Boston, MA, USA
PPM Summit Boston 2026
30th American Pharma and Biotech Project, Program and Portfolio Management Conference
KEY INFORMATION
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What to expect
The Pharma PPM Event You Don’t Want to Miss. Are you facing challenges with resource constraints, complex portfolios, or AI adoption? This conference is your gateway to smarter decisions, optimized strategies, and measurable impact.
Key themes
Our 3-day conference is designed to help pharma & biotech professionals learn through our trusted formats how leading organizations make:
DAY 1
BETTER DECISIONS
Focus: Portfolio Strategy, Modelling and Forecasting.
How pharma and biotech organizations make better portfolio decisions in complex, resource-constrained environments. The core theme is turning strategy into action, prioritizing the right projects, reallocating investments, and improving forecasting and scenario planning. It also explores how data, analytics, and AI can support more informed and confident decision-making, while addressing the real-world tensions between speed, certainty, and governance in portfolio management.
DAY 2
BETTER EXECUTION
Focus: Resource Allocation, Planning and Delivery.
How organizations ensure that portfolio decisions actually translate into effective execution across programs, teams, and functions. It also explores resource and capacity management, cross-functional alignment, and the practical challenges of delivering in complex, fast-changing environments. A strong emphasis is placed on identifying execution bottlenecks and using tools, processes, and collaboration to improve delivery performance and speed without losing control or alignment.
DAY 3
BETTER ORGANIZATIONS
Focus: Governance, Value and Capability.
How organizations design and improve the systems, governance, and capabilities that underpin effective portfolio and project management. The key theme is building stronger decision systems and operating models that enable clarity, accountability, and scalability across the organization. It also explores how companies measure value realization, manage risk, and evolve their PPM functions into more strategic, future-ready capabilities.
Conference formats
KEY NOTES & CASE STUDIES
Learn form real-worls successes and failures & take away practical insights.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Hear different approaches to the same challenges & gain a broader perspective.
TOOLKIT WORKSHOPS
Solve real problems with peers and experts through hands-on experiences.
THINK-TANK ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Engage in open discussions and walk away with actionable ideas.
Fireside Chats
Explore candid stories and real-life challenges of industry leaders.
Track 1
Medical Device Project & Portfolio Management
Unlock the pursuit of excellence in project management with insights from industry leaders. Learn about strategic planning, stakeholder relationships mastery, agile methodologies, and effective data management in the ever-evolving pharmaceutical landscape across all domains, including R&D, clinical development, manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, and business development.
VIEW KEY TOPICS
- Digital Transformation and Integration of AI
- Supply Chain Disruptions
- Accelerating Time-to-Market without Compromising Quality
- Innovating Under Pressure: Managing Risk and Speed in MedTech Projects
- Agile PPM for Medical Devices
- Optimizing Resource Allocation
- Talent Management and Development in Medical Device
- Navigating Global Regulatory Affairs
Track 2
Medical Device SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
World’s greatest minds in drug safety, pharmacovigilance, data analysis, reporting, government policy, and innovative technology united under the Why Summits will delve into cybersecurity, regulatory challenges, patient safety and human factors engineering. You can expect networking with like-minded professionals and learn the latest trends, challenges, and game-changing ideas.
VIEW KEY TOPICS
- Digital Transformation and Integration of AI
- Supply Chain Disruptions
- Accelerating Time-to-Market without Compromising Quality
- Innovating Under Pressure: Managing Risk and Speed in MedTech Projects
- Agile PPM for Medical Devices
- Optimizing Resource Allocation
- Talent Management and Development in Medical Device
- Navigating Global Regulatory Affairs
Event speakers
Maryam Ali-Grimaldi
Director, Functional Excellence & Head of Scientific Operations
Daiichi Sankyo US
Rob Salafia
CEO
Protagonist Consulting Group
Simone Lauchart
SVP, Strategy, Portfolio and Hubs
EMD Serono
Michele Cooley
Director Project Planning
Sanofi
Suzzette Haney
Global Program Manager
Sanofi
Christine Soltys-Robitaille
Director - GPM
Sanofi
Carla Lawendowski
Head of Research Program Management, Oncology
Sanofi
Neil Verma
Vice President, Portfolio & Program Management
Waters Corporation
Event HIGHLIGHTS
Keynotes & Case Studies
Roundtables
Workshops
Panel discussions
Networking
Post-conference networking
Key takeaways
Better portfolio decisions
Learn how leading pharma organizations prioritize investments, model uncertainty scenarios, and use data-driven insights to improve decision-making and real business outcomes.
Greater speed and clarity
Discover how high-performing teams manage resource constraints, strengthen cross-functional alignment, and accelerate time-to-market in complex environments.
Improved planning, forecasting, and resource allocation
Understand how to increase forecasting accuracy, optimize capacity across competing programs, and make more effective portfolio trade-offs.
Stronger PPM organizations
Explore how governance structures, operating models, and capability development can enhance decision quality, execution effectiveness, and scalable performance.
Turning insights into action quickly
Gain practical, real-world takeaways from case studies and interactive discussions designed for immediate application.
Connecting with the right peers and leaders
Engage with decision-makers and industry peers facing similar challenges and share proven approaches to solving them.
Everything you need to know about This event in one spot.
Check out our event overview and agenda and discover PPM Summit Boston 2026
See What the Industry Says about us
PAST AND PRESENT
Our valued partners
TESTIMONIALS
We were proud to be Sponsors for the 31st European Life Sciences Project & Portfolio Management Conference in London. Two really energising days of learning and connection. Huge thanks to Why Summits for such a well-run event. The presentations, panels and workshops sparked great conversations around portfolio strategy, governance, risk and innovation across the sector. Most of all, it was fantastic to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new Life Sciences leaders who share the same passion for PPM.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Merryn Horneman
Life Sciences Delivery Partner
MiGSO-PCUBED
MiGSO-PCUBED
Wrapped up the Why Summit Conference on Project Management, Portfolio Management, and CAPEX in Las Vegas today. Great conference and interactions with all of the attendees! Thank you all for connecting and interacting. Fantastic group of folks that I met there!
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Thomas Seener
Executive Director, The One Project Source, LLC
An outstanding few days of industry relevant PPM topics, from the energetic and thoughtful speakers and panels to networking new relationships to insights into where the industry is going with AI! Huge chops to Why Summits? for putting on an engaging and professional event!
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Mike Fitzpatrick
Vice President of Business Development & Operations , Umoja Biopharma
Fascinating conference with seasoned and insightful industry leaders sharing perspectives into a wide range of topics across program and portfolio management. It was the perfect size – around 120 people – big enough to attract diverse and talented people, but small enough for everyone to engage in meaningful networking. We ended each day with roundtable discussions - small table discussions with the speakers and each other, which allowed us to both learn from each other and get to know our peers. Overall, a great experience and I look forward to returning.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Rebecca Rudicell, PhD.
Translational Program Management (Oncology), Takeda
This conference was exceptional, featuring a diverse group of attendees, all of whom are experts in their fields. The event attracted a strong cross-section of the industry, encompassing both large and small companies. The networking opportunities were invaluable, allowing me to connect with a wide range of professionals and expand my network significantly. I wholeheartedly recommend this conference and plan to attend more events next year. It truly exceeded my expectations, with outstanding attendance and presentations throughout all three days. This conference has established itself as the premier event in the resource planning space, showcasing our commitment to excellence in the industry.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Phil Wolf
SVP, On Demand Products, PDWare
It was an honor to be part of such a prestigious event and to contribute to discussions. Thanks Why Summits for the opportunity to engage with such a knowledgeable audience and networking with industry leaders !!
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Dhawal Upadhyay, PMP®, HBS
General Manager - Global Program Management, Intas Pharmaceuticals
“Always Be curious”
Why is this event right for you?
If you’re facing resource constraints, complex portfolios, or navigating AI adoption in pharma and biotech project management, this conference is built for you.
Join top industry leaders to gain exclusive insights, master next-gen PPM strategies, and tackle real-world challenges through hands-on workshops. Whether you’re looking to optimize decision-making, expand your network, or future-proof your approach, this is your opportunity to drive smarter strategies and real impact.
Event partners
Premium Gold Sponsor
Planisware is a global provider of software solutions for project portfolio management. Planisware solutions are specifically designed to support product development, engineering and IT business processes. For more than 20 years, Planisware has been helping its customers to achieve strategic and innovative excellence, make valid business decisions and increase portfolio value.
WORKSHOP PLUS SPONSOR
Skarbek is a global leader in strategy execution with extensive experience supporting world-leading organisations to deliver measurable results.
We partner closely with your teams to move innovations from concept to launch, manage complex must-land projects and programmes, deliver transformations and strengthen organisational execution capability.
Our approach blends deep sector expertise with practical tools and techniques, offering expert guidance and innovative tailored solutions to deliver your most critical initiatives with clarity and confidence.
GOLD SPONSOR
OnePlan offers a strategic portfolio, financial and resource management solution that fits the needs of every PMO. Optimize your portfolio, financials and resources enterprise wide. Connect OnePlan with Microsoft Project, Office 365 Planner, Azure DevOps, Jira, and more for a complete view into all work across the enterprise.
Gold SPonsor
Rego Consulting is one of the world’s leading Project Portfolio Management (PPM) and Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) consulting firms. With a 98% customer retention rate, we are focused on helping our clients reach their goals and partnering with them every step of the way. We also provide PPM solution, Clarity by Rego, designed to seamlessly help you manage all your projects.
GOLD SPONSOR
Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work, from ideas to impact. Planview helps organizations accelerate the achievement of what matters most, supporting our customers from need to speed, from passion to progress, and from overhead to optimization. Our connected platform of solutions underpins the business and digital transformations of more than 4,500 customers globally, including 59 of the Fortune 100. Planview empowers enterprises to improve time-to-market and predictability, increase efficiency to unlock capacity, and ensure their most strategic initiatives deliver the desired business outcomes.
GOLD SPONSOR
PDWare is a provider of dynamic resource and work planning solutions for strategy and portfolio execution. ResourceFirst, our flagship product, emphasizes prioritization, feasibility and execution as the pillars of successful project and program delivery. ResourceFirst™ is available for cloud and on-premise installations, providing first-line managers, executives, PMO and EPPMO functions the agility to meet fluctuating work priorities, schedules, demand and staff capacity.
GOLD SPONSOR
cplace is a modern software platform for project and portfolio management (PPM). It revolutionizes and transforms the way people and organizations collaborate, enabling companies to efficiently manage complex projects. cplace combines the reliability of standard software with the flexibility of customized solutions. The adaptive platform with built-in AI provides a unified data foundation, promotes cross-site and cross-functional collaboration, and can be adapted in real time.
International industry leaders, including those in the automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical and life sciences, and mechanical engineering industries, rely on cplace to develop innovative and complex products, utilize resources efficiently, improve decision-making processes, and successfully complete projects.
Silver+ sponsor
Protagonist Consulting Group is an organization dedicated to helping leaders unlock potential, enhance performance and achieve strategic business goals. We utilize a range of experiential learning techniques drawn from the fields of theater, performance, martial and meditative arts. We employ these capabilities as the foundation for creating customized learning experiences that allow participants to increase self-awareness, build skill and mastery, and make transformational shifts in their daily leadership behaviors.
Silver sponsor
Orchestra helps R&D organizations reduce the operational complexity of drug development by unifying planning across science, finance, and operations – then using AI agents to monitor progress, risks and outcomes against that plan. Orchestra automates the synthesis and analysis creating an institutional knowledge base to answer strategic questions instantly.
Event registration
2 day Conference
REGISTRATION
$
2099
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Access to all conference sessions
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Access to all networking activities during the conference
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Conference materials
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Coffee breaks with snacks and refreshments
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Networking lunch
3 day Conference
REGISTRATION
$
2999
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Access to all conference sessions
-
Access to all networking activities during the conference
-
Conference materials
-
Coffee breaks with snacks and refreshments
-
Networking lunch
MASTERCLASS
REGISTRATION
$
2399
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Access to the Masterclass with Industry Veteran Dr. Richard Bayney
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Individual consultancy with the trainer
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Colored hardcopy of training materials in a binder
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Electronic copy of trainer's textbook
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Certificate of completion issued by the trainer
Complete learning experience
REGISTRATION
$
4049
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Three-day masterclass with Dr. Richard Bayney
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Full conference access (all days)
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Priority access to sessions and networking
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Networking lunch
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The complete learning experience
Masterclass + 2 Conference Days
REGISTRATION
$
3749
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Two-day masterclass with Dr. Richard Bayney
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Access to any two of three days of the conference
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Networking with speakers and participants
Pre-conference masterclass
Position Your Brand Where Projects & Portfolios Take Shape.
Get in front of the teams that manage pharma’s biggest programs. Explore sponsorship and exhibition opportunities at PPM Summit Boston 2026.
Our Past Sponsors
