The TRUTH About Project Management in Capital Projects (2025) | Ep. 05 Artwork

Beyond The Plan

If you work in major infrastructure projects - whether in government or the private sector - then this series is for you.

Host, Ali Farhoodi, is joined by seasoned project managers who share their insights on successful project management strategies, and behind the scenes stories on projects like Sydney Metro, Sydney Light Rail and the Lane Cove Tunnel.

Ali is the Director of EDSICO Management, a boutique independent Australian-Owned consultancy that provides a range of services to Australian Government agencies and also the private sector in all aspects of Projects Management, Projects Controls and Recruitment.

All Episodes

Beyond The Plan

The TRUTH About Project Management in Capital Projects (2025) | Ep. 05

September 09, 2025 • Ali Farhoodi • Season 1 • Episode 5

Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team:

https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/

-----

In this episode, we’re joined by Omer Iqbal, President of PMI Sydney and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sydney Water, whose career has spanned oil and gas, mining, defence, transport, and utilities.

Omer shares why portfolio management is the missing link between boardroom strategy and on-the-ground delivery, how defining risk appetite at the top shapes hundreds of projects on the ground, and why success means more than just hitting time and budget.

He also discusses how innovation can thrive even in highly regulated environments, what it takes to keep mega-projects resilient under pressure, and why building high-performing teams starts with job design and shared purpose.

If you want to understand how complex capital projects really succeed, balance board expectations with delivery realities, and lead portfolios that create lasting public value, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:16 Podcast beginning

02:19 Why portfolio management?

05:47 Standard portfolio structure

12:07 Risk assessment and Cynefin framework

21:43 Innovation in portfolio environment

26:05 Success: Investment or investments

28:15 The influence of regulations

33:49 Triple constraint case scenario

39:53 People component in portfolio management

47:43 Understanding the impact of industry tools