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What is a Digital Twin—and perhaps more importantly, what isn’t it? In this candid, high-energy panel, we’re cutting through the hype to challenge assumptions and confront conflicting definitions head-on. Featuring Ian McDermott (VP, Facilities and Capital Development, Sinai Health) and Mark Cichy (Partner, HOK), and moderated by Boris Germanov (Managing Partner, Boris & Associates), this session will showcase divergent perspectives from across the construction and design ecosystem.
Expect bold opinions, real-world examples, and a no-holds-barred discussion on the value, limits, and future of Digital Twins in the built environment. Come ready to engage—attendees are encouraged to voice their views and seek clarity during the interactive Q&A.
Boris Germanov is a Partner at Civalgo, and also founder and partner at Boris & Associates and TradesFactor. Prior to these endeavors, Boris spent 15 years in the EAC industry with Kiewit, one of North America’s leading construction organizations. Boris invests time growing and scaling prominent construction technology startups to respond to the ever-evolving innovation needs of the construction sector. His work addresses the key challenges and particular needs of asset owners, contractors, and project managers. Boris supports them in reducing their time, costs, and risks issues affecting project management by facilitating new models of cross-enterprise collaboration and ensuring real-time availability and analysis of operational data across multiple touchpoints, and devices.
What is a Digital Twin—and perhaps more importantly, what isn’t it? In this candid, high-energy panel, we’re cutting through the hype to challenge assumptions and confront conflicting definitions head-on. Featuring Ian McDermott (VP, Facilities and Capital Development, Sinai Health) and Mark Cichy (Partner, HOK), and moderated by Boris Germanov (Managing Partner, Boris & Associates), this session will showcase divergent perspectives from across the construction and design ecosystem.
Expect bold opinions, real-world examples, and a no-holds-barred discussion on the value, limits, and future of Digital Twins in the built environment. Come ready to engage—attendees are encouraged to voice their views and seek clarity during the interactive Q&A.
Ian McDermott is the Vice President, Facilities and Capital Development for Sinai Health (www.sinaihealth.ca) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ian started working with Sinai Health in Jan 2025 and is excited to help drive forward Sinai Health’s new Master Plan.
Previously, Ian spent 27 years with the University Health Network (www.UHN.ca) in Toronto, finishing his tenure there as the Chief Planning Officer and Executive Director, Redevelopment.
In his roles, Ian has worked with clinicians, service providers, design teams, constructors and all levels of government in managing and creating innovative environments for clinical and academic healthcare, research and education. Ian led the development of UHN’s first Integrated Facilities Master Planning project, completed in 2020. Ian and his team are project, space and clinical/scientific interpreters, translating needs and concepts between the all the users and the design/operational teams. Effective management of space allocation and utilization underlines user needs, design principals and finally realistic builds.
He led several major projects at UHN including: creation of two major Research Towers (Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower in MaRS, and the Krembil Discovery Tower at the Toronto Western Hospital); the planning for a first in Canada Proton/Particle Therapy Facility; creation of a new Patient/Surgical Tower for the Toronto Western Hospital (Project Aspire); planning for the redevelopment of UHN’s Elizabeth St. property to achieve UHN Master Plan objectives; creation of Canada’s first dedicated Seniors Emergency Medicine Centre at the Toronto Western Hospital; planning for a new Transplant Critical Care Unit for Canada’s largest complex transplant program at the Toronto General Hospital; and, development of the Stem Cell/Car T expansion at Princess Margaret.
Ian was the President of Sustainable Labs Canada (www.slcan.ca) for 4 years and has since continued as an active member of this national organization and honoured as an SLCan Fellow in 2021. Additionally, he is the Vice-President of the Toronto SLCan Chapter. Ian holds a Specialist Degree in Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto.
Mark is Principal and Director of Design Technology at HOK, with over 20 years of AEC industry experience in various projects. As Director of Design Technology, he develops strategies for advanced operational technologies and oversees large, sophisticated projects, providing client-centric solutions. He's an expert in AEC technologies, open standards, and tools, serving on committees and boards within HOK and the industry at large.
