Navigating Major Programmes

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Annie Goodchild, a passionate advocate for inclusivity in major projects. As a trans, non-binary professional in the infrastructure industry, Annie shares insights on industry resilience, stakeholder management, and the value of diverse perspectives in shaping successful projects. The duo discusses all this, plus the role of public inquiries in major projects. 

Annie Goodchild brings a wealth of experience in communications and stakeholder outreach, driving strategic initiatives for complex infrastructure projects across Canada. As the Director of Communications and Stakeholder Outreach at Kiewit, they currently lead efforts on Ottawa’s Confederation Line extensions, focusing on building essential relationships for project success. Known for their commitment to teamwork, learning, and connection, Annie believes that true progress happens when everyone moves forward together.

“We are the eyes and ears in many ways of how the project's going to do everywhere else, but in the very boardroom that it's executed from, and that those outside forces, the climate around the boardroom affects the boardroom more than sometimes they'd like. So let us help. Let us be in the room. Let us share our understanding of what's coming and help us plan a mitigation around any problems we might see, because that's our ultimate benefit to the major project." – Annie Goodchild

Key Takeaways:

• Annie’s journey into major projects and the importance of diversity in creating resilient teams.
•  How proactive and transparent stakeholder management can build trust and transform community relationships, revealing insights that could redefine your approach to major projects.
• How embracing diverse perspectives enhances the problem-solving capabilities of major projects.
• The role of allies in creating a more inclusive and supportive industry for marginalized groups, from a trans perspective.

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Mentioned Links:

• How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Annie Goodchild on LinkedIn
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn 
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this episode of Mastering Major Projects, Riccardo Cosentino and co-host Shormila Chatterjee sit down with Marni Dicker, a dynamic and bilingual senior executive recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the country. Marni’s accolades include the General Counsel Award for Business Achievement and the Premier’s Award of Excellence from the Province of Alberta for her groundbreaking work on the Calgary Courthouse Public-Private Partnership.

With an impressive background in corporate law and a strategic leadership role in the Canadian Premier League, Marni shares her extraordinary journey from criminal law to becoming a transformative figure in infrastructure and business strategy. Known for her ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, she discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of female leaders.

"Remember, I knew nothing about construction and infrastructure engineering, and they would ask me a very substantive question. What would you do if this happened on one of your sites? And I did the following. I would certainly call external counsel who is specialized in that area, and I would ensure that we got the best advice. Basically, I was punting it down the line because I had no idea, none, how to answer their questions. What I quickly learned is that's what they liked. No one is expected to know everything you are supposed to be able to know how to use your resources, how to get the right expert advice." – Marni Dicker

Key Takeaways:

• Career Evolution: Marni’s path from criminal law to leading major infrastructure projects, showcasing her adaptability and leadership across industries.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Marni’s experience in structuring award-winning public-private partnerships, including her work on the Calgary Courthouse project.
• Leadership in Infrastructure Development: From leading infrastructure for the Canadian Premier League to managing multimillion-dollar projects, Marni’s strategic and operational expertise is highlighted across sectors.
• Mentorship and Diversity: Her role as a mentor and advocate for diversity, pushing for gender equality in leadership roles within traditionally male-dominated industries.Plus, insight into how Marni successfully balanced her demanding career while prioritizing her family life.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Marni Dicker on LinkedIn
• Follow Shormila Chatterjee on Linkedin
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino dives into an engaging conversation with AI visionary Dev Amratia, uncovering how AI is revolutionizing the infrastructure industry. Together, they explore the game-changing potential of harnessing data from over 760,000 global projects to forecast outcomes with precision, drastically improving risk management and efficiency. Dev reveals the untapped possibilities of AI, from smarter decision-making to reshaping the very way projects are delivered, offering insights that challenge traditional approaches and inspire a bold new future for infrastructure.

"What if we had the experience of 760,000 projects between the two of us and then worked on a project, wouldn’t we be hundreds of times more effective than we currently are?" – Dev Amratia

Dev is the Co-Founder and CEO of nPlan, where he is at the forefront of rethinking how project outcomes are forecasted and addressing risk in the built environment. With an aerospace engineering background and 9 years of capital project management experience, he combines both technical and commercial expertise to tackle complex challenges. Dev also co-authored the UK Government's AI Review (2017) and is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) through the Royal Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Key Takeaways:

• Why AI's full potential in project timelines, risks, and improvements is still untapped
• How can the infrastructure industry overcome inefficiency and poor risk management when outdated methods, like fixed-price contracts based on incomplete data
• The cultural shift  needed for AI adoption, with ground-level resistance requiring both top-down and bottom-up strategies
• Data-driven decision-making is crucial for the infrastructure industry, as AI-facilitated collaboration and data sharing can improve project outcomes and reduce adversarial approaches.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Dev Amratia on LinkedIn
• Learn more about nPlan
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Vickie Turnbull, a trailblazer in infrastructure finance with over 35 years of experience in the banking industry. Vickie shares her unique journey from corporate banking to becoming a key figure in infrastructure finance, shedding light on her extensive work with leading Canadian banks like TD Securities and RBC. Now, in what she calls "Vickie 2.0," she remains deeply involved in the sector, leveraging her expertise in advisory roles and as a board member for Infrastructure Ontario.

Vickie also dives into her commitment to mentorship and advocacy for women in infrastructure, reflecting on her role in founding the Women's Infrastructure Network (WIN) and Women in Energy Canada (WIECAN). She emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in infrastructure and discusses how these networks have evolved to support and empower women in the industry.

"I think that's one of the things I really love about the whole infrastructure space is it takes a village to get these transactions done. I think that's been part of the fun part for me is that I have so many different people that I talk through as I'm working on a transaction. Right? And you've got all these people that you can interact with. And again, you get that whole diversity. People are looking at things from various different ways. And at the end of the day, we've got these fabulous assets that are getting built for the use of Canadians and replacing, you know, things that really needed to be replaced. There's a lot more that still needs to be done. So I'm a part of it, but I don't see myself, like I, it's hard and I don't know whether that's just how I think through things, how I look at it, but I do really, like, it does take a village to get these things done and I couldn't do it alone on my own. Absolutely not." – Vickie Turnbull

Key Takeaways:

• Vickie's journey from corporate banking to a leadership role in infrastructure finance
• The genesis and growth of the Women's Infrastructure Network and Women in Energy Canada
• Insights into navigating the complexities of infrastructure finance and project management
• The evolving role of mentorship and diversity in the infrastructure sector
• Strategies for fostering innovation and resilience in major programmes

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Vickie Turnbull on LinkedIn
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Host Riccardo Cosentino explores untapped knowledge in project management, drawing from his Oxford insights. This episode of Navigating Major Programmes delves into integrating social sciences and complex adaptive systems, addressing how minor changes can lead to significant impacts due to project complexity. Join Riccardo as he navigates through the complexities of project management, offering innovative solutions to embrace and manage these challenges effectively in a new mini series: The Science of Complexity. Could your approach to project management be outdated?

"I am convinced that, although we have achieved many incredible things already as project leaders and managers, there's something missing, something that's already out there in the world's knowledge that we're not using well enough." – Riccardo Cosentino

Steps for improving the management and understanding of complex, large-scale infrastructure projects:

• Step one: Social sciences and complex adaptive systems.
• Step two: Systems thinking.
• Step three: A Betagon chart.
• Step four: Finding a success criterion.
• Step five: Network graphs.
• Step six: Higher level network graphs.
• Step seven: Digital twins.
• Step eight: The Incerto.
• Step nine: Digital twins.
• Step ten: Composable systems.
• Step eleven: Semantics and Ontologies

Mentioned Links:  

The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization (Recommended Reading)

• Amazon.ca
• Amazon.com

How Understanding Systems Thinking Changed My Career (Riccardo’s LinkedIn Article)

Organizing for Work (Recommended Reading) 

• Amazon.ca
• Amazon.com

Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Published Works (Recommended Incerto Reading)

• Amazon.ca
• Amazon.com

Digital Construction Ontologies 
 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino chats with fellow Oxford MMPM alumnus David Porter about the game-changing potential of artificial intelligence in construction and project management. David shares how AI can drastically improve project forecasts and decision-making, even in an industry slow to adopt new technologies. He also discusses innovative strategies from his company, Octant AI, that tackle data management challenges and boost project performance. The AI revolution is here—will you be ready? Should AI be considered a general-purpose technology (GPT)?

"So, you know, this is a huge, huge change that we are facing. And there is going to be massive disruption, you know, like, I mean, there just is. And so those who learn to use the tool, like those who learned how to use an internal combustion engine to put an airplane in the sky, those people are the people who are going to be our leaders." – David Porter

David Porter brings a wealth of experience from the construction industry, having spent his entire career in this field. As the co-founder of Octant AI, he has been at the forefront of developing AI tools that enhance project performance and decision-making. His insights into the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into construction projects provide a compelling narrative for the future of project management.

Key Takeaways:

• The challenges and opportunities of applying AI in the construction industry
• Understanding the capabilities and applications of Octant AI’s predictive tools
• Overcoming data management hurdles in construction projects
• The future of AI in major programmes and its potential to revolutionize the industry
• Practical advice for integrating AI tools into existing project management frameworks

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow David Porter on LinkedIn
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Welcome to a special collaboration episode of the Navigating Major Programmes podcast featuring Henry Fenby-Taylor from the Digital Twin Fan Club. Joining them is Associate Professor Jenn MacArthur from Toronto Metropolitan University to discuss digital twins in major projects. They delve into complex programme management, emerging digital trends, AI's transformative power, and essential leadership for billion-dollar projects. The trio also explores the nuances of building information management (BIM), digital twins' practical uses, and sustainable practices shaping future cities.  

“But what if you could actually transfer learning from previous buildings into that one, from previous genericized systems into a new system. And you built in this online learning capability, that your twin was actually capable of learning what was typical for the building as the data came in. And then adapting those algorithms to be able to tune them to that building, with very, very little human intervention.” –  Jenn MacArthur

Key Takeaways:

• Implementing digital twin technology in major programmes (real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and improved lifecycle management)
• The role of local governance in driving sustainability initiatives and how city-led regulations and bylaws significantly influence the outcome
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of BIM and AI to enhance decision-making
• Adaptable and scalable solutions

Jenn MacArthur is an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, specializing in mechanical engineering and sustainable infrastructure. Her career spans from energy and water management in India to leadership roles in design engineering and construction in Canada. In academia, she focuses on Building Information Management (BIM), AI, and digital twins, aiming to optimize building operations and energy use through advanced technology applications.

Henry Fenby-Taylor is the CEO of Athenophilia, where he assists clients on their digital transformation journey, creating software applications, digital twins, and information management capabilities. He also hosts the Digital Twin Fan Club podcast, exploring topics related to digital twins, AI, and the broader infrastructure industry. Henry is engaged in driving innovation and managing change within organizations, working closely with stakeholders to accelerate change and drive innovation.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Welcome to a very unique episode of Navigating Major Programmes, in which Riccardo Cosentino shares his biggest insecurities and how overcoming them kickstarted the turning point of his career in major programmes. As Riccardo shares his upbringing in Italy and how he ended up at an Oxford University graduation ceremony dumbfounded by how he got there, listen very carefully—and trust us, listen to the end for a shocking conclusion.

“My respect for Oxford diminished simply because I had fooled them into giving me a degree. How could the heart of world academics be so easily bamboozled by me?” –  Riccardo Cosentino

Key Takeaways:

• The root of imposter syndrome
• Why imposter syndrome and burnout go hand in hand
• How redefining success ultimately leads to more success
• And finally, did AI dupe you? And what does this mean for the future of not only our industry, but all industries.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com
• Read Riccardo’s article I Duped Oxford for the full story. 

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

Riccardo Cosentino and his co-host Corail Bourrelier Fabiani welcome Harvey Maylor, their esteemed professor from the MSc Major Programme Management at Oxford, to discuss the transformative power of systems thinking in major project management. Harvey Maylor, a leading academic and practitioner, shares his profound insights on harnessing systems thinking to navigate and resolve the intricate challenges inherent in large-scale projects.

“We just make life flipping difficult. And that, for me, is a great frustration that you see really bright, really energetic people really going at a problem, but because of the way the work is organized, it's just really difficult and that their insights, intelligence, energy just gets burnt up by pointless organizational things that don't add any value to them, the organization or the end user or indeed society. ” –  Harvey Maylor

Harvey Maylor combines over 25 years of industry experience with academic research to bring a unique perspective to project management. As an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick, Harvey focuses on project management, complexity, and performance. He advocates for practical methodologies like Agile and Lean to enhance project outcomes across various sectors.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the fundamental principles of systems thinking and how they apply to major projects
• Techniques to identify, analyze, and manage the complexities inherent in large-scale projects
• Exploring how strategic misrepresentation and optimism bias affect project estimates and decision-making
• The application of Agile, Lean, and other practical methodologies to manage and mitigate project risks
• Effective strategies for managing diverse stakeholder groups and navigating political influences in large-scale projects

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Corail Bourrelier Fabiani on LinkedIn
• Follow Harvey Maylor on LinkedIn
• Read Harvey Maylor’s Published Work
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

On this week’s special episode of Navigating Major Programmes Riccardo Cossentino shares a conversation from his other podcast, A WINning Perspective: The WIN Canada Podcast. Riccardo sits down with three nominees of The Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) Canada WIN Awards: Divya Shah, Tamara Vrooman, and Kimberly Doran.

Despite working in senior roles in a male-dominated industry not designed for them, the panelists have achieved success and professional recognition. They share valuable insights and advice for transforming the industry from dry to progressive, and pose the question: Is it a dumb question or the next revolution in the industry? Along with expanding professional networks and securing sponsorships, these three leaders in major programmes share their hopes and actionables for women, and allies, in the industry.

“We're just talking about infrastructure, which is about design and about building things and about the future. Yet, we really need to design our organizations for that future. And what I find is a lot of the time we're trying to put women into roles that were not designed for us…We have to change the way that we design our organizations so that they're fit for the purpose that we want them to serve, which is to get more diverse people, including women into leadership roles, particularly in an area like infrastructure.” — Tamara Vrooman

Key Takeaways:

• The hesitancy of failing, the importance of taking risks as a woman in megaprojects
• How do we empower women to get into decision-making roles; rewriting roles designed for men  
• Taking mentorship further with sponsorship

Divya Shah is the Managing Director at the Canada Infrastructure Bank, leading investments in trade, transportation, and critical minerals. With 18 years in project finance, Divya shapes investment strategies, oversees business development, and manages financial structuring to asset management. She began her career at Infrastructure Ontario during its early days of public-private partnerships, marking her start in transformative infrastructure projects.

Tamara Vrooman serves as the President and CEO of Vancouver International Airport, the second-largest international airport in Canada and home to the largest building in British Columbia. With a rich background in banking and finance, Tamara has financed numerous public and private infrastructure projects. Her extensive experience includes roles as the Chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank board and Deputy Minister of Finance for British Columbia, overseeing Partnerships BC.

Kimberly Doran is the Vice President and Geotechnical Practice Lead at AtkinsRéalis. As a passionate advocate for gender parity, she co-founded and chairs the ExcELLEnce Employee Resource Group, dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive culture. Outside of her corporate responsibilities, Kimberly is deeply involved in her field, serving as the Finance Director for the Regina Geotechnical Group and participating in the Transportation Committee of the Saskatchewan Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEC-SK).

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our LinkedIn community: 

• Follow Divya Shah on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-shah-cfa-4a116b3/
• Follow Tamara Vrooman on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-vrooman-1044b425a/
• Follow Kimberly Doran on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-doran-32888196/
• Follow Navigating Major Programmes on LinkedIn
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino on LinkedIn
• Read Riccardo’s latest at wwww.riccardocosentino.com

Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.