From Medicine Hat to Shanghai: A Canadian Consultant's Global Moment | Wesley Paterson
Canadian consultant Wesley Paterson reflects on his journey to the Constantinus International Award finals.
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Dec 1, 2025
NATIONWIDE - NOVEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) — It was an unforgettable moment: standing on stage at the Pudong Shangri-La in Shanghai, holding a Constantinus International Award trophy. But here's the twist, while I was accepting the award, I wasn't the one who had won. Instead, I was standing in for my friend and fellow Canadian consultant, Dr. James Oni, whose groundbreaking cybersecurity project for the Department of National Defence had earned Canada the top spot.
Even though my own project didn’t win, this "consolation prize" was more than just a trophy. It symbolized the collective spirit within the consulting community and the power of collaboration. It was an honor to be part of such a prestigious global stage.
The Global Stage: Where Consulting Excellence Meets Innovation
The Constantinus International Award is often described as consulting’s equivalent to the Olympics or the Oscars. It brings together consulting firms from 28 countries, with each nation presenting up to three projects, potentially showcasing some of the most innovative consulting initiatives worldwide.
My project, “Transforming Brownfields into Brightfields,” made it to the finals. This initiative focused on reimagining contaminated, abandoned industrial sites as hubs for renewable energy. With tangible benefits like job creation and reduced environmental impact, this project helped showcase Canada's potential on the world stage.
While I didn’t take home the gold for this project, I was proud to represent it at such a prestigious event. The recognition felt like validation for the hard work, passion, and innovation behind it.
Dr. James Oni: Securing Canada’s Digital Frontlines
Dr. James Oni’s winning project was a transformative cybersecurity initiative for Canada’s Department of National Defence. This project reduced cyber incidents by a significant percentage, implemented AI-powered threat detection, and built a scalable cybersecurity framework now adopted by several government agencies. Although James couldn’t attend the event in Shanghai, I was honored to accept the award on his behalf. In the consulting world, success is shared. It's about elevating each other, not just celebrating individual victories.
Shanghai’s Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
Shanghai provided a perfect backdrop for the conference, with its unique blend of tradition and modernity. Standing on the Bund, surrounded by colonial-era architecture, I could also turn and see Pudong’s futuristic skyline. It mirrored the rapid evolution we’re witnessing in the consulting industry, where the future and tradition coexist in harmony.
One of the highlights was a tour of an advanced Audi/Volkswagen EV factory in China. The factory’s precision robots worked alongside human technicians, amplifying their capabilities. This demonstrated the future of management consulting: a combination of cutting-edge technology and human ingenuity.
The "Super Consultant": Technology Meets Humanity
A central theme at the conference was the rise of the "Super Consultant." This new archetype merges technological fluency with essential human skills. Consultants today leverage AI for routine tasks while focusing their human talents on strategic thinking, relationship-building, ethical decision-making, and creative problem-solving. Technology is an amplifier, not a replacement for human abilities. Successful consultants understand the synergy between both elements and harness that power to provide the most value to clients.
Seven High-Value Opportunity Areas in Consulting
The conference sessions highlighted seven key areas where consultants can add exceptional value:
AI Strategy and Responsible Implementation: Ensuring AI projects succeed through effective human management and ethical decision-making.
Sustainability and ESG Transformation: Helping organizations move beyond rhetoric to meaningful sustainability efforts.
Digital Transformation and Technology Integration: Treating technology as an integral part of business strategy, not as a separate IT issue.
Organizational Agility and Resilience: Ensuring businesses are adaptable and able to respond quickly to change.
Talent Strategy and the Future of Work: Navigating the challenges posed by AI and the evolving job market.
Government-Business Partnership Facilitation: Navigating regulatory complexities and fostering collaboration between sectors.
Specialized Industry Transformation: Providing industry-specific expertise to create tailored, impactful solutions.
Turning Brownfields into Brightfields: Canada’s Vision for the Future
My project, “Transforming Brownfields into Brightfields,” seeks to address one of Canada’s most pressing challenges: the environmental and economic liabilities posed by contaminated industrial sites. Traditionally, remediation efforts have been costly and left significant burdens for landowners and taxpayers. Our approach transforms these brownfields into renewable energy assets, generating economic value, creating jobs, and reducing emissions.
The project has already shown promising results: 1.45 megawatts of solar generation deployed, with cost savings of up to 80% compared to traditional remediation methods. The model’s scalability and impact have garnered recognition from Canadian federal officials and has the potential for global applications.
What Canadian Consultants Can Learn from Shanghai
Reflecting on my experience in Shanghai, here are some key lessons for Canadian consultants:
Canada Punches Above Its Weight: Despite our relatively small population, Canadian consultants are consistently competitive at the global level.
The Future Favors the Bold: Transformative visions often outperform incremental improvements in today’s consulting landscape.
Technology Amplifies, It Doesn’t Replace: Embracing AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human expertise is key.
Relationships Are Currency: Networking and relationship-building play a significant role in expanding global influence.
Global Problems Demand Global Solutions: Major challenges such as climate change and cybersecurity require international collaboration and solutions.
Building on Global Success: The Path Forward for North American Consulting
The global consulting industry is expanding rapidly, and North American consultants have a unique opportunity to lead the way by embracing the "Super Consultant" model, which blends technological expertise with human insight. With our talent, values, and proven success, we are well-positioned to make a significant impact on the global stage.
The Constantinus Challenge: What’s Your Award-Worthy Project?
From Shanghai, it’s clear that the gap between “good consultant” and “Constantinus finalist” is narrower than we might think. It’s about vision, innovation, rigorous execution, collaboration, and persistence through setbacks.
So, what’s your project? How can we, as a consulting community, support each other in reaching the next level?
Final Thoughts: Making Canadian Consulting Excellence the Global Standard
Reflecting on my journey to Shanghai, I am filled with pride, not just for the recognition I received, but for the collective potential of Canadian consultants. We have what it takes to elevate Canadian consulting to the global stage and shape the future of this industry.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, including CMC Canada, Dr. James Oni, and my fellow consultants. Together, let’s work toward making Canadian consulting excellence the global standard.
For more information about my work and projects, feel free to visit:
