Navigating Major Programmes

Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina
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Navigating Major Programmes is for those working in or around major infrastructure, and want sharper conversations about why major programmes succeed, stall, or struggle. This podcast is the elevated conversation surrounding infrastructure and major programme management. Hosted by Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina, the show brings industry leaders and practitioners into candid discussions about the decisions that shape large-scale infrastructure. The conversations surround programme design, governance, procurement, financing, delivery, risk, stakeholder engagement, AI, digital transformation, leadership, inclusion, and public value. Continue the conversation with our community on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes

  1. 4d ago

    How Microclimate Modelling Helps Cities Adapt to Climate Change

    How can planners and engineers design cities that are more comfortable for the people living in them? The answer to this complex question involves microclimate analysis, and Ali Katal has designed a program that could ease this process, just as more and more regions are adopting stricter guidelines around it. In this episode, Evgenia and Riccardo speak with Ali about his company, Planète GreenLeaves. The building and microclimate engineer and PhD graduate focuses on climate adaptation in cities, particularly the growing challenge of heatwaves, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent. The conversation explores how Ali moved from academic research into entrepreneurship, developing a platform that makes advanced microclimate simulations more accessible to planners, engineers, designers, and decision-makers. His tool models heat, wind, shade, energy, and other climate factors—all in one place—to help teams understand how design decisions affect outdoor comfort. A key focus is the Universal Thermal Climate Index, or UTCI, which measures how heat stress is actually experienced by the human body in specific environments. As Ali explains, the temperature someone feels on a street can be very different from the air temperature shown on a weather app. The innovative speakers also discuss the challenges of bringing climate modelling into real-world planning and infrastructure processes, the requirements of which are beginning to change. Toronto has introduced thermal comfort guidelines and other global cities, including Singapore and Saudi Arabia, are following suit. The episode also examines common misconceptions about heat mitigation, from tree planting to cool pavement, and why cities cannot rely on generic solutions. Ali stresses that for true transformation, cities and major project teams need better tools, clearer policies, and a stronger understanding of how design choices actually affect the people who live, work, and move through urban spaces. Key takeaways How extreme heat in Montreal led Ali from engineering research into climate-resilience entrepreneurship;Why the problem of outdoor comfort stretches beyond simple calculations of air temperature;The problem with common heat-mitigation solutions and one-size-fits-all approaches;The programming language and AI components of this innovative platform;The funding and start-up struggles and successes of a company with a fresh idea in a traditional infrastructure environment.Quote “[With a different tool] it took one month, two months to get the simulation results. I can say if they were using our tool, it could be done in one day.” - Ali Katal 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/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Follow Ali Katal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-katal-8a410746/

  2. Oct 5

    Building Infrastructure That Lasts: Balancing Profit & Public Value with Radhika Anand

    How do industry leaders shift their thinking to incorporate the long-term right from the start? Over her 20-year career, Radhika Anand has identified a persistent and concerning pattern in the infrastructure landscape: a lack of planning past the preliminary completion of projects. In her far-ranging work as an economist covering Asia-Pacific and India through to her most recent role as VP of Commercial Advisory and Strategy at Infrastructure Ontario — and now as Founder and Senior Advisor at The Foundation Stone — Radhika has explored finance, investment law, and infrastructure delivery from all sides of the field. She saw early on the potential of infrastructure to create dignity and access in developing countries. This led her to dive deep into how infrastructure decisions are actually made—the risk allocation, political and financial evaluation, and public/private interactions that shape whether an asset delivers long-term value. In her conversation with Evgenia, Radhika exposes and examines the oft-held view that public value and private profit are opposing forces. Drawing on her time evaluating companies in India and beyond, she argues that responsible commercial discipline is more common than many people think and can help create assets that are more durable, equitable, and useful over time. Rather than treating environmental, social, and community benefits as add-ons, Radhika makes the case for designing them into the asset from the beginning and continuing to monitor these essential considerations throughout the often decades-long life of every project. The industry experts discuss the truth about tradeoffs, the trap of over-customization, and effective operating models. Talking through transit payment systems, data centres, Indigenous participation, and AI adoption, Radhika returns to a central point: major projects need multidisciplinary leaders who can balance both short-term delivery pressure and long-term consequences. This episode challenges infrastructure leaders to ask better questions earlier, think across systems, and design assets for the full life of their value—not only for the moment of procurement. Key takeaways: The need for designing social, environmental, and community benefits into infrastructure assets from the beginning;Why public value and private profit can support and complement one another;When infrastructure “tradeoffs” turn out to be the result of weak due diligence, siloed decision-making, or contracts that do not preserve flexibility;How system-level thinking can help infrastructure investments work together instead of competing for resources;Why integrating all technology before implementing AI makes the difference between adding value and wasting capital.Quote “When we are building assets in silos, it locks people out and destroys capital.”  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/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Follow Radhika Anand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhikaanand9/

  3. Sep 28

    Building Better Project Leaders in the Canadian Infrastructure Leadership Academy with Matti Siemiatycki

    What balance of academic and in-practice education will turn out the best future infrastructure leaders? That’s what the team behind the Infrastructure Institute are discovering as they prepare to launch the inaugural Canadian Infrastructure Leadership Academy at the University of Toronto. Matti Siemiatycki is leading the charge, and he returns to the podcast to speak further about the inspiration and effort behind the program. In his conversation with Ricardo, Evgenia, and Shormila, Matti—a U of T professor of urban planning and Director of the Infrastructure Institute—discusses what’s missing in modern infrastructure delivery and what the Academy could mean for the future of an industry so vital to Canada’s continued growth. Matti reflects on years spent as the “coroner of infrastructure,” studying why major projects fail. Over time, he spotted recurring patterns: while individual project management issues matter, many failures point to broader gaps in leadership, organizational capacity, and the human side of delivery. Inspired by other professional offerings, like the Major Projects Leadership Academy in the UK, the Canadian program is designed for professionals with 10 to 15 years of experience who are ready to move into larger delivery roles. The program will combine academic insight with practical industry expertise, covering the commercial and business skills, as well as the conflict management, required to lead complex projects.  Keep listening to learn what it will take for the academy to create project management change, in practice, nationally. Matti also discusses why this is the perfect moment to explore and launch a program that focuses on behavioural and relationship best practices and seeks to change the culture of infrastructure delivery as a whole, through an academically rigorous, practically sound approach to creating major projects that succeed. Key takeaways: Why major project leadership requires more than technical expertise or on-the-job experience alone;How studying project failures reveals recurring gaps in leadership, organizational capacity, and delivery culture;What lessons successful projects like the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station can offer;What needs to happen around the Leadership Academy for it to help shift Canadian project delivery culture;Why future leaders need to learn from a combination of academics and industry experts.Quote “I’m becoming much more convinced that the individuals make a huge difference” - Matti Siemiatycki 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/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Follow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Connect with Matti Siemiatycki: https://www.geography.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/matti-siemiatycki   Learn more about the Leadership Academy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/infrastructure-institute/people/ Listen to NMP, episode 19, “The Human Pursuit of Infrastructure Delivery”: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s2/19 Listen to NMP, episode 59, “Infrastructure Planning Meets Social Purpose”: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/59 Listen to NMP, episode 66, “The Leadership Gap: Building Better Leaders for the Future of Canadian Infrastructure”: https://navigatingmajorprogrammes.transistor.fm/s3/66 Read “Anatomy of a unicorn: How systemic program management delivered a nuclear power plant on time and on budget”: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629625005067

  4. Sep 21

    How to Grow Your Career Without Quitting Your Job with Jenia Reynolds

    What degree of career growth is possible when you remain with one company? If you’re asking Jenia Reynolds, an experienced Partnership Development Manager, the answer is, “a tremendous amount.” In this episode, Jenia joins Shormila and Evgenia to dive into a 17-year career well-paved with pivots, professional development, and promotions—all beneath BC Hydro’s sizeable umbrella. Starting out at the bottom, as a scheduler just out of business school, Jenia eschewed the project manager path (after receiving her PMP) to redirect her focus on the customer. Today, she recognizes the significance of that shift, that let her hone her love of outward-facing roles and embrace her people-person nature. Today, she focuses on helping new industrial partners understand their power needs, connection options, and the practical steps required to bring large projects online. The discussion explores what it looks like to pursue career growth through curiosity, internal movement, and upskilling, as well as learning what credentials—such as an MBA—are needed for the roles you want next and avidly pursuing those differentiators. You’ll also hear about the burgeoning AI footprint and limited innovation in the energy industry. As Shormila, Evgenia, and Jenia are all mothers of young children, the episode concludes with a candid discussion about working motherhood and rising up in the ranks as a woman in industries traditionally dominated by men. Key takeaways: Why energy demand and grid connection are becoming more important considerations for major industrial projects;How to build a successful, milestone-packed career with a single organization;What working motherhood and visible female leadership can teach us about confidence, resilience, and articulating your value;What is keeping the energy sector from leading the charge in technological innovation;How wildfire risk, AI, and changing industrial demand are shaping conversations in the utility sector.Quote “If you can articulate the value that you bring to the table with clarity and conviction, the right people will see you.” - Jenia Reynolds 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/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Follow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Follow Jenia Reynolds: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenia-reynolds-6a26b15b/

  5. Sep 14

    Where Design Meets Operations: Steering the Train in Major Transit Projects with Lecia Stewart

    How do expertise, experience, and expectation combine to make a Master Builder? Lecia Stewart is the founder and principle of The Stewart Group, a consulting firm with a large portfolio of successful major projects. In this episode, she dives into hard-won insights gleaned from more than three decades leading projects from the building, corporate, and government sides of Canadian rail infrastructure. Lecia’s career success can be traced to her unique understanding of the intersection between design, utilization, operations, governance, and delivery. Helping teams get unstuck by telling the truth and getting to the bottom of problems is Lecia’s bread and butter. She reflects on the difference between advising from outside an organization and trying to drive change from within, as well as how today’s major projects have become weighed down by fragmented accountability and excessive oversight. Human and cultural dimensions impact the success of major projects as much or more than the technical expertise on the ground. Lecia discusses the importance of political champions, the role of single-purpose entities, and why organizational culture determines whether the tools in a project team’s toolkit will work. She shares her experience as a woman and non-engineer in technical, male-dominated environments. She makes a strong case for building transferable social (aka “soft”) skills that span industry and subject matter; this kind of expertise is proven time and again to bring infrastructure projects to completion and meet the ever-elusive goal of “on time and on budget.” Key takeaways The need for consultants with experience and confidence to tell truth to power;Why infrastructure delivery has become more burdened by process, oversight, and diffused accountability;How leadership can “clear away the shopping carts” so project teams can do the work they were appointed to do;How political champions, single-purpose entities, and organizational culture shape project success;The impacts of focusing too heavily on gender disparity in the workforce.Quote “I’m focused on breaking down those needless barriers of time and process that get in the way from us being able to execute on the commitments that we’re asked to do.” - Lecia Stewart 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/Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.comFollow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Follow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Follow Lecia Stewart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lecia-stewart-6b27b09/

    Where Design Meets Operations: Steering the Train in Major Transit Projects with Lecia Stewart

  6. Sep 7

    The Role of the Unsponsored Perspective in the Future of Canadian Infrastructure

    How do you measure the impact of one small, industry-focused podcast? In this co-hosts-only episode, Riccardo and Evgenia step back from the usual format to consider what it means to be showrunners, why the conversations they’re leading matter, and how Navigating Major Programmes has evolved as a platform for public discussion in the infrastructure industry. Evgenia reflects on her journey from listener, to guest, to co-host and the anxieties and adjustments that come with sharing ideas publicly, engaging with knowledgeable guests, and gaining confidence in the perspectives she has developed over 15 years in the industry. The conversation explores the role of independent, not-for-profit platforms in a sector where large-scale sponsored events can limit the range of viewpoints being shared. Riccardo and Evgenia discuss whether the podcast has a large enough platform to make a difference and the impact of guest selection and frequency on audience growth. They also reflect on the challenge of scaling the podcast without compromising its independence. The hosts also make time to tackle the broader development of major project leadership in Canada. Riccardo shares the original impetus behind the podcast, which has since evolved into the Canadian Major Projects Leadership Academy at the University of Toronto. The industry experts acknowledge and break down the gap between technical infrastructure expertise and the demands of leading major and mega projects, where so-called “soft” skills become increasingly critical. Riccardo and Evgenia’s final consensus won’t surprise loyal listeners: Navigating Major Programmes is a forum for practical ideas, meaningful connections, and ongoing conversations that help shape the future of infrastructure delivery. Key Takeaways How hosting a podcast builds confidence in and validation for industry perspectives;The opportunity for independent platforms to create space for more diverse, real-world conversations about infrastructure;The potential of the new Canadian Infrastructure Leadership Academy to fill a sector-wide leadership and business operations gap;How organizations like the Future of Infrastructure Group (FIG) help turn conversations into action;The reasons behind the unique skill set required for major project management.Quote “FIG really turbocharged the amount of ground that can be covered by the initiative.” - 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 Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/ Learn more about the Future of Infrastructure Group: https://infrastructurelab.com/future-of-infrastructure-group/ Follow the Future of Infrastructure Group: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/future-of-infrastructure-groupStay informed about the upcoming Canadian Infrastructure Leadership Academy at U of T: https://infrastructureinstitute.ca/leadership-academy/

  7. Aug 31

    Building the Future of Dual-Use Technology for the Canadian Armed Forces with Dina Tzirakos-Hawker

    As Canada increasingly champions self-sufficiency, what does the future look like for dual-use technologies and the country’s defence manufacturing? Shormila and Evgenia go to the source to explore this timely question. Dina Tzirakos-Hawker is the Managing Director of Barrie’s Sandbox Centre, Ontario’s newest regional innovation centre. She is immersed in the country’s varied innovative pursuits and the policies and frameworks that both stymie and support it. Though new to the military industry, Dina has spent the last two years fervently learning from experts and devising her own innovative strategies for building bridges. Her goal: help companies with potential dual-use products understand what it actually takes to move from innovation to procurement in this complex, compliance-heavy sector. The conversation explores the difference between simply having technology with defence applications and building a company that is truly ready to operate in the space. Dina points to AI, quantum, advanced communications, and drone systems as having great potential, but also stresses the less glamorous realities that determine success: manufacturing capacity, testing sites, cybersecurity infrastructure, compliance, clearances, procurement knowledge, and long sales cycles. For founders, the opportunity is significant, but it requires strategy, sector knowledge, and a realistic understanding of the customer and process—knowledge often gatekept from burgeoning companies.  Through her conversations with all sides, Dina has identified a need for better coordination between government, industry, accelerators, municipalities, suppliers, and infrastructure partners. She explains the information-sharing concept behind a recent “Defence 101” event that filled a significant gap by offering more than 150 companies from around the world practical guidance on entering the sector. Dina sees this moment as both a massive opportunity and a major turning point for Canada, but dual-use innovation will not scale through technology alone. It will require collective support, practical infrastructure, patient capital, and a shared commitment to helping Canadian companies thrive in this self-sufficient future. Key Takeaways Why the “unsexy” side of defence tech—manufacturing, testing, compliance, cybersecurity, and infrastructure—matters so much;How Canada can create stronger on-ramps between innovation, procurement, and defence readiness;What roadblocks smaller suppliers may face when navigating long procurement cycles and thin margins;Why Canada’s defence innovation push may require both public support and private investment;How a collaborative “village mentality” can help Canadian companies thrive in a growing defence ecosystem.Quote:  “I don’t think we have a choice but to make this succeed. When you invest in your own defence capabilities…we almost make a recession-proofed business.” - Dina Tzirakos-Hawker 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/ Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com  Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Follow Evgenia Jilina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejilina/  Follow Dina Tzirakos-Hawker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinatzirakos/

    Building the Future of Dual-Use Technology for the Canadian Armed Forces with Dina Tzirakos-Hawker

  8. Aug 24

    From Scarcity to Precarity: What Canadians Want from Nation-Building Projects with Oksana Kishchuk

    What can market research reveal about Canadians’ true thoughts on infrastructure? When making decisions about lengthy construction projects, taking the public temperature is vital. But sometimes, it’s hard to know which questions to ask. In this episode, Shormila speaks with Oksana Kishchuk, VP of Insights at Abacus Data, about how market research can reveal the Canadian mindset—and what that means for major programmes, public policy, and infrastructure delivery.  After spending nearly a decade listening to Canadians across sectors, including resources, healthcare, education, and public affairs, Oksana is the ideal spokesperson for data collection: how it helps bridge the gab between decision-makers and voters by showing not only what people think, but why they think it. The conversation explores how the public’s priorities have shifted from the scarcity mindset of the pandemic to a present-day sense of precarity. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a lens, Oksana explains that most people are focused on financial security, rising costs, and instability in the wider world.  The research suggests Canadians agree, in general, about the problems, even though the impacts of those problems vary across generations. Now, they’re looking to their leaders for solutions that will stabilize our national foundation. This context impacts public views on everything from defence and pipelines to healthcare, energy, and long-term infrastructure projects, and it opens a unique opportunity for leaders in both government and infrastructure: prove you are listening to Canadians, and Canadians will place their trust in the stability solutions you present. Key Takeaways How market research helps leaders understand not just what Canadians think, but why they think it;What the voting public’s expectations of progress mean for governments and major project leaders;Why Canadians may be more open than usual to long-term, nation-building solutions;How public sentiment has changed around healthcare, defence, pipelines, and other major sectors;Why we need timely stakeholder communication, not just expert assumptions.Quote: “It’s a really great moment…the public is actually aligned in what I would say is a fairly rare opportunity to create nation-building, big projects.” - Oksana Kishchuk 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 Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/Follow Oksana Kishchuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksanakishchuk/

    From Scarcity to Precarity: What Canadians Want from Nation-Building Projects with Oksana Kishchuk
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About

Navigating Major Programmes is for those working in or around major infrastructure, and want sharper conversations about why major programmes succeed, stall, or struggle. This podcast is the elevated conversation surrounding infrastructure and major programme management. Hosted by Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina, the show brings industry leaders and practitioners into candid discussions about the decisions that shape large-scale infrastructure. The conversations surround programme design, governance, procurement, financing, delivery, risk, stakeholder engagement, AI, digital transformation, leadership, inclusion, and public value. Continue the conversation with our community on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes

Information

  • Creator
    Riccardo Cosentino, Shormila Chatterjee, and Evgenia Jilina
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023-2026 Navigating Major Programmes
  • Show Website
    Navigating Major Programmes

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