Canada is a strategic country for the SYSTRA Group

Interview with Jean-Charles Vollery, CEO of SYSTRA and Dave SpagnolO CEO of SYSTRA Canada.

What role does SYSTRA Canada play within the SYSTRA Group, and what makes it unique?

Jean-Charles Vollery : Canada is a strategic country for the SYSTRA Group. Operating in a mature market driven by innovation and sustainability, SYSTRA Canada delivers technical engineering excellence to projects that are transforming the country and improving people’s daily lives.

Our team has deep expertise in heavy rail, rolling stock, and complex systems integration, strengthening the Group’s global know-how on international projects.

We also benefit from recognized capabilities in complex structural engineering, with SYSTRA IBT teams contributing to Canadia emblematic projects such as Montréal’s Samuel-De Champlain Bridge and Vancouver’s SkyTrain Evergreen Line.

Dave Spagnolo : SYSTRA Canada is fully integrated into the Group’s highly connected model, with a core business centred on transportation and mobility. What makes us unique is our in-depth knowledge of North America Heavy-Rail Standards, which we export to multiple countries, as well as our ability to deliver turnkey rolling-stock refurbishment. 

What makes us unique is our in-depth knowledge of North America Heavy-Rail Standards, which we export to multiple countries, as well as our ability to deliver turnkey rolling-stock refurbishment. 

Dave Spagnolo, CEO of SYSTRA Canada

SYSTRA has been present in Canada for 35 years. What is your reflection on these decades?

Jean-Charles Vollery : Over the past three decades, SYSTRA Canada has transformed its ambition into tangible results, supported by qualified teams and rigorous standards.

We have grown from targeted areas of expertise to a comprehensive service offering capable of delivering end-to-end projects. With several major programs now underway, such as the GO Expansion regional rail network in Toronto, the Gatineau–Ottawa tramway, and the high-speed line between Montréal and Toronto and a strong pipeline, our teams are ready for the next chapter!

Dave Spagnolo : It has been an amazing three decades. We first came to Canada 35 years ago for High Speed Rail, and seeing that original vision finally materialize today with ALTO is remarkable.

For nearly 20 years, our core business focused on Rolling Stock and Freight & Mining. Over the past 10 years, we have undergone a major transformation with the additional focus on urban transportation.

We now stand on three strong pillars that reflect our core markets, Transit, Intercity and Heavy Rail, and Rolling Stock.  We are also rapidly expanding our activities in support of the energy transition.

Over the past three decades, SYSTRA Canada has transformed its ambition into tangible results, supported by qualified teams and rigorous standards. We have grown from targeted areas of expertise to a comprehensive service offering capable of delivering end-to-end projects.

Jean‑Charles Vollery, CEO of SYSTRA Group

Canada has been investing heavily in transportation in recent years. This has been profitable for SYSTRA Canada, which has quadrupled its turnover in 8 years years. Is this growth likely to continue?

Dave Spagnolo : We have had a great run these past 8 years. Our Medium Term Plan shows robust growth over the next 5 years in the transportation segment as well as adjacent sectors of energy, buildings and environment. 

Jean-Charles Vollery : Our growth in Canada reflects both our ability to seize market opportunities and the quality of our execution. But this is just the beginning. Our goal is to consolidate our position in the country for the long term and accelerate by strengthening our local resources, while ensuring we remain fully aligned with our clients’ evolving needs and expectations.

As we deliver our major projects, we are broadening our horizons and our impact to help shape the market over the long term.

What do you see as the main challenges facing SYSTRA Canada in the coming years?

Dave Spagnolo : We want to continue our track record of growth, and that means deepening our presence in adjacent markets. While this is never easy, our value proposition is strong. And we hope for reinforcement through the M&A process!

Jean-Charles Vollery : Our challenges are tied to our ambitions in the region: attracting and developing top talent, maintaining operational excellence as we scale up, and staying at the forefront of technology and environmental performance.

We will address them by investing in our teams and digital tools, forging strategic partnerships, and expanding our footprint through future acquisitions. The quality of our services and our clients’ satisfaction will remain our priorities.

In your view, what differentiates us from our main competitors, and how can we stay ahead, especially in terms of innovation and sustainability?

Jean-Charles Vollery : Our strength lies in being a truly connected Group. We bring the right expertise to each complex challenge by linking local teams to a global network of specialists, shared data, and proven methodologies.

Equally important, our priorities must align with those of society: working on sustainability alongside our clients and partners is essential. As a leader, we have a responsibility to be proactive on these issues, and we demonstrate it on our projects by optimizing them with dedicated tools aimed at reducing carbon footprints and improving resilience to climate risks

Dave Spagnolo : Our strength is our team: experts who understand the networks, challenges, and the expectations of diverse stakeholders. We also invest in digital tools that enhance project quality and efficiency, always with a pragmatic approach integrated into our clients’ processes.

The team is passionate about innovation, and we see AI as an important tool for improving our performance while advancing our sustainability objectives.

SYSTRA Group recently announced two major acquisitions: the Spanish company Ardanuy and the Australian company BG&E. How do these moves fit into SYSTRA’s global growth strategy, and what ambitions do you have, particularly for strengthening this dynamic in Canada?

Jean-Charles Vollery : With the acquisitions of Ardanuy in Spain and BG&E in Australia at the end of 2025, we are accelerating our development strategy: deepening our technical expertise, strengthening our presence in our priority geographies, and creating more value for our clients. These integrations expand our global footprint in mobility and extend our service offering into complex buildings engineering, energy, and water.

We have also just launched a global product line dedicated to complex buildings, bringing together the Group’s existing capabilities with those of BG&E, a recognized reference, particularly in high‑rise buildings.

In Canada, our direction is clear: to build a broader, more comprehensive platform by expanding into the energy transition, buildings, and environmental sectors. We are ready to seize acquisition opportunities to integrate complementary capabilities and anchor our local presence for the long term, in service of our clients’ projects.