Lecturer named project award finalist

Principal Lecturer Lorraine Skelton has been named a finalist for Project Professional of the Year at the New Zealand Project Management Awards 2026.

The awards, run by the Project Management Institute New Zealand, recognise outstanding achievement and leadership across the profession.

The Project Professional of the Year category acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated significant impact or sustained excellence in applying project, programme, or portfolio management practices.

Lorraine says she’s honoured to be included among such a strong group of finalists. The nomination reflects work she’s been fortunate to be part of across both industry and academia.

That work has included leading complex transformation programmes at Playcentre NZ and large-scale SAP implementations in Banking, Construction, Healthcare and Research.

She’s also supported collaborative research initiatives and helped in developing the next generation of project professionals through teaching and mentoring.

Lorraine says a big part of her journey has involved working alongside talented colleagues and partners across organisations, including government, industry, and education.

“Many of the successes recognised in this nomination have been shaped by those collaborations, particularly in delivering change, navigating complexity, and building strong governance and project foundations.”

The award ceremony takes place on Tuesday 26 May, and AIC congratulates Lorraine on her nomination.