Spotlight on David, Vice President, Systems and Interfaces

Behind every major infrastructure project, there are people who deeply believe in what they’re building. David is one of them.

Since January 2020, David has been working as a consultant on the project, he officially joined the Alto team in September 2024. Now serving as Vice President of Systems and Interfaces, he is a key figure in one of Canada’s most ambitious rail initiatives. His motivation for joining the project is straightforward and deeply personal. “I’m passionate about rail. I have built my career in the rail industry,” he says. “I thought: no way are we going to build close to 1,000 kilometres of new railway in Canada without me being involved. I really believe in this project.”

At its core, David’s work is about linking ideas to tangible outcomes. He describes his role as “the technical coordination of the project, a crucial link between its conception and its execution.” His team follows the project from its earliest spark of an idea, through design, and, eventually, into construction and operations. In plain language, he helps make sure the grand idea becomes a reality.

The scale of the challenge ahead is immense, and David doesn’t shy away from that. “The scope and ambition of the project are so great that it brings serious challenges,” he explains. “It’s like taking on a 10,000‑piece puzzle — it can be hard to know where to begin.” Over the next months, his focus will be on laying solid foundations, solving complex technical problems, and making sure every early decision supports the long-term success of the system. “You need the right mindset and the right first steps,” he adds. 

David didn’t start out in the rail industry, yet his journey ultimately guided him toward it. He started as a video game programmer, a position he now recalls with a smile. “I realized I didn’t like being a professional programmer,” he says, calling it the moment he understood his first career choice wasn’t the right fit. 

One piece of advice he received early in his career — and has carried with him ever since — is this: “When things aren’t going the way you want them to, remember — it will pass. Keep working hard, and you’ll learn from it.” 

His next chapter at CN was pivotal in his career. “I worked hard and was fortunate to be part of a strong team.” His career accelerated quickly, propelling him from a junior engineer to a senior director in under a decade, leading major bridge and infrastructure initiatives across the country.

Working on developing a high-speed rail network feels like the culmination of all his learning. “It’s the pinnacle of all my experience — even my computer skills. It brings together all the things I’ve learned throughout my life and career, and allows me to apply them to this ambitious undertaking.”

When he reflects on what he’s most proud of, his answers span very different worlds. Seeing his name in a video game credits was a highlight of his early career. Later, delivering major bridge projects at CN — like the Trois‑Pistoles and Sainte‑Anne‑de‑Bellevue bridges — gave him a sense of accomplishment that still resonates. “Being able to walk past a place and think, I did that, is special.” And now, contributing to a project that will reshape mobility in Canada is a new source of pride.

With 20 years of experience in the rail industry, David’s enthusiasm is rooted in a deep understanding of rail’s importance to society. 

Looking ahead to 2026, David’s main focus will be ensuring the technical foundations of the project are solid and achievable. The upcoming year will be about aligning early decisions, solving engineering challenges, and building systems that work seamlessly together. Public consultation will also play a crucial role, enabling the team to incorporate the community’s insights into the project’s development. 

Passionate, curious, and driven by a desire to make a difference, David is one of the people helping to turn a national vision into reality — one carefully placed puzzle piece at a time.