Fanshawe students win gold and bronze at OPMC competition

Fanshawe College has won the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC) at Toronto Metropolitan University on Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Comprised of three project management teams from the Project Management Graduate Certificate program in the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, they dominated the event winning gold, bronze and placing fifth.

The contest promotes project management competencies and skills, and this year, competitors were judged on how project management principles were used to plan and execute their project and how it aligned with one or more United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

First place

Rodney Affotey, Garry Pawane, Agnes Szem, Laura Connor and Daniela Tenorio Cervera. They planned and executed an SDGs Lab, which is a sustainability-driven event to raise awareness about UN Sustainable Development Goals and they developed a playbook to help future teams replicate and enhance the event.

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The Activators won first place with their SDGs Lab and Playbook. The team is made up of Rodney Affotey, Garry Pawane, Agnes Szem, Laura Connor and Daniela Tenorio Cervera.

Third place

Leanne Edwards (London), Ellie Maidlow-Whitworth (London), Kimber-Lynn Ward (Niagara), and Esther Zea Bobadilla (Collingwood) are a team from the online program. They raised awareness and funds for Shelter Movers, an organization that offers free moving and storage to women and children transitioning away from a home affected by violence. Known as “The Empathy Collective,” they plan to work together after graduation to continue their passion of raising awareness and funds for charities.

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The Empathy Collective finished in third place with their fundraising event for Shelter Movers. The team is made up of Leanne Edwards, Ellie Maidlow-Whitworth, Kimber-Lynn Ward and Esther Zea Bobadilla.

Fifth place

Abhishek Kumar Godugu, Ershad Mohammad Hussain, Jean Mukendi, Kavinkumar Shanmuga Sundaram and Viraj Julius Tuscano. They developed a prototype using virtual reality to improve education and learning experiences by addressing SDG 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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Team VR placed fifth with their prototype using virtual reality to improve education and learning experiences. The team is made up of Abhishek Kumar Godugu, Ershad Mohammad Hussain, Jean Mukendi, Kavinkumar Shanmuga Sundaram and Viraj Julius Tuscano.

“This experience has reinforced the power of teamwork, strategic thinking and adaptability,” said Krista Perdikakis, project management professor at Fanshawe. “I’m also excited to see the continued impact these initiatives will have in our community.”

There are 17 SDGs that United Nations (UN) member states adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These SDGs recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must be part of strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, increase economic growth while dealing with climate change and protecting the planet’s oceans and forests. 

In addition to Fanshawe, the post-secondary institutions competing in Toronto were Yorkville University, Durham College, Seneca College, Northeastern University, Algoma University and St. Lawrence College.