Welcome to the Project Management Gathering 2025
A Critical Software internal event taking place on September 25th and 26th at the Grande Hotel do Luso, full of opportunities to step out of your daily routine, share challenges, and rethink how we practise project management. Most importantly, it’s a chance to reconnect with our amazing community.
This year, the theme is The Daily Life of a Project Manager. And why?
From the first email of the morning to the final project update at night, project managers juggle a wide range of responsibilities — planning, leading, communicating, problem-solving, and adapting. This theme celebrates the real, everyday rhythm of project management: the tools we use, the skills we sharpen, and the decisions we make that drive projects forward.
Our visual identity reflects this rhythm throughout six symbols representing the core dimensions of a Project Manager’s day, reminding us that behind every successful project is a dynamic blend of human connection, thoughtful structure, and creative problem-solving.
Co-Founder and CEO of Value Negotiation Technologies, a procurement SaaS venture that empowers companies to negotiate better deals, faster, through AI and process automation. With hands-on involvement in product development and strategic leadership, André brings a unique blend of innovation and practical insight. He is also an external faculty member at INSEAD, where he lectures on negotiation across executive programmes in Fontainebleau, Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco.
Tânia recently joined our Innovation & Knowledge department to boost our AI capabilities. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Tânia brings a strong background in digital transformation, having supported teams in adopting emerging technologies and agile ways of working. Her experience spans innovation, R&D, digital skilling, and product management, with a focus on creating economic and social value through technology.
Strategic HR and communication consultant passionate about empowering organisations through people. With deep expertise in leadership, human development, and executive coaching, Joana helps companies navigate change, foster well-being, and build inclusive cultures that thrive across generations.
The architects of connection
Journalist at TVI with a background in Communication Sciences and Journalism, Ana aims to share storytellings that connect with diverse audiences.
Our PMO Director will share the latest updates from the PMO, highlighting the improvements on the tools, evolving practices, and strategic plans designed to streamline project delivery, optimise workflows, and empower teams to work more efficiently and collaboratively.
Leading intensivist and the Coordinator of the Intensive Care Unit at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, in Porto. With a PhD in Medicine and a Master’s in Molecular Medicine, Dr. Roncon is a national pioneer in the use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and has played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joana recently joined the team to strengthen our Culture & Impact initiatives. With a Master of Laws in European Law and a background at Coimbra Coolectiva, Joana brings a passion for civic engagement, storytelling, and meaningful change. Curious, optimistic, and people-driven, she believes in the power of community — whether through a neighbourhood project or a workplace culture.
