Navigating Major Programmes

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 Pattison

The 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_link
• Season 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 Takeaways

• How 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 Weltman

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 www.riccardocosentino.com
• Follow 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 Quinn

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/ 
• 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 Takeaways

• Breaking 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 Cosentino

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 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 Cosentino

The 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-ep4
• Listen 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-itagawa
• Listen 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-collaboration
• 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/

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 Takeaways

• The 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 Theriault

The 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 industries
• Why 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 Fitch

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 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 Ho

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 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” Saad

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 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 Takeaways

• The 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 Joy

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 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.