Areej Naqshbandi has been the senior director and head of the project management office at the Public Investment Fund since 2021.

As part of PIF’s rapid growth over the last few years, Naqshbandi has contributed to the operational transformation across different aspects of the business to establish consistency, efficiency and best practice.

She is leading the PMO, a centralized department within the PIF that upholds the highest standards of project management.

It governs operating models, methodologies and tools to ensure best-in-class project management standards and improve delivery.

Naqshbandi’s oversight ensures that the PMO provides support and guidance to project managers and teams across PIF and its portfolio companies.  

In her 23-year career, Naqshbandi has held several executive positions such as director and head of the enterprise project management office within the public and private sectors, including leading government, financial, investment and retail institutions.

Before joining PIF, she established and develop several EPMOs.

Naqshbandi won the PMO Leader of the Year Award by the Project Management Institute in 2022.

She is also a holder of Six Sigma belt certificates, a strategy management certificate in the public sector and an international project management certificate.

Naqshbandi holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from King Saud University and an executive master’s degree in business administration from HEC Paris.