The Power of Project Management: Meet the Team Turning Plans into Action
On the first Thursday in November, International Project Management Day recognizes the skill, collaboration, and leadership that drive successful projects around the world. This year’s theme, “The Power Trio: Project, Leadership, and Agile,” highlights the essential blend of strategy, adaptability, and people-centred thinking that defines modern project management — values embodied every day by Build Nova Scotia’s Project Management Office (PMO) team.
At Build Nova Scotia, the PMO team plays a vital role in ensuring major projects are planned and delivered with clarity, consistency, and care. Ryan Flinn, Leah Baillie, and Mayank Chawla are three of the six professionals who make up this dynamic group, each bringing a unique blend of technical expertise, communication skills, and collaborative leadership to some of the province’s most complex infrastructure projects.
For Ryan Flinn, Director of Project Management, the path to project leadership evolved naturally over time. “I didn’t set out to build a career in project management; it’s something that evolved as my work became more complex and collaborative,” he says. “To me, project management isn’t just about checklists and schedules; it’s about communication, collaboration, and creating the systems that allow people to perform at their best.”
Ryan leads the PMO team supporting the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project (HIEP) — ensuring consistency, structure, and clarity across one of the province’s most complex builds. “Our role is to put a consistent, contract-based project management approach into action,” he explains. “We empower technical delivery teams by removing uncertainty in procedure and giving them the structure they need to focus on what they do best.”
For Leah Baillie, Project Manager in the PMO, project management began with an unexpected opportunity. “I kind of fell into it,” she says with a laugh. “I started out as a summer student testing concrete when someone saw something in me and gave me a chance. In that chance, I found more than a career path — I found a passion for both infrastructure and the incredible people who build it.”
Mayank Chawla, Project Management Information Systems Architect, focuses on the digital backbone that supports Build Nova Scotia’s major projects. “My role is to ensure our project management systems work seamlessly to connect teams, streamline processes, and enhance decision-making,” he explains. “Good project management is about more than tracking tasks — it’s about creating tools and frameworks that help people work smarter.”
With a background that spans telecom, healthcare, and digital media, Mayank brings a strategic perspective to how technology supports delivery. “When people, process, and purpose are aligned under a shared vision,” he adds, “that’s when projects truly thrive.”
Reflecting on the day’s theme, Ryan adds: “Strong project management connects leadership and agility — it’s about creating clarity, fostering teamwork, and staying adaptable.”
As Build Nova Scotia continues to deliver transformative projects like the Halifax Infirmary Expansion, the PMO team exemplifies how great project management goes beyond process — it’s about people working together to turn vision into reality.