Navigating Major Programmes

How do proactive dispute resolution pathways improve infrastructure project success? Every major programme has its share of disputes, big or small, and addressing these issues with level heads benefits every party on every project. In this episode, Riccardo sits down with Sahil Shoor, a partner at Gowling WLG who serves as external counsel on a wide range of construction projects. Together, they unpack the role lawyers play in the lifecycle of a project—and why that role is increasingly shifting from “claims at the end” to “resolution during the work.” Sahil acknowledges that many disputes aren’t born from bad faith or failed contract drafting—they come from unresolved issues that quietly compound. When teams avoid hard conversations early, the same friction points can echo throughout the project, creating domino effects in schedules, costs, and relationships. Sahil argues that the best results come when projects build credible pathways for raising issues and making timely decisions before situations become adversarial.Riccardo and Sahil’s conversation digs into governance tools that support dispute avoidance rather than dispute denial: structured “early warning” approaches, clear escalation routes, and dispute boards that introduce neutral expertise before technical problems become existential. The takeaway is clear: the success of any project depends on how proactively risk is managed and disagreements are handled from the outset.Key TakeawaysWhy unresolved issues cause more conflict than bad drafting or bad faith;The nip-in-the-bud benefits of the neutral, expert input of dispute boards;Where internal counsel and external counsel add different value during execution;The danger of split focus when ignoring disputes until a project is completed;How resolution pathways reduce overreliance on “contractual entitlement” thinking.Quote:“It is not about avoiding risk but managing risk and managing it intelligently…project counsel is central to that effort.” - Sahil ShoorThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Sahil Shoor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoorsahil/ 

In part two of this deep dive, Riccardo, Emily Moore, Pouya Zangeneh, and Rob Pattison continue unpacking Montreal’s REM (Réseau express métropolitain)—this time zooming in on what the project’s risk decisions reveal about long-term infrastructure delivery.The group digs into a key point that often gets lost in public conversations about mega-projects: risk doesn’t disappear, it just shifts hands. CDPQ Infra’s willingness to absorb ridership and cost-overrun risk prompts a broader discussion about what it means to plan on a decades-long horizon and why “designing for the bad years” may be a defining feature of resilient infrastructure.They also discuss the role of regulation and professional judgment: whether success comes from pushing limits or from rethinking policies that no longer serve their intended purposes. They explore how contract structures, interface management, and invested technical expertise on the owner side can influence outcomes more than any single procurement model.Finally, the panel returns to the big question raised in part one: Is the REM model replicable? The answer requires examining the enabling conditions, including trust, governance, political courage, and public tolerance.Key Takeaways:Why absorbing risk isn’t unique but long-horizon thinking is;What happens to contingency planning when owners accept the inevitability of “bad years”;The important difference between pushing the limits and reconsidering the rules;How looking beyond a single capital line item toward lifecycle outcomes secures project success;Why the “stupid owner” model has a tendency to fail and how successful project owners avoid it.Quote:“The ​problem ​around ​the ​world…​is ​the ​stupid ​owner ​movement: ‘Pass ​all ​the ​risk ​to the ​contractor. ​Call ​me ​when ​you're ​done.’ It doesn’t work. You ​need ​invested ​experts ​on ​the ​owner ​side.” - Robert PattisonThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:“Montreal’s REM Project: Executive Summary of Replicable Elements”: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PEyOyfVgetRiN8sGJ_07QfM9U7wFcFKo/view?usp=drive_linkListen to part 1 of this discussion: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s4/5Season 3 panel on Public-Private Partnerships, Part 1: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/56;Season 3 panel on Public-Private Partnerships, Part 2: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/57 Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Emily Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-moore-7483311/ Follow Pouya Zangeneh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pouya-zangeneh-00537026/Follow Robert Pattison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robsdoor/ 

In the first of this two-part conversation, Riccardo is joined by a familiar trio—Emily Moore, Pouya Zangeneh, and Rob Patterson—for a wide-ranging and refreshingly candid unpacking of Montreal’s REM (Réseau express métropolitain) project and the structure behind it.The REM is a modern driverless transit system, but that’s not where its innovation lies. Rather, the panel suggests, what’s unique is its governance and financing model: CDPQ Infra (a subsidiary of CDPQ, Quebec’s largest pension fund) acts as developer and financier for the multi-billion-dollar, revenue-backed public transit asset. The three infrastructure experts explore what makes this arrangement so unusual, what conditions were required for it to work, and whether it’s replicable outside Quebec’s distinctive political, legal, and trust environment.The conversation digs into the often-overlooked “plumbing” of mega-project delivery: who holds accountability, who makes decisions, how consultation is structured, and why separating operations from development can change outcomes dramatically. Come back next week for part two, which delves into the long-horizon decisions behind the REM and how risk, regulation, and ownership shape mega projects.Key Takeaways:The governance and legislative conditions that helped set the REM up for speed and results;Why the trust factor may be the silent enabler that makes this model politically viable;Why CDPQ Infra’s role as developer raises new questions about public vs. private delivery;What “risk” means when a pension fund is behind a project (and what happens if things go badly);Why project success often depends on the separation of owners and operators from developers.Quote:“Success comes from splitting the money from the project from the operational program, and I think they’ve done that really, really well.” - Rob PattisonThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:“Montreal’s REM Project: Executive Summary of Replicable Elements”: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PEyOyfVgetRiN8sGJ_07QfM9U7wFcFKo/view?usp=drive_linkSeason 3 panel on Public-Private Partnerships, Part 1: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/56;Season 3 panel on Public-Private Partnerships, Part 2: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/57 Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Emily Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-moore-7483311/ Follow Pouya Zangeneh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pouya-zangeneh-00537026/Follow Rob Pattison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robsdoor/ 

What actually goes into major project budgeting at the government level—and what does it mean to take a calculated risk with public dollars? In this episode, Riccardo and Peter Weltman explore how public infrastructure decisions get made behind the scenes. A former Financial Accountability Officer for Ontario and veteran of the Treasury Board of Canada, Peter has decades of experience in cost estimation, defence procurement, and parliamentary budgeting. He provides illuminating explanations of how funding decisions are influenced by factors like confidence intervals, political priorities, and strategic tradeoffs. Together, he and Riccardo take a look at the budgetary pressures facing all levels of government and what “over budget” really means. This episode offers a frank perspective on implementing a shift from reactive fixes to proactive planning and the financial and political mechanisms that could make that possible.Key TakeawaysHow the Treasury Board of Canada makes decisions around government spending on infrastructure;The political side of deciding on major project budgets;How the Canadian Infrastructure Council is researching their report;Asking questions that help secure budget decision accountability;The benefits of financial incentives for infrastructure maintenance.Quote:“Really, the best investment [for Canadian infrastructure] right now is investing in making the stuff we already own work better.” - Peter WeltmanThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Peter Weltman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-weltman/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat. 

How do you build an intentional and rewarding career while still allowing life and shifting roles to take their course? Jennifer Quinn is no stranger to route adjustments on her career path. Her willingness to adjust, accept, and constantly learn has enabled her to soar through the ranks, building supportive and impactful teams along the way. The CEO of Nieuport Aviation, the terminal owner and operator of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, Jennifer’s long career in infrastructure, on both the public and private sides, has given her a unique and nuanced perspective on the industry.In her discussion with Riccardo and Shormilla, Jennifer shares transparent and thoughtful insights into the transitions that led to her current infrastructure leadership position. She reflects on how her foundational goals and values have always guided her decisions—in both her career shifts and her leadership approach. Her experience as a female, queer C-suite executive comes with unique challenges and rewards. But Jennifer has navigated it all with well-honed discernment and self-awareness—characteristics that unquestionably mark her as a true Master Builder.Key Takeaways:The reward of balancing the unplanned and the strategic in a career trajectory;The impact of prioritizing strong, lasting relationships with clients and employers;Navigating the decision-making processes essential to job transitions;The progress made and changes still needed around inclusivity in the industry; The “right” time to begin pursuing board appointments.Quote:"All the cliches are true. ​It's ​lonely ​at ​the ​top, ​and ​you ​feel ​all ​the ​accountability—​it ​is ​all ​true, ​very ​much ​so. ​And ​that ​being ​said, ​I ​also ​feel ​great ​about ​it. I love…leading our vision and…driving a culture shift.” - Jennifer QuinnThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Jennifer Quinn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenquinn/ 

What’s going on off-mic for the Navigating Major Programmes podcast team? Riccardo kicks off Season 4 with a behind-the-scenes conversation with Mikaila (writing and marketing) and Mary (podcast production). The three experts from across the communications spectrum join forces to unpack all that happens before the interview begins and after the recording stops. Thoughtful preparation meets natural curiosity to deliver a show that so many people in the industry and beyond now tune into every week. In this episode, the trio delves into how Riccardo sources guests, the difficulty of scheduling around the busy timelines of professionals, and how both Riccardo’s workflow and confidence have advanced over more than 80 episodes. The back-and-forth becomes a friendly debate over the benefits and drawbacks of AI in writing and podcasting, from audio cleanup and title generation to voice cloning. The team recognizes that authenticity, emotion, and human effort are all in flux as automation continues to dominate our workflows.On the heels of a milestone season, the fourth installment of Navigating Major Programmes will bring a fresh cohort of insightful professionals—both those newer to infrastructure and well-established—with the goal of further elevating the industry, one conversation at a time.Key TakeawaysBreaking down all the legwork required before and after recording an episode.The role of podcasting in building confidence and public speaking ability.How post-production enhances a show without removing its humanness.The controversial use of AI in each step of show creation.Where they’ve been and what’s to come in Season 4.Quote: “If you have something interesting to say, my platform is your platform.” - Riccardo CosentinoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Mikaila Kukurudza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikaila-kukurudza/ Follow Mary Chan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In Season 3, Navigating Major Programmes expanded the podcast’s primary goal—to go beyond the tools and frameworks of program delivery into the humanity behind it—with amazing results. In this wrap-up episode, Riccardo reviews the past year, celebrating the panelists, guests, and listeners who make the show possible. He highlights salient points from Uncharted Conversations and Master Builders, points that truly capture the breadth and depth these collaborators have achieved, both behind the mic and every day in their roles as leaders and innovators.With nearly twice as many episodes and double the weekly listeners from Season 2, the 2025 season gave Riccardo and his co-hosts and guests so many opportunities to explore both the big picture thinking and practical applications that are shaping—and shaking up—the industry today. In January 2026, Navigating Major Programmes will return for season 4 with even more inspiring stories, game-changing ideas, and disruptive conversations about the future of program management.Disclaimer: Navigating Major Programmes believes in adapting with technological advances. This episode was narrated by an AI-generated voice of the program host.Key Takeaways:What this season taught the hosts about what you—the listener—want to hear;Riccardo’s favourite episodes, to listen back on during the break;What to expect in season 4, including a brand new series. Quote:“The future of this industry will be built by those who lead with humanity.” - Riccardo CosentinoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Listen to Episode 4, The Human Side of Major Projects with Melissa Di Marco: https://navigating-major-programmes-2a01b27b.simplecast.com/episodes/the-human-side-of-major-projects-with-melissa-di-marco-master-builders-s3-ep4Listen to Episode 10, The Powerful Impact of Specialization and Dedication on Long-Haul Projects with Wendy Itagawa: https://navigating-major-programmes-2a01b27b.simplecast.com/episodes/the-powerful-impact-of-specialization-and-dedication-on-long-haul-projects-with-wendy-itagawaListen to Episode 16, Public–Private Partnerships Part 2: Contracts, Contractors, and True Collaboration: https://navigating-major-programmes-2a01b27b.simplecast.com/episodes/publicprivate-partnerships-part-2-contracts-contractors-and-true-collaborationFollow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at: https://riccardocosentino.com/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How do you break a massive system down into manageable parts—and make sure it all still works together in the end? Much of this responsibility falls to the systems engineer, a vital if underdiscussed position in the major programme ecosystem. In this episode, Jared Theriault joins Riccardo to demystify systems engineering and clarify why it’s an essential discipline in any construction undertaking. Four years ago, Jared graduated from Queens University with a degree in electrical engineering and signal processing. His transition into systems engineering was unexpected, but today he is a passionate proponent for future progress in the practice. Jared’s role involves ensuring every component of an infrastructure project—communications, controls, safety plans, and more—is accounted for, integrated, and doing what it’s supposed to do. Together, he and Riccardo explore the specialized tools and processes that keep long-term projects on the rails. It’s a data-heavy role, and AI and LLMs can’t be ignored. The two take a look at what the future holds for this multifaceted component so essential to the design, construction, and validation of infrastructure.Key TakeawaysThe many-pronged approach to systems management;The similarities between systems data management and social media networks;The distinction between relational and graph databases;How robust database software keeps long-term projects organized and efficient;How AI and automation are reshaping the role of systems engineers and the industry as a whole.Quote:“That was one of the cooler things I had done. Gathering all the requirements in one place, seeing how many we actually did have at the end. And yeah, I think it was in the tens of thousands, easily.” - Jared TheriaultThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Further your understanding of graph databases: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-doors-data-mastery-graph-databases-systems-riccardo-cosentino-wtikc/Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Jared Theriault on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-theriault-7851361b3/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

What correlations can we uncover when we extend construction and infrastructure concepts beyond the industry? Exploring high-stress railway builds to supply chain and project management parallels with fashion design, this episode of Navigating Major Programmes is packed with sector-spanning insights. Riccardo sits down with one of his mentors, Tim Fitch, to reflect on the enduring patterns that emerge when delivering major outcomes under tight timelines. Tim is a veteran director of building development, a market strategist, and this year’s Master of the Worshipful Company of Constructors in London. Through intriguing stories from decades working in diverse roles, Tim shares how early lessons in modular design, safety, and worker wellness continue to inform his work today. He also explores the fascinating history of his livery and London, England’s other Worshipful Companies that support industry camaraderie and higher education in the trades throughout the city. Together, these industry experts take a look back, as well as ahead, to the future of professional leadership in the built environment.Key Takeaways:How the mindset of project delivery applies across industries;The lessons that strategic consulting in infrastructure can borrow from parallel industriesWhy modular construction is essential for infrastructure that must stay operational;What high-pressure projects teach us about burnout, resilience, and boundaries;The fascinating history of livery companies in England.Quote: “You think you're the king of the world because you've done all this innovative stuff and you take a bite too much and then you spent about six months digesting it, with a lot of Alka Seltzer required. So that was a really important lesson that it's very easy to get carried away with success.” - Tim FitchThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Tim Fitch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timrfitch/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How can the infrastructure industry encourage more open discussions between diverse sectors? In the final Uncharted Conversations episode of the year, Riccardo, Shormila, and David come together to look back at 2025 and ahead at what’s to come, reflecting on the themes, tensions, and unanswered questions of the season.This year saw murky decision-making persist despite infrastructure’s growing prevalence in every Canadian industry. This characteristically honest and envelope-pushing roundtable teases apart the challenges of navigating building and public sector leadership in this economic reality. The group digs into the impact and barriers that risk-averse and unwieldy systems erect against innovative Canadian ideas and efficient project management. They propose new lines of inquiry—including public finance, ideal delivery model selection, and fundamental government mechanics—for the coming year. The pirates also share their personal experiences recording free and unscripted conversations about an industry whose hatches are so tightly battened down with technicality and precision. This episode is part retrospective, part provocation, and a clear invitation to keep the conversation going.Key Takeaways:The podcast's role in building a community of thought and practice;The vital importance of conversations that span all sectors of the industry;How we’ve overcomplicated government decision-making processes, and the resulting implications;Why generalized indecision is the greatest risk facing public project delivery;The fraught reality—and future potential—of hybrid private finance and alliance contracts.Quote:“I feel that now, speaking from a private sector lens, the indecision is a real dampener for my optimism and enthusiasm for how we’re going to tackle some big challenges.”- David HoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/Follow David Ho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtho-ontario/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Where does project control exist in the hierarchy of major programme management? This important role is far more than just financial reporting, providing oversight, or raising all the red flags—it's serves as the critical support function that enables project managers to see clearly and act decisively. In this episode, Mohammed “Moody” Saad joins Riccardo to clear up the common misconceptions around project controls. Moody is the VP of Project Delivery at AtkinsRéalis and a sessional lecturer for Toronto Metropolitan University’s Masters of Project Management program. The project controls manager is a trusted advisor and data wizard who connects the many moving parts of every infrastructure venture. Moody draws on his decades of experience to outline what sets high-performing professionals in his industry apart, including their ability to analyze problems, ask the right questions, and circumvent misplaced emotional or reactive decisions. He and Riccardo also explore the need for early integration of project controls and how the right tools and leadership culture are essential for every programme’s success.Key Takeaways:What project control management is—and what it definitely is not;What great project control managers have in common across sectors and roles;The essential tools and leadership culture that set them up for success;The three critical questions every project control manager should be able to answer;How to begin your project control journey.Quote: “One ​thing ​that ​is ​often ​overlooked ​in ​organizations ​is ​a ​project ​management ​culture. And ​that's ​where ​I ​think ​a ​lot ​of ​organizations ​struggle. ​Because ​if ​you ​don't ​have ​that ​buy ​in ​from ​executive ​leadership ​in ​an ​organization ​to ​drive ​that ​project ​management ​culture, then ​you ​are ​not ​setting ​up ​the ​project ​management ​and ​project ​controls ​personnel ​for ​success.” - Mohammed “Moody” SaadThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Moody Saad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moodysaad/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How has the rise of P3s in major infrastructure programmes impacted Canada since their adoption? In the past 30 years, the country has seen a significant transformation in the industry, from the rise of public-private partnerships, to the creation of governance like the Infrastructure Ontario Act, to the more recent implementation of alliance and collaborative models. Riccardo’s guest, Damian Joy, has seen this development from its early stages. Damien’s journey through what he calls his three careers—working with contractors on mega projects around the world, settling in Canada as a director at Balfour, and consulting with Ernst & Young—offers an excellent vantage point. With his wide-ranging knowledge and eagerness to continue growing his expertise, Damian is perfectly positioned to provide a well-rounded SWOT analysis.In this episode, the two civil engineers identify and break down the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of past and future social infrastructure projects in Canada. Their insightful and unfiltered exploration highlights the external impacts and internal sticking points that are carrying the country through its burgeoning building renaissance.Key TakeawaysThe origin and development of P3 across Canada;The importance of strong leadership and proactive governance in the success of mega projects;How P3 and UK knowledge transfer benefited contractors in Canada;The factors that affect a programme’s success above and beyond the delivery format;The impact technology is having on infrastructure data management.Quote:“[P3s and alliance models] both have a role to play. I think there’s benefits of both and the problem is not the model, it’s when the model is used in the wrong place at the wrong time.”- Damian JoyThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/Follow Damian Joy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-joy-8174a3b/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How do we build innovation before we begin to build infrastructure? When it comes to planning and launching major infrastructure projects, rushing to the construction phase too quickly has proven disadvantages. Navigating Major Programmes takes it down to the studs with Teresa Gonzalez Rico, the London-based Associate Director of AtkinsRéalis. She joins Riccardo to talk about innovation and development as a safeguard for stability while those projects are still just ideas.Teresa was a part of the early stages of the UK’s Catapult Network, a government-funded initiative that supports innovation across high-growth sectors. Through real-world case studies and insights from her experience leading cross-sector collaborations, she expounds on the wide-ranging benefits of gathering diverse players—startups, researchers, educational institutions, and big tech—to test-run solutions to complex problems, at scale, right from the start. She and Riccardo discuss striking a balance between human-centred and commercial gain, and they explore the impact funding models have on success and public perception. Teresa also dives into the industry’s need for smart digitization to address the messy realities of major infrastructure projects.Key TakeawaysHow projects combining disparate interests deliver widespread research and development benefits;The importance of effectively implementing and scaling up with new technologies;Why requiring publicly funded organizations to raise capital can send mixed messages;Digitization across the full life-cycle of built environment projects;The innovative mission of the Catapult Network in the UK.Quote:“I ​think ​one ​interesting ​aspect ​of ​the ​catapult ​network ​is that they were ​set ​up ​as ​not ​for ​profit ​private ​companies. ​Their ​commercial ​model ​is ​that ​they ​receive  ​funding ​from ​that ​core ​funding, ​but ​then ​they ​would ​have ​to ​supplement ​that ​funding. So ​actually ​in ​some ​way, ​while ​there ​is ​a ​lot ​of ​activity ​that ​is ​powered ​through ​that core ​funding ​coming ​from ​the ​government, ​there ​is ​also ​a ​big ​drive ​to ​find ​opportunities ​and ​find partners ​and other to ​collaborate ​with ​and ​draw ​in ​investment.” - Teresa Gonzalez RicoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/Follow Teresa Gonzales Rico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresagr/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

The federal government recently announced the Major Projects Office and Build Canada Homes agencies designed to administer funds and accelerate infrastructure—but will they streamline or weigh down progress with bureaucracy? Riccardo, Melissa Di Marco, and David Ho pull up chairs to a roundtable discussion of this timely and complex topic. In this episode of Uncharted Conversations, they explore the often default solution of agency development when issues arise and whether those at the helm are genuinely equipped to solve these particular problems. Questions of risk aversion and fragmented decision-making prompt skepticism from both private infrastructure bodies and Canadian citizens. The three seasoned experts unpack the structural and political realities that influence how agencies perform, reflecting on past examples, and consider whether the present country-wide urgency might push leaders to act differently this time.The conversation poses an essential question: Are these agencies being created to lead, or just to manage? Infrastructure in Canada today faces overlapping jurisdictions, unclear mandates, and high public expectation. Success will depend on more than just good intentions—it will require clarity of purpose, empowered leadership, and swift execution within a narrowing window of opportunity.Key TakeawaysThe challenge of clearly defining what problem an agency is meant to solve;How funding concerns can block and distract from forward progress;The sometimes murky relationship between provincial and federal in major programme delivery;The risk of adding bureaucracy instead of leadership in moments of urgency;The opportunity for optimism in the face of Canada’s infrastructure crisis.Quote:“I think if somebody tried to create a new version of a provincial infrastructure agency today [like Infrastructure Ontario], they would be burdened with expectations of fixing almost everything, and I think might be quite unfair.” -David HoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow David Ho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtho-ontario/Follow Melissa Di Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-di-marco/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

What impact has the AI evolution had on the role of the project controller? Project controls is a lesser-known but essential component in the delivery of any large infrastructure venture. In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo brings in Dale Foong, a seasoned specialist in the digital side of project controls and PMO leadership. Dale reframes this multifaceted career path as equivalent to a rally co-driver or golf caddy—someone to guide the project leader through inevitable complexity. Success calls for a combination of risk interpretation, blind spot highlighting, and dynamic decision-making.Dale and Riccardo’s conversation unpacks how AI and advanced integrated data systems are reshaping what’s possible in major programmes. Despite this constant advancement, Dale is confident that the ability to tell the story behind the data will always protect the human side of project controls. He champions a future where innovation is embraced, not feared— where those who can harness new tools while keeping their communication skills sharp will lead the way.Key TakeawaysWhy “project controller” might be the wrong name for this information management role;Some of the newest AI-based technologies transforming the project controller toolbox;How to tackle the issues of using a linear interaction tool to map a complex major program;The most vital skill required by a project controller, regardless of tech advancements;The cognitive pitfalls of mindlessly engaging with LLMs.Quote: 20:13-21:20Pull quote options:“We know we deliver far more complex projects than we’d like and we know there’s many different ways to deliver those projects. So my challenge to that way of thinking is, why do we only have one version of how to deliver that project?” (20:25)“In the short term, or even the medium term, AI will not replace the project controller. Project controllers who know how to use AI and know what technology is out there will replace those that don’t.” (41:15)The most important skill that I think is required for the project controller…regardless of technology, AI, or any tools advancing, is still going to remain communication skills.” (24:18)The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Dale Foong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-foong/Listen to the Project Chatter podcast: https://projectchatterpodcast.com/Listen to the GenAI podcast: www.youtube.com/@GenAIPodcastLearn more about Movar: https://movar.group/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Where can your career take you when you’re open to learning more? In this episode of the Master Builders series, Annie Ropar—the CFO of the UK’s National Wealth Fund (formerly the UK Infrastructure Bank)—joins Riccardo and Shormila for a candid conversation about lifelong learning, leadership humility, and how a start in finance has evolved into purpose-driven management in infrastructure. Annie’s dedication to curiosity and building great teams is a throughline in her career. A transition from the private to public sector reshaped Annie’s understanding of success—shifting from rapid execution to long-term and varied stakeholder impact. She outlines their different approaches, with the latter’s focus extending beyond amassing revenue to providing lasting social value. With humour and realism, Annie speaks to numerous industry motifs, including the senior-level gender gap and the demands of executive leadership. Her perspective highlights why today’s major programmes demand a special kind of master builder—one who can leave their ego behind and lift the whole team forward.Key TakeawaysWhy never assuming you’re the smartest person in the room is an essential leadership skillHow a recalibration of expectations plays into the transition between sectors and industries;The caring imperative of leadership, and the challenge of setting boundaries;Why joining boards isn’t the only possibility for women looking to advance their careers;The unexpected innovation of Canada’s infrastructure industry.Quote options:“I ​really ​have ​a ​fundamental ​care ​for ​not ​just ​my ​box ​or ​whether ​it's ​a ​small ​box, ​big ​box, ​but ​also ​about ​the ​people ​around ​me, ​even ​if ​they ​work ​in ​different ​parts ​of ​the ​business, ​et ​cetera. ​I ​always ​look ​at ​it ​from ​the ​perspective ​of, ​I'm ​an ​owner ​of ​this ​organization. ​I ​may ​not ​have ​shares, ​I ​may ​not ​have ​a ​stock ​certificate, ​but ​I ​am ​responsible ​for ​everyone ​in ​this ​organization.” - Annie RoparThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Annie Roper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-ropar-95554b4/    Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

What is the role of the sponsor in planning and delivering major projects? When it comes to public transit infrastructure, on time and on budget is only part of the story. In this episode of Navigating Major Programs, Andrew Antinucci and Carol Deveney—seasoned sponsorship and governance experts at CPCS—join Riccardo in a layered and comprehensive conversation exploring what it really means to ensure not just completion but the benefits of every major programme.The three self-professed transit geeks unpack this evolving role in Canada. The sponsor is critical, but often misunderstood, responsible not just for justifying cost and schedule, but for identifying and defending monetizing and non-monetizing benefits throughout a project’s lifecycle—for the communities the build will employ, serve, and exist within. From the business case to resisting scope adjustments to navigating multi-layer funding in a changing political climate, project sponsors are quietly shaping the success of the country’s most ambitious projects.Key TakeawaysWhy the project sponsor is a champion of public benefits, not just project outputs;The importance of post-evaluation for recognizing the short- and long-term benefits;What Canada can learn from the UK’s more mature sponsorship practices;How clear accountability reduces risk and speeds decision-making;What it takes to support scope, governance, and expectations at every phase.Quote:“When ​we're ​spending ​public ​money, ​I ​think ​all ​of ​us ​would ​agree ​we've ​got ​an ​absolute ​duty ​to ​say ​that ​we're ​spending ​it ​wisely ​because ​these ​things ​are ​expensive. ​There's ​never ​enough ​money ​to ​go ​around, ​not ​just ​our ​sector, ​but ​all ​the ​sectors. ​So ​the ​focus ​on ​cost ​should ​always ​be ​there. ​But, ​I ​think ​benefits ​are ​more ​difficult ​to ​explain ​because ​a ​lot ​of ​the ​time, ​especially ​in ​major ​projects, ​people ​get ​money, ​they ​understand ​what ​cost ​is, ​but ​the ​benefits ​are ​sometimes ​more ​nuanced.” - Carol DeveneyThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Find out more about Andrew Antinucci: https://cpcs.ca/team/andrew-antinucci/Find out more about Carol Deveney: https://cpcs.ca/team/carol-deveney/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

What does our society—and our country—need to know to embrace nuclear as the answer to the global energy situation? Riccardo sits down with the SVP of CANDU Energy at AtkinsRéalis, Julianne den Decker, in this intricate and important conversation. Julianne is the perfect spokesperson to clarify the history and impressive comeback of nuclear energy, a once-maligned and feared innovation. A lifelong advocate for the science, safety, and societal benefits of this baseline power source, Julianne explains with detail and passion how the decarbonization movement, security concerns, and AI’s unprecedented energy demands make nuclear a no-brainer for uninterrupted electricity around the world. She and Riccardo unpack the misunderstood safety record and strategic advantages of the made-in-Canada nuclear solution, as well as the practical importance of major project best practices in ensuring the success of complex nuclear infrastructure builds. This episode presents insights on the future of energy that make a compelling case for why nuclear matters now more than ever.Key TakeawaysThe factors behind the global nuclear renaissance;What history got wrong, and how public perception of nuclear risk has evolved;What sets CANDU reactors apart, including fuel flexibility to medical isotope production;How the Darlington refurbishment succeeded through collaborative project management and realistic planning;What the global future of nuclear looks like—and why Canada is well-positioned to lead.Quote:“It gets back to fundamental project management. With power ​generation, ​we ​are ​dealing ​with ​a ​very ​sophisticated ​customer ​that ​not ​only ​runs ​a ​big ​fleet ​of ​reactors, but they’re not new to major project execution. There was a lot of thought put into how are we going to run this kind of a major project and how are we going to listen to those who have been around the block and then do this project differently. There’s not one silver bullet you can point to, but many many things we’ve done correctly.” - Julianne den DeckerThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Read Riccardo’s latest at https://riccardocosentino.com/   Follow Julanne Dan Decker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-den-decker-541a4b46/   Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How are new procurement approaches, policies, and politics affecting disputes in major programmes? As collaborative and alliance models continue to rise in popularity, the old disputes playbook is rapidly being rewritten. It’s an exploration perfectly suited to Uncharted Conversations, so Riccardo and Melissa Di Marco take aim at the ways dispute resolution is evolving—courtroom litigation and boardroom negotiations, data-driven forensics, and increasingly AI-assisted workflows.The focus on alliance-style contracts is shifting fault lines and muddying traditional supply chain relationships within the industry. Legal grey zones introduced by expanding digital components are challenging the dispute landscape, and algorithms are having an outsized influence on expert analysis. Melissa also breaks down why environmental disputes are primed to be the next big thing. This episode explores how teams delivering major infrastructure projects must adapt not only their contracts but also their thinking to resolve issues in an industry where the source of conflict, and the tools to address it, are changing fast.Key TakeawaysWhy alliance contracts still allow certain claims—and why that matters;How AI and data tools are transforming the speed, scope, and tone of dispute resolution;Dispute review boards (DRBs) and the change in venue of major project disputes;Detailed specifics of how delay analysis goes forward in disputes;How responsibility shifts when AI agents begin making the decisions.Quote:“Data won’t eliminate disputes. It might potentially weaponize them in some way, because you can take the same dataset and one party can cherry pick whatever set of data to help them tell a different story, so we might actually see disputes about data about disputes”. - Melissa Di MarcoThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Melissa Di Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-di-marco/Read Riccardo’s latest at: https://riccardocosentino.com/   Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

How do you lead a national infrastructure organization in the process of building a new future? This episode for the Master Builders series, invites in one of the experts behind the curtain: Lisa Mitchell, the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP). In her deep-dive conversation with Riccardo and Shormila, she speaks to her journey from politics to the forefront of Canada's infrastructure evolution.Early experiences in Ottawa prepared Lisa for the fast pace and competing priorities of national infrastructure. She shares how she navigated imposter syndrome and career pivots, and why she sees this moment as a powerful opportunity to modernize P3s. The cross-cultural strengths of this modality, many of which are unique to Canada, create a strong foundation from which to build a groundbreaking tradition, especially today, when infrastructure finds itself front and centre in political discourse. From fostering industry-wide collaboration to advocating for programmatic delivery and inclusive stakeholder engagement, Lisa takes us on a candid, capable, and humble exploration of how we might build a better Canada—one conversation, one contract, and one conference at a time.Key Takeaways:Why redefining leadership means focusing on function, not the title;How infrastructure became a top political priority—and what comes next;The public and private discourse that makes Canada’s P3 ecosystem uniques;What goes into organizing Canada’s biggest infrastructure conference (aka P3 Prom);Why the next era of P3s must expand beyond traditional models and asset classes.Quote“It's ​naturally ​built ​on ​competition, ​but ​I ​had ​never ​met ​a ​group ​of ​private ​and ​public ​sector ​folks ​that ​were ​so ​willing ​and ​committed ​to ​sit ​at ​the ​table ​and ​figure ​out ​how ​to ​make ​things ​work ​and ​to ​do ​good ​things. If ​we've ​got ​a ​sticky ​policy ​thing, ​I ​can ​pull ​a ​group ​of ​people ​together ​to ​sit ​around ​a ​boardroom ​table  very ​easily. ​They're ​so ​committed ​and ​willing ​and ​they're ​able ​to put ​​the ​individual ​​needs on ​the ​back ​burner ​to ​have ​these ​conversations ​and ​really ​look ​at ​it as ​industry ​specific. ​And ​I've ​just ​been ​so ​fascinated ​by ​that.” - Lisa MitchellThe conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Read Riccardo’s latest a: https://riccardocosentino.com/Follow Lisa Mitchell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mitchell/ Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.