Archives: 40 Under 40 Winners

Guillaume Dubois progressed from planning manager to director of major projects in less than a decade. He now leads one of EBC’s largest projects, demonstrating strong leadership in delivering complex, large-scale infrastructure. His leadership extends beyond work, serving as captain and co-administrator of the Phoenix ÉTS dragon boat team, reflecting his ability to inspire and unify. Guillaume bridges best practices with cutting-edge technology, fosters bilingual collaboration and enhances project data management. His rapid rise reflects not only technical excellence, but also the forward-thinking leadership essential to modern construction, driven by innovation, team development and performance.

A 20-year veteran who began as a field labourer, James McCormack has delivered more than 2,500 general contracting pursuits, including pre-construction as well as strategic project delivery for projects across the contractual spectrum and into billions of dollars of contract value. He ascended to chief estimator by age 25, helped triple company revenue, and has driven a culture that prioritizes the value the trade community brings to projects. James introduced Power BI to a number of pre-construction processes, uses parametric building analyses and mentors students through the Toronto Construction Association. At Modern Niagara, James’ focus has shifted to use this wide-ranging experience to lead enterprise-wide initiatives that connect data, people and processes to drive operational performance. His work focuses on practical and scalable technology adoption, field innovation and delivering measurable impact.

Jemma Moore championed Amrize’s reserves and resources reporting by leading the transition to SEC compliant SK1300 standards across Western Canada, prompting her promotion to head of resource management and mine planning for Canada. A dual chartered geologist (P.Geo. and EurGeol) with a master’s degree in engineering geology, she built a multidisciplinary team, developed digital tools for volumetric tracking and spearheaded geotechnical safety training. Active in Women of Mining Canada, she mentors early career professionals, participates in industry committees and is recognized as a “unicorn” for combining technical prowess with leadership.

With 23 years in construction and Gold Seal certification, Jesse Reynolds has delivered more than 100 projects, rising from general labourer to district vice-president. He champions Lean construction and sustainable construction practices, oversees a portfolio ranging from affordable housing to commercial developments, and received the 2024 Chandos Leadership Award for his inclusive, people-focused approach. Jesse is known for cultivating future leaders through co-op programs, professional development and mentorship, ensuring continuous improvement across the organization.

Lina Savcheva leads major infrastructure projects and environmental safety programs at Green Infrastructure Partners. She spearheads adoption of company wide safety frameworks, such as Home Safe Rules and “5 to Stay Alive,” which reduce incidents and improve compliance. She holds multiple certifications (Gold Seal, CRSP) and mentors teams through empathetic, strategic leadership while overseeing COR and ISO recertification initiatives. Named among Canadian Occupational Safety’s Top Female Leaders for 2025, she is a sought after speaker on safety and inclusive leadership.

Maria Robibero is an influential safety leader with over 15 years of experience. She has supported more than 50 projects at Ledcor, where she led the development of their new Ontario HS&E Management System. A Certified Registered Safety Professional and Certified Safety Professional, she earned Ledcor Construction’s first Gold Flag and COR 2020 Certification while reducing the total recordable injury frequency. Maria leads a team of 10, combining technology and strategy by standardizing Procore, developing Power BI dashboards, enhancing training compliance, and actively mentoring women to thrive in the industry. Maria serves on multiple industry committees, including the OGCA, IHSA and CAWIC, and was recognized as one of OHS Canada’s Top 25 Under 40.

With 18 years in civil construction, Matt Budau manages Kiewit’s $286 million 264th Street Interchange, the first diverging diamond interchange in British Columbia. He previously led the Trans Mountain Expansion Spread 5B pipeline and Calgary Ring Road. A mechanical engineer and licensed P. Eng., he oversees teams of up to 1,000 craft workers and mentors young managers while implementing constructability first design reviews. Matt’s innovations include real-time slope redesigns that unlocked kilometres of stalled pipeline, cold weather hoarding systems and cost-saving wall redesigns. He is a member of the Langley Chamber of Commerce and advocates for safety training and community engagement.

Matthew Walmsley is a transformative leader in Canadian construction and currently serves as project director for Pomerleau Buildings West in British Columbia, where he oversees operational execution for the business unit. With over 13 years of experience and a project portfolio exceeding $1.2 billion in total value, Matthew has consistently delivered complex institutional, industrial and commercial builds across North America. Drawing on his educational background in economics and engineering technology, Matthew has successfully delivered over 80 projects across North America and has created proprietary project management tools, standardized KPI metrics, and spear-headed cross-border labour programs. His commitment to building and fostering high-performing teams, promoting safety and innovation, and mentoring younger staff through various associations align perfectly with Pomerleau’s core values and continues to elevate Pomerleau’s regional brand.

Kémoo bringing over 15 years of experience participating in the delivery of major transportation and infrastructure projects exceeding $50 billion across Canada, including the UP Express, 407 East, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Eglinton West Extension, Ontario Line, Yonge North Subway Extension, and other projects. A licensed professional engineer in Ontario and certified ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor, he has developed digital-powered quality management systems and led initiatives in P3 advisory and integrated delivery partner models. He plays a key leadership role at Infrastructure United and serves on the boards of the Toronto Railway Club and TRACCS. Dedicated to mentoring university students across Ontario, Kémoo is also a frequent speaker at national and international forums on sustainable infrastructure and transportation, advocating for innovation, inclusivity, and resilience in the sector.

With 16 years of experience, Nick Thompson leads the estimating team at EllisDon Calgary, managing budgets and RFPs ranging from $1 million to $1 billion-plus. Since 2021, he has grown his team from eight to 18 people, overseeing procurement of $3.7 billion across more than 130 projects. Rising through six roles with EllisDon, he blends operational expertise with strategic leadership, pioneering AI-driven estimating, Target Value Design and standardized cost frameworks. Nick co-developed EllisDon’s national Project Execution Plan and contributes to the Palantir Foundry Steering Committee. He is an advocate for inclusive hiring through his work with the Centre for Newcomers and serves as a mentor across several post-secondary institutions. His impact spans project delivery, innovation and workforce development.

Nicolas Ginouse is a Ph.D. trained civil engineer leading Amrize’s Ready-Mix research and development in Eastern Canada, driving technical innovation on major high-profile infrastructure projects. With over 15 years of industry experience, he manages a team of 90 professionals and oversees 30 active R&D initiatives focused on reducing carbon emissions and enhancing material performance and durability. Notably, Nicolas was involved in several iconic projects, such as the Samuel de Champlain Bridge project, which required more than 100 specialized concrete mixes. Under his leadership, Amrize successfully launched the ECOPact low-carbon concrete program in Eastern Canada and made significant advancements in ultra-high-performance concrete and dry mortar technologies. Passionate about mentorship and industry progress, he actively supports the growth of his team and contributes to technical committees that promote innovation and help shape global standards in concrete technology.

Paul Boylan is a standout leader in Ontario’s construction industry, overseeing preconstruction for such landmark projects as the 75 James Street Condos, the Yonge Sheppard Centre revitalization, and the 355 Adelaide Street tower. A construction management graduate and LEED AP, Paul is known for driving innovation, most notably through the development of an advanced estimation model that has enhanced both accuracy and profitability. His unique cohesive and collaborative approach fosters strong partnerships across consultants, trades and clients, thereby streamlining desired outcomes. Beyond project delivery, Paul is a committed industry contributor, having chaired the Young Construction Leaders and currently leading the Toronto Ireland Development Alliance. His work reflects a deep commitment to shaping a more efficient, connected and forward-thinking construction sector.

Renokrew COO Pedro Pinto, P.GSC, knows that strong buildings are rooted in strong communities. His journey began at a young age, working alongside his father in the family’s cabinet and woodworking business. Through years of hands-on experience, education and persistence, he mastered his craft and took the initiative to grow the family business. Now, with over 14 years of industry experience, he leads as COO of Renokrew, overseeing ground-up builds, renovations, fit-outs and historical restorations. In his role as project sponsor, Pedro guides projects from conceptual design through planning and construction, ensuring each one aligns with client goals and community values. His expertise extends to working closely with federal, municipal, vulnerable and Indigenous communities, delivering culturally respectful and collaborative results. As a member of the Canadian Construction Association’s Gold Seal Committee, Pedro remains deeply involved in shaping industry excellence. Beyond construction, Pedro is passionate about giving back. Under his leadership, Renokrew has actively supported a number of charitable partnerships and campaigns.

Raly Chakarova is modernizing Ontario’s road building standards by advocating for recycled crushed aggregates, harmonized specifications and streamlined procurement to drive cost-efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions. Dedicated to building a skilled, future-ready workforce, she helped negotiate collective agreements used by over 180 companies, revitalized TARBA’s scholarship program, and supports youth recruitment through Building Up and Skills Ontario. With a Master in Public Administration and board roles on RCCAO and ACCES Employment, she is a champion for continued infrastructure investment and circular economy principles.

A third-generation concrete professional with 21  years’ experience, Ryan Mathwig grew Vancouver Ready Mix’s annual volume substantially during his tenure as sales manager, pivoting the company toward multi-family and major projects. Now general manager of three ready mix operations (Vancouver, Princeton and Merritt), he visits each site, fosters safety and values employees beyond production numbers. As vice-chair of Concrete BC, he advocates for sustainable technologies like Portland limestone cement and driver training subsidies. Ryan instructs certification courses and lobbies government to modernize procurement, championing the next generation of concrete professionals.

Sara O’Malley has held significant leadership roles for multiple P3 healthcare projects across Eastern Canada, including Niagara Health System’s St. Catharines Site, Humber River Hospital, the Milton District Hospital Expansion and Western Memorial Regional Hospital. Currently managing the $3.2 billion QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion, she is known for her strategic planning, negotiation and modular build expertise, earning PCL’s 2018 Innovation Award. Sara co-founded PCL Toronto’s diversity, equity and inclusion team, co-chaired United Way campaigns and mentors peers through PCL’s Mentor and Sponsorship programs. She is also an active participant in the Women’s Infrastructure Network and the Construction Association of Nova Scotia.

Sean Thompson began his construction journey as a roofing apprentice fresh out of high school, steadily climbing Flynn’s operational ladder to become vice-president for the Prairies. With 18 years of experience, a business degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and certifications in contract administration and leadership, Sean has led significant structural changes while reinforcing the high-performance culture of Flynn. A strong advocate for inclusive leadership and coaching, he champions relationship-driven sales, community engagement, and peer-supported growth. His mentorship, cultural integration efforts, and advocacy for women in construction, underscore his impact as a leader.

Selvaraj Ramasamy leads the commercial strategy for Edmonton’s multibillion-dollar Valley Line West LRT P3 project, overseeing contract management, multimillion-dollar claim negotiations, and stakeholder alignment to deliver project and public value. With 17 years of experience across Canada, the UAE, Oman and India, he has delivered high-value infrastructure and real estate projects, introducing innovations such as real-time commercial dashboards, automated notices, performance metrics in cost value reconciliation reports and risk-tiered variation protocols. A civil engineer with an MBA in finance, Selvaraj holds MRICS, PQS, PMP and CCP credentials. A former AACE International Section president, he mentors professionals toward MRICS chartership and volunteers on industry certification committees, earning Parsons’ 2024 CEO Retention Award.

Stefen Palam is a seasoned construction leader with over a decade of construction experience driving complex, high-value projects. He has successfully been involved in more than $1 billion in construction across office, retail, hospitality, civil and multi-residential sectors. Stefen began his career with top-tier general contractors PCL and Turner Construction, building deep expertise in operational excellence and large-scale execution. As head of the commercial and multi-residential construction divisions at Dream Unlimited, he oversees strategic delivery across diverse portfolios, leading a team that is 75 per cent women, a reflection of his commitment to inclusive leadership and talent development. Recently, he led the $100 million-plus revitalization of the Bay Street Collection, featuring flagship restaurants Milos and Daphne. Stefen also serves as vice-chair of the Toronto Construction Association’s Young Construction Leaders executive committee, where he leads the strategic vision to empower emerging talent and driving industry innovation.