How to Turn Sustainability Goals Into Project Decisions

Many organizations have sustainability goals, but turning them into project decisions is where the work gets harder. How can project professionals build sustainability into requirements and design before options narrow? How should they weigh cost, schedule, quality and long-term value when priorities compete? And what changes when stakeholder trust or new information requires a different path? We discuss this with Preston Welker, PMP, global climate program and operations lead at The Nature Conservancy, and Ayman Zaki, CSPP, PMP, PMO project manager at EllisDon.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to turn sustainability goals into project decisions early, from requirements and design through execution
• Why stakeholder trust, community engagement and clear expectations can shape long-term project value
• How to navigate trade-offs between cost, schedule, quality and sustainable outcomes
• Why clarifying sponsor priorities upfront helps teams make better decisions when pressures compete
• How project management skills and an adaptive mindset help teams turn sustainability expertise into better outcomes

Preston Welker, Global Climate Program and Operations Lead at The Nature Conservancy

Preston Welker, PMP, is Global Climate Program and Operations Lead at The Nature Conservancy, where he helps teams deliver projects that advance global conservation and climate strategies. With more than 10 years of experience in project management, operations, portfolio systems, and stakeholder engagement, Preston has supported nature-based carbon projects across five continents, designed systems to track progress and impact, and trained teams in Lean, Agile, and facilitation methods. His experience also includes work connected to a $100 million Bezos Earth Fund grant, the development of Naturebase.org, and graduate research on stakeholder engagement for green infrastructure and climate resilience projects.

Ayman Zaki, PMO Project Manager at EllisDon

Ayman Zaki is a Certified Sustainable Project Professional and PMO Project Manager at EllisDon, with more than 20 years of experience delivering complex construction and development projects across the Middle East. His work spans hospitality, mixed-use, residential, commercial, aviation, and government projects, with expertise in PMO leadership, governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, FIDIC contract administration, project controls, and value engineering. Across his career, he has contributed to projects exceeding AED 6 billion in cumulative value, including Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Gran Meliá Hotel, Tadawul Tower at KAFD, Deira Waterfront Development, Al Dhafra Hotel & Resort, and Sports Hotel on Hudayriyat Island.

• Ayman Zaki on LinkedIn
• Preston Welker on LinkedIn
• Melissa Khan-Blackmore on LinkedIn
• Project Management Institute Website
• Project Management Institute LinkedIn