Failed Up: Real Stories of Overcoming Construction Challenges
Special Guest
Jennifer Fraser, RPF, ICD.D, is the Alternate Delivery Director for Kiewit’s Western Canada District. She brings more than 25 years of experience leading complex natural resource and transportation initiatives in British Columbia.
Before joining Kiewit, Jennifer served as an executive director with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, where she developed and oversaw multibillion-dollar infrastructure programs, including the emergency reconstruction of Highways 1, 5, and 8 following the 2021 atmospheric river event and the Trans-Canada Highway improvement program between Kamloops and Golden. Prior to that, Jennifer worked as a professional forester for Tolko Industries Ltd.
Moderator
Pedram Farzadmanesh is the Founder and President of PFM Construction. Pedram brings years of hands-on experience in tackling construction challenges across civil infrastructure, utilities, and building projects. His deep industry insights will guide the conversation, diving into leadership lessons and the realities of managing high-stakes projects.
What to Expect
This series is in a private, intimate room at Steamworks Brewery—the perfect atmosphere for open conversations, networking, and connection. Space is limited, and this event will fill up fast, so don’t wait to book your spot!
Canapés and two drink tickets are included in your ticket price.
Thank you, Charter Project Delivery and Kiwa T2 for sponsoring this event.
~
The Failed Up Series targets intermediate professionals in the BC Construction Industry (~8 - 20 years' experience). Our committee members are consultants, contractors and owners involved in some of the most prominent projects in our region. We look forward to meeting you.
Collaborative delivery models such as Progressive Design-Build, Alliance, and other target cost approaches are intended to align owners, designers, and contractors around shared project outcomes. Yet even with the best intentions, some projects build trust while others become mired in conflict, cost escalation, or difficult commercial negotiations.
This session will explore what it takes to successfully establish and manage a target cost, align stakeholders, allocate and manage risk, and create the conditions for collaborative decision-making throughout project delivery. Drawing on lessons from major projects the panel will discuss why some collaborative projects succeed, why others struggle, and how owners and industry partners can better achieve a true "getting to yes" outcome.
Panelists
Neil Lynchehaun is Vice President and Large Project Executive with FlatironDragados, bringing more than 32 years of experience delivering major civil infrastructure projects in Canada and the United Kingdom. He has led projects across their full lifecycle using collaborative and alternative delivery models. His experience includes Calgary’s Green Line LRT, Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4, Stoney Trail and the Golden Ears Bridge. Neil currently serves as Project Sponsor for the TerraMarine team on VFPA’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project. A UK Chartered Engineer, he holds an Honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Liverpool.
Kelly McNutt is the founder of Kelly McNutt Consulting, LLC (KMC), established in 2020 and specializing in cost estimating, constructability, scheduling, risk management, and claims analysis. She brings extensive heavy civil, marine, and transit experience across North America and a range of delivery methods, including CM/GC and Design-Build. Previously serving as District Engineer/Chief Estimator at Kiewit, Kelly managed annual estimates of up to $6 billion and supported major infrastructure projects such as the George Massey Tunnel and LAX Automated People Mover. Her strengths include technical cost analysis, strategic decision-making, team collaboration, and stakeholder management.
Gary Webster brings more than 45 years of experience delivering major, complex capital programs in Canada and internationally. He specializes in procurement, collaborative project delivery and implementation for public- and private-sector organizations. In BC, he has supported major infrastructure programs including the Sea to Sky Highway and Port Mann/Highway 1. He has also applied lessons from major projects to target-price contracts for Manitoba Hydro, New Brunswick Power and the Vancouver Port Authority.
Tony Purdon is a long-time Mott MacDonald employee with extensive experience delivering transportation infrastructure across Western Canada, the U.S. and South America. His work spans highways, bridges, marine terminals and rail transit. Career highlights include the Millennium Line, Sea-to-Sky Highway and Port Mann/Highway 1 projects. More recently, he has focused on progressive design-build projects and currently supports VFPA’s RBT2 Landmass and Wharf project. He is a UBC civil engineering graduate.
Thank you, EBC and Kiewit for sponsoring.
As the year comes to a close, we invite you to celebrate the holiday season with colleagues and friends from BC's construction and infrastructure community.
Join us for an evening of good conversation, festive cheer, and an opportunity to reconnect before the year wraps up.
We look forward to celebrating with you at the Rogue on Thursday, November 26th.
This year’s event will include a fundraiser benefiting the Working Gear Charity. Working Gear is a volunteer-run charity in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. With support from individuals, businesses, and organizations, they provide work-appropriate clothing and haircuts to those experiencing unemployment or underemployment.
Thank you, Kiwa T2 and Singleton Reynolds, for sponsoring this event.
Interested in sponsoring this event or donating to the silent auction? Please contact us.
REGISTER AS A MEMBER
INTERESTED IN BEING AN EVENT SPONSOR?
admin@bccr.net
© 2023 British Columbia Construction Roundtable. All rights reserved.
