From LinkedIn Message to Global Influence
How one invitation sparked a journey that now helps shape the future of project delivery worldwide.
When Cel (Maricel) Medes Dijamco was selected by the Nominating Committee of the PMO Awards, she had no idea the invitation would shape the next six years of her professional life. At the time, she was serving as a PMO Manager, focused on delivering project outcomes and refining internal processes. What followed was a global opportunity that would see her representing New Zealand on the international stage, and later joining a panel of global judges assessing the world’s most impactful PMOs.
With over 20 years of experience in project and programme management, Cel brings deep operational insight, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in delivery. Her work has helped elevate the PMO profession in New Zealand, and her contributions as a PMI Global Judge continue to champion the value of structured project leadership worldwide.
What Is the PMI Global Awards?
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading authority on project management. Since 1969, it has helped organisations and individuals deliver more effectively through professional certifications (like PMP and PMI-ACP), global frameworks (including the PMBOK Guide), and community networks such as PMINZ here in Aotearoa.
Its Global Awards recognise PMOs that drive significant business value, strategic alignment, innovation, and community impact.
Cel’s judging role involves rigorous assessment of entries from organisations across the globe. Each PMO is evaluated on a wide range of criteria: its establishment and evolution, the value it delivers internally, its contribution to external communities, and its capacity to innovate and adapt.
The Power of a Great PMO
Over the course of her judging, Cel has reviewed dozens of submissions – each one offering a unique perspective on how project offices operate across different industries and cultural contexts. But the most successful ones all share a common thread: they are change enablers.
“Strong PMOs are game changers,” Cel explains. “They drive efficiency, strategic focus, and smarter decisions across all levels of an organisation.”
Her experience highlights that the impact of a PMO often goes beyond just operational performance. The best PMOs become a driving force for social and environmental responsibility, delivering value that benefits not just the organisation, but communities and the planet as well.
