Physicist → Operator → Trusted advisor

Matthew Lai

Your next Chief of Staff.

I translate enterprise strategy into executable plans. I diagnose problems that cut across lines of business and disciplines, align corporate priorities with funding, capacity and delivery commitments, and give executives the analysis and recommendations they need to decide. Then I deliver it, from programs to products.

Hire me as your next Chief of StaffSee the story ↓
7
root causes found
+36%
ROIC, cases funded
~$500M
annual spend run
$3M
ARR, grown from $150K
PhysicistOperatorTrusted advisor
2014 – 2017 · Nuclear physicist

Started inside the reactor.

That's where I learned to explain complex systems in plain language.

  • Ran fleet telemetry and radiation detection across two nuclear stations
  • Co-authored an EPRI industry report on remote monitoring
  • First-line manager of 30+ unionized staff
30+unionized staff led
Matthew in a protective suit beside an inspection robot inside a nuclear stationMatthew and his station team with the Darlington Outage Cup
2017 – now · Program delivery and operations

Then I built and ran the machinery.

  • Ran progressive and performance-based contracting on large-scale infrastructure
  • Rebuilt performance management across ~$500M of annual spend, turning three monthly reviews into one
  • Transformed a cost assurance program around clear allowable-cost rules and risk-based audits
  • Built data products and prototypes, including a vendor cost-data standard now in live ingestion
  • Stood up fleet-wide predictive maintenance from day zero
~$500Mannual spend under rebuilt performance management
Matthew holding a team trophy at the office
2024 – now · Chief of Staff (acting)

Now I'm the trusted advisor in the room.

  • Traced a failure across three financial systems to seven root causes, then took the roadmap to the CFO, CIO and EVP
  • Ran an in-house consulting engagement: all four recommendations approved by three VPs and now rolling out
  • Brought the CCO, CFO, CTO and EVPs together to benchmark digital transformation with peer agencies
  • Prepared Board materials for $100M+ decisions; sit on the enterprise AI committee
$6.8Binfrastructure portfolio

Selected outcomes

Strategist × operator.

Strategy Design the move

  • +36%ROIC on capital cases that had been turned down, now funded
  • 8 unitsoperating model and performance governance
  • $100M+payment decisions taken to Boards
  • AIenterprise AI and data platform selection

Operations Make it real

  • $140Mcost savings captured in FY2026
  • $43Mopex cut with IoT predictive maintenance
  • 500K+followers: built and sold a city media brand
  • 2 boardsdirector at Toronto Ultimate Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto

Contact

Let's build
something hard.

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