Matt Ratcliffe

The subterranean challenges of urban transit mega-projects are among the most daunting in modern engineering, requiring teams to navigate a labyrinth of existing utilities, complex geology, and dense city infrastructure without disrupting daily life above ground. Mastering this chaotic environment requires exceptional technical foresight and decisive problem-solving, qualities that define the career of Matt Ratcliffe. As the Senior Director of Alternative Delivery and Pursuits at EllisDon Corporation, Matt is a central contributor to the firm's rapidly expanding civil infrastructure division. As one of the earliest hires in EllisDon’s Civil group, he has played a key role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and operational capabilities across Eastern Canada. His impressive career spans the successful delivery of some of the nation’s most complex transit and infrastructure mega-projects, including the critical Union Station 2nd Platform and Concourse Improvements and the monumental Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

On the Eglinton Crosstown, Matt played a key leadership role, overseeing the delivery of two underground stations and navigating complex stakeholder coordination to secure the first interim occupancy among the project's underground stations. His ability to anticipate risks and proactively resolve utility relocation challenges ensured that critical milestones were met, demonstrating his exceptional capacity to drive progress in highly constrained urban environments. Since 2022, Matt has overseen more than $5 billion in infrastructure pursuits, further establishing his reputation as a respected commercial and technical leader A licensed Professional Engineer with over seventeen years of industry experience, Matt’s procurement and pre-construction expertise is vast, covering all elements of heavy civil construction, design-build procurement, and collaborative delivery models.

Matt is not only recognized for project execution but also for helping strengthen collaboration and innovation across the company while supporting the growth of EllisDon's civil construction operations across Canada. His strategic business development efforts have assisted with expanding EllisDon’s footprint into the tunnelling and energy sectors while securing qualification with a major utility owner’s preferred vendor program. Beyond his corporate achievements, Matt is a highly active and respected voice in the broader infrastructure community. He frequently engages with Owners, contractors, and consultants at major industry conferences, providing practical insights on procurement structures, risk allocation, and alternative contracting models. His feedback has directly influenced the implementation of Progressive Design-Build approaches on major utility projects. Matt's ability to combine technical expertise with strategic thinking and collaborative leadership has made him a valuable contributor to EllisDon's growth and to the delivery of major infrastructure projects across Canada.