ECU Project Management winning team: Seyed Navid Mousavi, Mahsa Azmakan, Dr Ahdieh Sadat Khatavakhotan, Vemani Kaushalya AK and Ni Wayan (Tee) Tantri
A team of Project Management students from the School of Business and Law (SBL) has taken gold at the International Project Management Association (IPMA) Young Crew Australia National Finals, earning the opportunity to represent Australia at the International Project Management Championship (IPMC) 2026 in Athens, later in June.
The IPMA Young Crew provides a vital platform connecting early-career and emerging project management professionals with their peers, cultivating, supporting and empowering the next generation of project managers.
Beyond celebrating student success, this achievement highlights the impact of Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) practice-based and industry-connected approach to teaching and learning, demonstrating how students can translate classroom knowledge into real-world outcomes. This success will inspire current and future students, showcase the value of experiential learning, and recognise how academic mentoring, industry engagement, and student dedication can lead to national and international success.
"This achievement is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when students move beyond theory and successfully translate their learning into real-world practice," SBL lecturer and team mentor, Dr Ahdieh Sadat Khatavakhotan said.
"It is incredibly rewarding to see their hard work pay off at a national level, progressing from classroom learning to becoming Australia's champions. Their success reflects not only their talent and resilience, but also the value of authentic, practice-based learning in preparing students to solve complex industry and global challenges."
Teamwork makes the dream work
The student team, consisting of Vemani Kaushalya AK, Mahsa Azmakan, Ni Wayan (Tee) Tantri and Seyed Navid Mousavi, were all actively involved in a productive collaboration. "This journey has been about much more than winning a competition. It challenged us to think like project professionals, work effectively as a team, and apply our skills in a highly competitive environment. Representing Australia at the international finals is a tremendous honour, and we are excited to showcase the capabilities of ECU students on the global stage," said student team representative Vemani.
This outstanding achievement demonstrates ECU student excellence and the impact of practice-based, industry-connected learning, where students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world project challenges and competitive environments. It also highlights ECU's role in developing confident, industry-ready graduates with strong problem-solving, teamwork, and professional capabilities, while celebrating a significant national achievement ahead of the upcoming international finals in Athens.
