Interview with Elena Zagorenko

What do you love about your job, and how have you overcome some of the more challenging moments in your career?

I feel very thankful that I have managed to find a career field that is exceptionally suitable for my personality type! I think I was born a project manager, and it was an absolute blessing to get involved in one of the very first NGO development projects in Ukraine when I was just 16. Straight away, I knew I had found my passion, but it took some time to turn that into a career.

Over the last 20 years, I have worked across a vast number of industries, from banking to infrastructure and mining, and have been exposed to managing sizable multi-billion-dollar portfolios. That obviously brought on some challenges, but I always say I am built for storms! I believe that focus, determination, and courage can help you move forward, no matter what life has in store.

Reflecting on your journey and achievements leading to this promotion, could you share with us how your unique blend of skills and experiences will enhance the value you deliver to our clients in your new role as Principal?

My extensive experience in managing large-scale portfolios and successfully delivering and governing programs and projects in banking, IT, civil construction, mining, and energy sectors is further enhanced by holding senior roles in Project Controls and Portfolio Management across multibillion-dollar portfolios. This broad experience has equipped me with an in-depth understanding of all aspects of project operations from pre-feasibility to in-delivery turnarounds, as well as an ability to resolve complex problems while retaining a strategic viewpoint of business priorities to accelerate returns. My experience in investment case development, financial and business planning, and stakeholder engagement allows me to effectively govern delivery and bridge the gaps between the business vision and execution.

This skillset strategically positions me to support my current and prospective clients in solving the most complex challenges that evolving market conditions could present.

Could you tell us more about your background and how you ended up working in infrastructure advisory?

If anyone had told me, when I was growing up, that I would live in Australia and work in infrastructure advisory, I would have thought it was a joke. I was born in a small regional center in the south of Ukraine, and I always loved books. So, I chose to pursue a degree in Languages and aspired to be a librarian. But life took me in a different direction, and by the age of 24, I was already running my first construction project. I then completed a second Master's in International Marketing and Economics and obtained international project management certification with IPMA & AIPM.

The move to Australia was a jump into the unknown but has proven to be the best decision I have ever made. I was able to take my project management career to new heights, having won the AIPM Project Manager of the Year in 2015 and later becoming the first-ever female Chair of the Board for the Australian Institute of Project Management. I have worked in numerous corporate roles, most recently as the head of PMO for Minerals Australia Projects for BHP. When I felt ready for a career change, I was fortunate to meet the E3 leaders and decided to try myself in an advisory capacity. I was eager to explore new industries and see how I could deploy my knowledge and expertise to solve the complex issues our clients face. I thoroughly enjoy this new challenge and feel privileged to work alongside highly capable, like-minded professionals.

E3 Advisory and yourself are playing an increasingly important role in the energy transition. Could you share how your skills and experiences have positioned you to contribute to this critical area?

Energy transition initiatives and targets both in Australia and globally have already created a significant need for skilled resources that could support these aspirations by turning them into reality. Project management and broader leadership capabilities will be among the most sought-after skills as they bring discipline, rigor, and good governance practices to ensure significant investments in the energy sector result in tangible outcomes for our communities. This is exactly the expertise that I and many of my peers from E3 Advisory bring to the table.

What are you most looking forward to as you embark on this next phase of your career as a Principal at E3 Advisory?

I can clearly see how the world around us is evolving at a high pace, and so do the industries that we support. That brings on both challenges and excitement as I believe the next 10 to 20 years will bring a lot of change to how projects are delivered. There are a lot of hopes and fears around the industry about how the introduction of AI will shape the future of project management, especially as it promises to enable decision-making by making reliable data more available, often in real-time. With the increasing push for efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, there is more opportunity for us, as trusted advisors for our clients, to support them in unlocking the full potential of their businesses. As a Principal at E3 Advisory, I feel really inspired to shape the future of our industry!

What’s your life like outside of work, and what are your views on work-life balance?

I will confess that I have never been able to achieve work-life balance in its true sense. I guess this is mostly because I am really passionate about my work, and I see it as a critical and integral part of my life. So why separate life and work? I prefer to blend them together and carve out some time for both work and play in a way that suits me on the day. I am a social person, so I love sharing my spare time with my boyfriend, my extensive circle of friends, and my furry babies (I do love my 2 cats!). Currently, I am also working on relocating my parents from Ukraine to Australia, and that does require some project management capability for sure!

Do you have any advice for our readers, particularly other women working in the infrastructure industry?

Working as an advisor brings its own unique challenges as you have to constantly find a balance between the purely technical and the “softer” side of the advice that you are providing. Understanding the organizational and industry context, tailoring the message to ensure it can be fully understood and heard, practicing empathy, and being an active and receptive listener are necessary additions to the baseline technical capability that any advisor should possess.