Infrastructure resilience

I n the latest episode of The Infrastructure Podcast I am joined by Samantha McCabe, the National Chair of Women in Property, who previews and expands upon the discussion planned for WiP’s breakfast meeting at next month’s UKREiiF event in Leeds. Have a listen here or find the episode wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. In this wide-ranging conversation, Sam isn't just talking about diversity. As UK Passive House Lead and Sustainable Buildings Lead for Scotland at WSP, she is equally passionate about the challenge of decarbonising our infrastructure and ensuring that good design is not “value engineered” out of every project. A bunch of tough briefs for sure. Have a listen as we get stuck into: ✅ “Building more with less” – why efficiency is the ultimate sustainability tool. ✅ Inclusive leadership – how diverse perspectives lead to better, more profitable decision-making. ✅ Breaking the silos - ending the systemic inefficiencies that plague our infrastructure. ✅ Why growing up in Queensland’s harsh environment shaped Sam’s passion and career in low carbon design. Check out this conversation. And if you are heading to UKREiiF 19-21st May bag yourself a ticket to the Harvey Nichols breakfast on 19th May to see how WIP is bridging the gap between diversity and industry performance. This is the first in a mini-series of interviews I am running to pick out some interesting infrastructure folk speaking at this year's UKREiiF event in Leeds - keep an eye out for them and see you there 10-21 May.

Can nuclear energy drive the future of sustainable air travel? Well according to Caroline Longman and Hannah Vickers of nuclear consultant Equilibrion the answer is absolutely yes – and pretty soon too!. Have a listen here or find it wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. War in Iran has seen the price of aviation fuel double over the last few week. Yet the world’s hunger for air travel isn’t slowing down, our window for decarbonisation is closing fast and the UK/EU mandates for airlines to use up to 22% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030 are closing in rapidly. And while road transport has shifted toward batteries, long-haul aviation faces a much steeper climb. You can’t exactly plug a 747 into a wall. In this week’s episode, we hear how nuclear technology is being leveraged to create e-SAF (synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel) - a potential game-changer for a Net Zero future. · Why "bio-only" SAF strategies won't meet global demand. · The role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in fuel production. · How Equilibrion is building a "trusted, outcome-focused" supply chain. · Why the current geopolitical climate is accelerating the need for fuel sovereignty.

I first met Donna Lopata, PhD , my latest guest on The Infrastructure Podcast , at the recent Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit in Melbourne where she presented something of a wake-up call for the global investment industry when it comes to the management of evolving risk. Have a listen here or find it wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. At the TIP summit, Donna was joined by Alison Atherton of the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney as they presented the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) latest research, "Systems Stewardship: Managing Interconnected Climate Risks for Lasting Value", This report reveals, while the industry is waking up to systemic risk, our current investment models are still stuck rewarding short-term wins rather than long-term, economy-wide stability. In this episode we flesh out the report's finding and its recommendations for action, tackling tricky issues such as: · How to ensure systems thinking become real in practice. · Why traditional asset performance approach to investment risk management is over. · The impact of climate change, population growth and social inequality on the real performance of our pension investments · Why rethinking procurement and carbon assessment is vital for today’s risk management.

My guest on The Infrastructure Podcast this week is Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of Anglian Water Services and former boss of the HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd project. It’s certainly an interesting time to be joining the water industry – he has just secured £11bn to spend at Anglian over the next five years and is now preparing for some of the biggest sector reforms since privatisation 30 years ago. Have a listen here or find it wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. Mark joined Anglian Water in July 2024. Last summer Sir John Cunliffe delivered his tough recommendations for water sector reform and then Ofwat set out its new AMP8 determination seeking a step-change in resilience and the public demanding accountability. Lots to discuss: ✅ Cunliffe’s recommendations for sweeping sector reform. ✅ Unlocking delivery for major new reservoirs needed to meet growing demand. ✅ How to balance water finances - investment needs versus affordability. ✅ Why the water sector needs "mega-project" experience right now. Anglian Water has long been cited as one of the UK’s most innovative water companies. But as the industry faces a massive "reckoning," the challenge is to accelerate investment while maintain the public’s trust in the firm’s ability to deliver Mark first joined me on the podcast back in 2023 in Episode 6 when we discussed his challenges at HS2 - check that out here: https://lnkd.in/eYc4pNRC

I’m joined on The Infrastructure Podcast this week by Squadron Leader David Littlemore CEng FICE, Executive Officer at the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, Infrastructure – and the only Chartered Civil Engineer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) – to discuss how the UK Armed Services is undergoing a radical shift in developing its professional engineering talent. Have a listen here or find all episodes wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. David’s career proves that "military" and "professional civilian standards" aren't just compatible, they are a powerful combination. In our discussion he brings a unique perspective on: ✅ Merging military precision with civilian consultancy standards to create future fit engineering talent. ✅ Managing high-stakes infrastructure from the UK to the Middle East. ✅ Why professional recognition (like Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Fellowship) is vital for the next generation. ✅ How the RAF has "upped its game" in professional career support. ✅ Why mentoring the next generation of engineers and technicians is crucial ✅ Whether studying for A levels is not necessarily the only route to an engineering career.

Let’s face it, we’ve been talking about modernising, digitising and decarbonising infrastructure for years. So in the latest episode of The Infrastructure Podcast, I sit down with Mark Coates FCIHT, FCInstCES, VP of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley Systems , to chew over how the global Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) movement is actually starting to move the dial towards change. Have a listen here or find it wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. As we heard at the latest TIP summit in Melbourne, the "old way" of delivering projects - siloed data, stagnant productivity, and resource-heavy construction - is broken. Having worked with Mark on TIP summits from London and Singapore to our most recent stop in Melbourne, we’ve seen the same failings across the delivery chain - but also a wealth of positive lessons. For details of past and future TIP summits check out the Infrastructure Policy Advancement website here: https://lnkd.in/gEKmAjry Have a listen as we dive into: · How TIP evolved from a UK policy framework into a global movement. · Why we must shift from "building things" to "outcomes for people and the planet." · The roadmap for the future of infrastructure is being written now - how do you get on board? Listen to episode 154 to hear how industry change really is just around the corner!

I have just got back from the excellent Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit in Melbourne where I caught up with Jon Phillips , chief executive of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) for a fascinating chat about the current state of the global infrastructure investment market. Have a listen to the latest episode of @the infrastructure Podcast here or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. GIIA represents institutional investors managing over US$2.2 trillion in assets and as Jon points out, 2025 was a record-breaking fundraising year underlining the continued global hunger for bankable projects. And, as he also points out, the market is underpinned by the "4 Ds" currently reshaping our world – where significant challenges exist: · Digitalisation: But is the AI-driven data boom cooling off? · Decarbonisation: Can the relentless push toward net zero continue? · Deglobalisation: Navigating new geopolitical shifts and the "Trump effect." · Defence: Why national security is now an infrastructure priority. The Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) Summit was hosted by Bentley Systems and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in Melbourne and explored the huge opportunities and challenges in the Australian infrastructure market. Check it out at https://lnkd.in/gEKmAjry

This week's 151st episode of The Infrastructure Podcast was recorded live in Toronto with the brilliant Peter Weltman, chairman of the Canadian Infrastructure Council and explores what can be learned from Canada’s radical approach to kickstarting its much-needed housing sector. The episode was record at last year’s Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit Toronto, hosted by Bentley Systems and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). The TIP Live summit travels next week to Melbourne as we continue to share global ideas about how to boost the effectiveness of our infrastructure delivery Have a listen here or find all 151 episodes wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube (and there’s a video version available too this week). CIC has just produced a report outlining the future challenges and needs around so-called housing-enable infrastructure - definitely valuable global learning and worth a read. Peter brings some fascinating insights and learning around how Canada is aligning its investment in housing with investment in transport, energy and communication - bringing together public and private cash - to accelerate to delivery for real communities. Because the global infrastructure needs to learn – and share - as many infrastructure delivery lessons as possible. As population growth accelerates, climate shocks intensify and affordability pressures mount, the key question is still whether we can deliver and maintain infrastructure fast enough and efficiently enough to support our society needs. And that’s what TIP is all about – learning and sharing knowledge. Right. I’m off to Melbourne – see you there!

This week I am celebrating the 150th episode of The Infrastructure Podcast (yes doesn’t time fly!!) by chatting to Mark Reynolds CBE, executive chair of global construction giant Mace and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council about the skills challenge – still one of the biggest constraints on the UK’s £725bn+ infrastructure ambition. Have a listen here or find all 149 episodes wherever you get your podcasts - search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple, Google or YouTube. Alongside his ongoing work to restructure the Mace business (interesting changes going on there for sure) Mark now also chairs the new Construction Skills Mission Board. This bring together senior industry leaders, educators, training bodies, government ministers and unions to ensure the sector can recruit, train and retain and extra 100,000 workers a year - creating the workforce it needs to meet the demands of the decade ahead. So big ambition. Big investment. Now the big question: can we create the jobs to meet the training and build the workforce to match that ambition? Mark says yes, we can.