The 18th ISO/TC 258 plenary in Shanghai brought together the global PPPM community for collaboration, decision-making and knowledge sharing. From recognizing completed standards work and launching revisions to exploring how ISO standards are being applied in practice in China, the meeting marked an important milestone in the Committee’s continued work to advance international standards for project, programme and portfolio management.
ISO/TC 258 Project, programme and portfolio management Technical Committee held its 18th plenary meeting from 23–25 September 2026 in Shanghai, China. Hosted by the National Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC), with Shanghai Institute of Quality and Standardization (SIS) as organizer and Shanghai Power Science & Technology Co., Ltd (SPS) and China Association for Standardization (CAS) as supporting institutions. The meeting brought together members and subject matter experts from across the international project, programme and portfolio management community to review ongoing work, consider future priorities, and make a series of decisions shaping the Committee’s future work programme.
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17 participating member countries (P-members) attended the hybrid meeting with 10 countries represented face-to-face and 7 used the virtual option. The Global Alliance for the Project Professions (GAPPS) and the College of Performance Management (CPM), A-liaison organizations also participated in the hybrid meeting adding to the complement of over 80 attendees with 42 delegates present in person. The plenary provided an opportunity to review progress across the Committee’s working groups (WGs), advisory groups (AGs) and technical development activities, while also considering the future of ISO TC 258 standards and their development, as well as the Technical Committee’s (TC’s) international collaboration.
Group Meetings Set the Stage for the Shanghai Plenary
The 18th plenary meeting was preceded by several days of focused group meetings, beginning on Monday and continuing through Wednesday morning. Working groups used this time to advance their programmes of work, review project progress, address technical matters, resolve outstanding comments and build consensus ahead of the formal plenary discussions. WG 8, WG 13, WG 17 and WG 18 met during this period, while WG 12 did not meet as its work had reached completion. The Chair Advisory Group (CAG) and the Communications and Marketing Advisory Group also met, providing opportunities to consider Committee management, participation and communications activities. These preparatory discussions provided an important foundation for the plenary and helped ensure that key issues, recommendations and decisions were ready for consideration by the Committee.
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A Warm Welcome and a Practitioner Perspective from China
The formal plenary opened with a warm welcome from the Shanghai hosts, reflecting the hospitality and careful preparation that characterized the week. Shi Yanjun, Director of the Shanghai Institute for Standardization (SIS), welcomed members to Shanghai and highlighted the importance of international cooperation and standards development. Members also heard from Heping Xiao of SPS, who provided a practitioner perspective on the application of ISO/TC 258 standards in China through a presentation on the evolution of PowerTech and its PowerPPE platform.
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Highlights and decisions of the TC Plenary included:
- recognizing the contribution of WG 12
- concluding the work of the Technical Development Group (TDG)
- reporting on all working groups, advisory groups and communications activities
- agreement on revisions of ISO 21500 and ISO 21502
- strengthening collaboration for internal liaison committees and representatives
- collecting feedback on use of the Online Standards Development platform (OSD) and initiatives for improving participation
- Planning ahead for future plenaries.
Recognizing the contribution of WG 12
One of the significant decisions of the plenary was the unanimous approval of the closure of Working Group 12 (WG 12), which was established in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in September 2019.
Over its seven-year term, WG 12 successfully delivered three important International Standards: ISO 21512:2024, PPPM EVM Implementation Guidance, ISO 21508:2026, PPPM Earned Value Management, and ISO 21511:2026, PPPM Work Breakdown Structures.
ISO/TC 258 formally recognized the outstanding contribution of WG 12 and acknowledged the dedication and professionalism of Convenor Kym Henderson, Secretary Xang (Jason) Xiao, Project Leader (ISO 21511) Shree Pataskar, Editorial Lead Becky Winston and her team, liaison organizations, National Standards Bodies, participating subject matter experts and the ISO/TC 258 Secretariats.
The Committee particularly recognized the collaborative effort required to deliver the standards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, these standards provide a lasting contribution to the international project management profession by advancing globally consistent approaches to planning, governance, performance measurement and project delivery.
Concluding the work of the Technical Development Group
The plenary also resolved to close the TDG at the end of 2026, when its current term concludes.
The Committee expressed its appreciation to TDG Convenor Karen White, Secretary Peter Milsom, and the TDG members for their thought leadership, recommendations to the Committee on technical activities, and efforts to raise awareness of developments and innovation in the field.
The TDG’s work has supported ISO/TC 258 in identifying opportunities to strengthen the application and impact of project, programme and portfolio management internationally and delivering reports and articles on topics of interest to TC 258.
Future work planning
Looking ahead, ISO/TC 258 approved the limited revision of two foundational standards: ISO 21500, Project, programme and portfolio management — Context and concepts, and ISO 21502, Project, programme and portfolio management — Guidance on project management.
The revisions of both standards will include resolution of comments arising from the systematic review, and updates to outdated references. In addition, ISO 21502 will address updating the context diagram and accompanying text which is used by all ISO/TC 258 standards as foundation for context of project, programme and portfolio management.
The Committee approved the re-establishment of WG 10 and WG 9, respectively, with calls for experts, and appointed Peter Milsom (Standards Council Canada) and George Jucan (Standards Council Canada) as Project Leaders/Convenors. Both projects are planned to begin in January 2027, with publication planned for January 2029.
The revisions will provide an opportunity to maintain and strengthen key elements of the ISO/TC 258 portfolio in response to developments in the field and the outcomes of the systematic review process.
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Strengthening collaboration and advancing communication activities
The plenary also reviewed the Committee’s communications activities, including updates to the ISO/TC 258 website, newsletters, publication announcements and social media. These activities continue to support greater visibility of the Committee’s work and provide opportunities to share developments with the wider project, programme and portfolio management community.
Regarding liaison relationships, the TC acknowledges that the continued support for coordination across areas of shared interest help strengthen connections between project, programme and portfolio management and related areas of international standardization. New liaison representatives were appointed accordingly.
Collective feedback
The Committee recognized the importance of capturing feedback and consolidating it for submission to ISO to help inform potential improvements to the OSD initiatives for improving participation in the work of TC 258. Feedback from convenors and members of working groups highlighted the challenges and difficulties experienced when using the online standards development platform. The Committee also suggested a real-time session with ISO representatives to provide convenors with an opportunity to share their experiences directly, demonstrate the challenges encountered, and discuss potential solutions and improvements.
Connecting Beyond the Meeting Room
The Shanghai plenary also provided opportunities for members to connect and experience the hospitality and culture of the host city beyond the formal meeting sessions. Social activities throughout the week created space for informal conversations, relationship building and the exchange of experiences among colleagues from across the international community. These moments complemented the technical discussions and reinforced the collaborative spirit that is central to the work of ISO/TC 258. The programme offered members an opportunity to enjoy the culture, food, hospitality, views and calming rivers of Shanghai while strengthening the connections and relationships that support continued international cooperation.
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Looking towards future plenaries
The Committee approved 20–24 September 2027 for its 19th plenary meeting with a provisional offer from The Netherlands to host the meeting, subject to confirmation by December 2026. The 20th plenary will take place 18–22 September 2028 in Sydney, Australia, hosted by Standards Australia. The Committee also welcomed a provisional offer from Germany to host the 21st plenary in 2029 with dates to be confirmed.
Appreciation to TC leadership and hosts
The successful Shanghai plenary was made possible through the commitment and support of the organizations involved in hosting and organizing the meeting.
ISO/TC 258 expressed its appreciation to SAC for hosting the 18th plenary, as well as to SIS as organizer and SPS and CAS as supporters. The Committee recognized the warm welcome provided to members and the outstanding assistance offered throughout the week. A special appreciation was made to Ma Na, who championed the organization of the plenary and acted as liaison between the hosts on TC leadership.
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The careful planning, attention to detail, and dedication of the host organizations and their staff contributed significantly to making the meeting both productive and enjoyable. The Committee also expressed appreciation and commendations for the contributions of the Chair Donald Boyer and Committee Manager Tzarmallah Haynes Joseph in supporting the work of ISO/TC 258 and facilitating the successful delivery of the Committee’s activities.
The Shanghai plenary marked an important point of transition for ISO/TC 258—with the completion of major bodies of work, the conclusion of WG 12 and the TDG, the continuation of advisory activities, and the launch of new revision projects. These decisions position the Committee for another period of active standards development and international collaboration in project, programme and portfolio management.
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