and acknowledging its strong commitment to project excellence.

Partners & Support

The evening was supported by Altudo Asana, whose presence added meaningful value to the entire ceremony. With an aim to help pharmaceutical companies, they play a vital role in strengthening governance and driving excellence in project and portfolio management.

#EminenceHealthAwareness - A Defining Initiative

Project Life: Empowering Professionals with Life-Saving Skills during the

3-day conference.

Led by Guneet Hayer, a CPR and Basic Life Support awareness session emphasized that leadership is not just about governance and execution, but about readiness and responsibility. A dedicated CPR practice booth allowed delegates to learn hands-on life-saving techniques, reinforcing the importance of preparedness amid rising cardiac arrest cases among young professionals. Delegates actively participated in learning life-saving skills, making this initiative one of the most appreciated segments of the program.

The 9th Annual PPPM Conference 2026 in Goa reaffirmed that the future of pharma leadership lies at the intersection of strategy, governance, digital intelligence, disciplined execution, and human accountability.

Across three days, the conference successfully:

• Connected portfolio foresight with execution discipline

• Balanced presentation-led insights with immersive labs and simulations

• Highlighted AI and digital transformation in real-world PPM application

• Recognized excellence through the inaugural Project Management Awards

• Integrated purpose-driven health awareness through CPR & BLS training

• Strengthened industry collaboration and cross-functional dialogue

• Most of all, celebrated the hard-work and achievement of project management professionals through gala awards evening.

Glimpses