Navigating Major Programmes

In this Master Builders episode of Navigating Major Programmes, hosts Riccardo Cosentino and Shormila Chatterjee challenge the mindset around alliance contracts with Jane Ogilvie, the Alliance Director of Toronto’s East Harbour Transit Hub Alliance and a 20-year veteran of major projects management in her home country of Australia. 

Jane shares the details of this collaborative approach—one that has long been popular in certain industries Down Under but is still quite new in Canada. From method variations to adopting an alliance contract model mid-project to the future of this framework in Canada and beyond, Jane’s insights highlight the benefits of abandoning an us-versus-them mentality in favour of more collaboration between project participants.

“I've ​worked ​on ​P3s ​and ​alliances ​and ​a ​lot ​in ​between, ​as ​I ​mentioned. ​And ​I ​think ​P3s ​still ​have ​their ​place. ​You ​know, ​I ​think ​you ​need ​a ​mix ​of ​the ​different ​styles ​of ​contracts, ​and ​you ​need ​to ​look ​at ​the ​risk ​profile ​of ​a ​project ​to ​see ​which ​one ​makes ​sense. ​You ​know, there are ​some ​types ​of ​contract ​where ​I ​would ​always ​say, ​you ​know, ​a ​P3 ​is ​probably ​a ​better ​model. ​And ​then ​there's ​ones ​that ​I'd ​say, ​obviously ​an ​alliance ​is ​a ​better ​way ​to ​go ​as ​an ​outcome. ​So ​as ​an ​owner, ​I ​think ​you ​need ​to ​look ​at ​that ​spectrum ​of ​where ​is ​the ​risk ​profile? ​How ​much ​of ​the ​risk ​can ​you ​share ​versus ​what's ​still ​a ​retained ​risk ​that ​you ​need ​to ​retain? ​As ​an ​owner, ​you ​can't ​push ​everything ​onto ​a ​contract.” - Jane Ogilvie

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of having a legal framework to support collaboration in projects.
• The demographic differences in the soft skills that best serve collaborative contract participants.
• The benefits of combining and coordinating multiple alliances in a multi-discipline, large-scale project.
• How alliance contracts can take project value beyond capital cost.
• How to determine the ideal methodology for different types of projects.

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

Host Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Luigi La Corte, CEO and Co-Founder of Provision, a Toronto-based AI construction technology company. Luigi recounts his journey from working alongside his father’s contracting business to a role in P3 (Public-Private Partnerships) at Plenary, where he observed firsthand the mounting costs of construction disputes and claims. 

Driven by a desire to create positive change, Luigi launched Provision in 2022, evolving the venture through several pivots to its current mission—helping contractors and subcontractors identify and mitigate contractual risks early and effectively. 

Together, Riccardo and Luigi discuss the promise of AI in reducing disputes, optimizing processes, and ultimately aiming to put more profit into contractors’ pockets, thereby fueling a more innovative and rewarding construction industry for all.

" I do think the industry is very receptive. They want to solve problems. And I don't think AI is a lot of hype. I think what it's done, especially in construction, is it's helped people standardize. One of the biggest problems in construction is that a lot of the information is contained within PDFs and unstructured documents. But now you can create a taxonomy for each of those things and plug them into, you know, the respective workflow. That's magic. And then also, LLMs can emulate some level of human thought and exercise some discretion in a very specific sense." – Luigi La Corte

Key Takeaways

• Why construction claims are costly: they consume 2–4% of project budgets, making early risk identification essential to save time and money.
• How AI can streamline error-prone document reviews, improving accuracy and project efficiency 
• How market feedback drives product evolution: Iterating based on real-world pain points leads to solutions that better meet user needs.
• Why AI won’t solve every dispute is because its strength lies in reducing errors, identifying risks, and augmenting human expertise for higher-level tasks.
• How contractor profitability fuels industry transformation: reinvesting gains in technology sparks innovation

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

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

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino and co-host Shormila Chatterjee sit down with Melissa DeMarco, a seasoned construction and infrastructure leader with a PhD in construction management. With over 15 years of industry experience, Melissa has led projects across industrial, institutional, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Currently a partner at Accuracy, a boutique consulting firm, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s infrastructure and energy practice in Canada and globally. 

She delves into her academic journey, including her groundbreaking PhD research on global project networks, which allowed her to work with major industry leaders and analyze the mindset shifts required for success in complex, multi-location projects.

"People think of construction as a hard science, but then I think the angle that you took, which is sort of the same angle that I studied on, it's a social science, because ultimately there's so many people, and as soon as you have an aggregation of so many people, it then becomes a social environment, rather than a hardcore technical environment." – Melissa DeMarco

Key Takeaways:

• Melissa’s career path from academia to industry has shaped her unique approach to infrastructure leadership.
• Success in major projects relies on both technical expertise and the ability to manage people effectively.
• Building a business from the ground up requires a mix of strategic vision, resilience, and strong relationships.
• Advancing in male-dominated industries takes both hard work and the confidence to advocate for leadership opportunities.

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

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

Riccardo Cosentino welcomes Ali Mafi, an industry veteran whose career spans construction, automotive, and consultancy. Ali shares his journey from site engineer at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 to leading transformative project management practices at Balfour Beatty, where he introduced innovative methodologies like critical chain management and lean principles. Drawing comparisons with the automotive sector, Ali emphasizes how better project monitoring, bottleneck identification, and accountability can improve outcomes in construction.

"My definition of project management is knowing the impact of every task on the end date, every day. If you don’t know that, you cannot manage the project. You’re managing tasks, or you’re managing resources, but you’re not managing the project." – Ali Mafi

Key Takeaways

• Reshaping project management starts with daily monitoring of tasks driving the end date.
• Time is the largest cost in construction projects, yet it is often mismanaged or overlooked.
• Lessons from industries like automotive manufacturing highlight the value of lean principles and shorter feedback loops.
• Complexity and uncertainty are inevitable, but they can be mitigated by prioritizing work and adopting adaptive strategies.

Links Mentioned

• The Goal by Eliyahu M Goldratt https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113934.The_Goal

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

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

In this Master Builders episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino and co-host Shormila Chatterjee sit down with previous colleague and friend Chantal Sorel, a seasoned leader whose 30-year career spans architecture, project management, and executive roles across industries including infrastructure, mining, and social infrastructure. With extensive international experience and a commitment to delivering value through challenging projects, Chantal reflects on her journey and shares lessons from managing high-stakes initiatives like the McGill University Health Centre.

Chantal discusses the importance of breaking barriers as a woman in construction, fostering ethical collaboration, and adapting project management practices to meet evolving challenges. Her insights highlight the critical role of leadership, strategy, and societal impact in shaping the future of the industry.

"Project management is about maximizing the result with the resources you have. That’s it. My definition of project management is maximizing the result with the resources you have and using them in the best combination—the right capacity and to the right objective and the needs that you have to fulfill, and not detracting from that. And this is what it is about. So for me, it’s always been a passion. I said I’m a builder. And of course, I’ve practiced infrastructure all my career because, for me, it was a way to deliver value, value for society. I’m a bit of an idealist, but I think that society needs value, and we’re there to deliver value." – Chantal Sorel 

Key Takeaways

• How resilience and expertise helped Chantal navigate leadership in traditionally male-dominated industries.
• Why delivering value through infrastructure projects requires balancing strategy, collaboration, and societal impact.
• How global experience and adaptability shape effective project management practices.
• The evolving role of technology, including AI, in addressing the complexities of modern mega-projects.

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

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

Welcome back to Navigating Major Programmes and welcome to season 3 of our podcast! In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino launches the third season by reflecting on the podcast’s journey and setting the stage for an exciting year ahead. From embracing the challenges of imposter syndrome to exploring transformative industry trends, Riccardo shares his vision for 2025 and how the podcast will continue to elevate the conversation around major programmes.

“I believe this is the year where technologies like AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics are no longer just the ‘next big thing’ but are truly embraced on a mass scale across the industry. It’s no longer about being curious about these technologies; it’s about fully accepting and harnessing their potential to drive real change. And that change will define the future of how we operate—from project management to risk assessment and, especially, preventive maintenance.” – Riccardo Cosentino

Key Takeaways

• The transformative potential of AI and predictive analytics in preventive maintenance.
• Insights from industry leaders on balancing innovation with legacy systems.
• Embracing new skills and challenges for personal and professional growth.
• A sneak peek at the new Preventive Maintenance vodcast series.

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: 

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

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino wraps up season two by revisiting the key themes and groundbreaking insights that defined the season. From the transformative power of AI in project management to the essential role of human collaboration, Riccardo explores how major programmes are evolving and shares his vision for the future.

This season featured distinguished guests who brought fresh perspectives on technology, leadership, stakeholder management, and public perception. Riccardo reflects on these conversations, highlighting how AI-driven tools, digital twins, and predictive analytics are revolutionizing infrastructure projects while emphasizing the enduring importance of empathy, trust, and inclusivity.

“While AI and technology are reshaping how we plan and execute major programmes, it’s important to remember that success in infrastructure isn’t just about the tools we use—it’s about the people who bring these projects to life. As we navigated the complexities of infrastructure, we often touched on the human element that underpins successful project delivery.” – Riccardo Cosentino

Key Takeaways

• The power of AI in forecasting and risk management
• Fostering collaboration, diversity, and resilience within teams.
• Reflections on trust and allyship as essential components of successful infrastructure projects.
• The critical role of societal acceptance for the adoption of technologies like urban air mobility.

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: 

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

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Alan Mosca, CTO and Co-Founder of nPlan, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and project management. Alan shares his journey, from founding nPlan in 2017 to transforming how major programmes forecast and mitigate project risks using AI-powered tools.

Alan dives deep into the technicalities of nPlan’s innovative approach to project scheduling, risk assessment, and portfolio management. Through real-world applications and fascinating anecdotes, he discusses how AI can turn vast amounts of project data into actionable insights, paving the way for more proactive and informed decision-making in the infrastructure and construction sectors.

“You think about like you're starting a business, right? You start from what's a problem that you want to solve. And so we started from the end effectively. Problem that we want to solve is: why is it that when humans say that they're going to build something or do a project it then almost invariably takes twice as long and four times the amount of money than you said it was going to take.” – Alan Mosca

Key Takeaways:

• How AI models like nPlan's transform static project schedules into dynamic tools that anticipate risks and propose proactive solutions
• How leveraging historical project data helps refine forecasts and improve project outcomes
• The role of culture in project success—aligning incentives and fostering transparency between teams and stakeholders can break down silos and create trust
• Unlocking efficiency with AI-generated schedules—could this give your team the edge in competitive bidding and execution?

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. https://lovethepodcast.com/NavigatingMajorProgrammesPod

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

• Follow Alan Mosca on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitbix/
• Explore the nPlan website at https://www.nplan.io/
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Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this special Master Builders episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino and co-host Shormila Chatterjee are joined by Marianne Smith, a distinguished partner at Blakes National Infrastructure Group, to celebrate her remarkable career and pay tribute to Judy Wilson, a trailblazer in Canada’s infrastructure industry. Judy, a world-renowned procurement lawyer and a champion for diversity, left an indelible mark on the sector before her passing. This episode honors her legacy while highlighting Marianne’s own contributions as one of Judy’s closest mentees.

With over 20 years of experience in infrastructure and procurement law, Marianne has played a pivotal role in shaping public-private partnerships (P3s) across Canada. She shares her journey from working alongside Judy to becoming a leader in the field, emphasizing how mentorship and advocacy for diversity have been central to her success.

"Judy was a champion of diversity. She was an ally before we had the nomenclature of what an ally is.  She used her power, authority, influence. Not just selfishly, but also to promote, women, people of color, anyone who might've felt, that they didn't belong in the boardroom or around the table, talking about tough, infrastructure type issues. She really did impact so many people in that way." – Marianne Smith

Key Takeaways:

• Judy’s approach challenges with creativity, focus on client needs, and advocate for diversity to drive meaningful change
• How to leverage your expertise to develop frameworks and processes that can become industry benchmarks.
• How to build inclusive environments that encourage collaboration and empower diverse teams to succeed.
• Why investing in mentorship by sharing knowledge and supporting the growth of future leaders.

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 Marianne Smith on LinkedIn
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Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.

In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo Cosentino sits down with Mikaila Kukurudza to explore the significance of thought leadership—and some of the biggest mistakes professionals make on LinkedIn.

Mikaila Kukurudza, founder of Colada Marketing Ltd., has been instrumental in helping both people and brands tell their stories, including working with Riccardo over the last three years. If you’ve come across any of Riccardo’s LinkedIn articles, chances are, Mikaila is the pen behind them. Is hiring a ghostwriter unethical? Why does personal branding matter for the infrastructure industry—and beyond? And how do social media platforms shape major programs? Riccardo and Mikaila dive into all this and more.

“You already have a personal brand, whether you like it or not. It’s just a matter of whether you’re going to define and refine it into something you’re happy with. For anyone listening—even if you’re not actively posting on LinkedIn—you already have a personal brand. It’s up to you to shape it into how you want to be represented online.” — Mikaila Kukurudza

Key Takeaways:

• Riccardo’s thought leadership journey: from posting to podcasting.
• The controversy and value of ghostwriting.
• Grab a pen, here’s your 10-minute LinkedIn checklist for building your online presence.
• The vulnerability of personal branding—do vanity analytics really matter?

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.

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• Colada Marketing Ltd. 
• LinkedIn Learning – Becoming a Thought Leader
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Music: "A New Tomorrow" by Chordial Music. Licensed through PremiumBeat.