Meet our 2026 Speakers

Alu Leibanti is a Senior Project Manager and Estimator with Charter PDI, specializing in the planning and delivery of major transportation infrastructure projects across Western Canada. He brings expertise in Alliance, CMAR, and Progressive Design-Build delivery models, advising public-sector owners on commercial strategy, risk management, procurement, estimating, and project controls. Drawing on experience in both consulting and contracting, Alu is recognized for helping project teams navigate complexity, align stakeholder interests, and achieve successful project outcomes.

Catherine Roome is a technology and business executive recognized for combining innovation, governance, and public service. She is President and CEO of Concert Properties, overseeing a portfolio of residential and commercial assets valued at more than $8 billion. Previously, she served as CEO of Technical Safety BC for 11 years and Interim CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society. Her board experience includes BC Hydro and McElhanney, and she continues to support the profession through advisory roles with two engineering faculties. Catherine is passionate about developing future leaders and creating positive impact through purpose-driven leadership.

Colin Cox is the founder of Cox Consulting, a leadership advisory practice for CEOs, and co-founder of The Work Smarter Company, which helps organizations put AI to practical use. Before starting his own firms, he spent more than 25 years in senior leadership roles across Canada, the UK, and Ireland, including seven years as COO of Demonware, the Activision studio behind Call of Duty. He holds an MBA and is a Certified Executive Coach. This is his second time speaking at the FLN Conference.

Darryl Matson is a world-renowned structural engineer and bridge industry leader with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. He joined Buckland & Taylor as a junior engineer in 1989 and ultimately served as President and CEO before going on to lead COWI’s North American bridge business. His expertise has contributed to landmark infrastructure projects including the Golden Gate Bridge, Lions Gate Bridge, and Pattullo Bridge. Darryl is equally recognized for his dedication to mentoring future leaders and advancing diversity within the profession through programs such as COWI’s Early Career Network and PromoteHer. His lifelong contributions to engineering were recognized with ACEC-BC’s Meritorious Achievement Award in 2024.

Harvie Buitelaar is a civil engineer and senior business leader who co-leads Hatch’s Defence business in Canada. With 27 years of consulting experience, including 23 years with Hatch, he has delivered complex transportation and aviation infrastructure projects while helping grow and strengthen the business. Harvie is recognized for his collaborative leadership, commitment to mentorship, and active involvement in the engineering profession. He is passionate about developing future leaders, sharing knowledge, and embracing new challenges. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors with his family and is the proud father of two.

Jennifer Price is President and CEO of McElhanney, one of Western Canada’s largest employee-owned engineering and geomatics firms. An engineer and business leader with nearly three decades of experience, she has held executive leadership roles with Buro Happold, GHD, AECOM, and CH2M (now Jacobs), leading growth, innovation, strategy, and operational transformation across North America. At McElhanney, Jennifer is guiding the firm’s strategy with a focus on sustainable growth, digital innovation, and empowering people to deliver lasting impact for clients and communities. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and talent development, has served on global diversity and inclusion councils, is a Past Chair of Leadership Tomorrow, and holds an MBA from the University of Washington.

Jesse Unke is a senior infrastructure and construction executive focused on driving growth, expanding markets, and enhancing organizational performance. Known for his emotionally intelligent leadership style, he combines long-term strategic vision with disciplined execution to deliver results. He holds numerous professional designations, including P.Eng., PE, PMP, RMP, LEED AP, ENV SP, MMCD CCA, CMC, and CCIP. Jesse has served in board leadership roles with ACEC-BC, PMI, MMCD, the Business Council of BC, and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and chaired the BC Construction Roundtable for three terms. He was recognized as one of Canadian Construction's 40 Under 40.

As Co-CEO & Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co., Jillian Climie specializes in using her strategic human resources background to help employers create equitable hiring, promotion, and retention systems, and set up high-impact Sponsorship and Mentorship programs. A graduate of Ivey Business School, Jillian built her career in executive compensation and corporate governance, advising global organizations both as a consultant and in-house at two multinational retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity and executive compensation teams. She co-founded The Thoughtful Co. to combine her technical expertise with her commitment to equity: empowering women to advocate for themselves
and supporting employers in creating inclusive workplaces.

Pia Abercromby is a sustainability and infrastructure leader with 16 years of experience advancing resilient, low-carbon solutions across the built environment. With a background in structural engineering, her career has evolved from technical design and project delivery into sustainability leadership, including climate risk assessments, Envision verification, and embodied carbon reduction strategies. An active industry contributor, Pia serves on the BC MoTT / ACEC-BC Climate Resiliency Committee and previously chaired ACEC-BC's Sustainability and Climate Change Committee. She also serves on the BC Construction Roundtable Board and is a program lead for Infrastructure 2050. She is passionate about driving meaningful change through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and industry engagement.

Simon Church is a senior transportation infrastructure leader who has helped shape the delivery of some of British Columbia’s most significant transportation projects. As leader of Binnie’s Major Projects group, he provides Owner’s Engineer and project delivery services for complex infrastructure programs across the province. Simon joined the group as employee number two and played a key role in growing the team into a successful multidisciplinary practice. His project experience includes the Pattullo Bridge Replacement, Roberts Bank Terminal 2, Taylor Bridge Replacement, and Alex Fraser Bridge Capacity Improvement. He is recognized for his technical expertise, collaborative leadership, and industry contributions, earning awards from ACEC-BC, ITE, and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

Tijana Smiljanic is a senior infrastructure leader with McElhanney’s Alternative Project Delivery team, bringing 20 years of experience in engineering, design, and project delivery. She has supported some of Western Canada’s most complex Alliance, Progressive Design-Build, and Design-Build projects, working closely with owners, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver major transportation and utility infrastructure. Tijana is recognized for her collaborative leadership, ability to build alignment among diverse stakeholders, and commitment to developing high-performing teams. She is passionate about mentorship, organizational growth, and creating the conditions for successful project outcomes.

Tina Darakjian is a Principal Geological Engineer and Team Manager with WSP’s Western Canada Mine Stability Group, bringing more than 14 years of experience in geotechnical engineering for both open-pit and underground mining operations. She is recognized for her expertise in mine stability, rock mass characterization, hydrogeological investigations, instrumentation, and geotechnical analysis and design. Beyond her technical leadership, Tina is an active contributor to the mining industry, regularly speaking at technical conferences and participating in discussions on workforce evolution, diversity, and inclusion.

Ting You Koh is an engineering and operations leader who oversees RAM’s Civil and Geotechnical Engineering Department. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from UBC and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. Before joining RAM in 2022, Ting You spent nearly 18 years in the Singapore Armed Forces, serving in a range of command and leadership roles. Drawing on his military and engineering backgrounds, he is known for building high-performing teams, developing future leaders, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Wendy Itagawa is a senior infrastructure leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex transportation projects. As Vice President, Major Projects at TI Corp, she has led some of British Columbia's most significant infrastructure investments, including the $1.637 billion Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, and is advancing delivery of the Broadway Subway Project. She is known for her collaborative leadership, commitment to project excellence, and ability to unite diverse teams around shared goals. Wendy is a strong advocate for mentoring emerging leaders, supporting the advancement of women in engineering, and creating inclusive, high-performing organizations.