S3E05: Ride the Change: shifting gears towards climate action 

For Earth Day 2024, we’re proud to be sponsoring the Ride the Change bike ride, an epic journey that spans the UK, Holland and Belgium. By raising climate pledges instead of cash, the ride – organised by Do Nation – aims to encourage simple, sustainable actions.  

70 cyclists representing AECOM and other organisations travelled from the UK and Europe to take part in the event, including our podcast host James Banks. To mark this milestone, we bring you a special live episode from the Atomium in Brussels, where the ride culminates.  

Join James as he speaks to four other participants and attendees for a post-ride discussion on the future of energy and transport. As well as sharing stories from the road, they’ll dive into the ways we can collectively work together to achieve a just transition. 

Speakers include:  

• Miet Luyckx, Programme Management Director for Benelux, AECOM 

• Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain, Renewables UK 

• Lars Verkerk, Strategic Alliance Manager, Johnson Controls  

• Andrew Griffiths, Director of Policy & Partnerships at PlanetMark 

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Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. 

We'll be discussing everything from driving cost and time efficiencies within the rail industry to the importance of collaboration in bringing hydrogen projects forward.  

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About the host 

👉 James Banks, Director of Marketing and Communications. Been at AECOM for 6 years.  

Hosting the Talking Infrastructure is a real highlight of my role at AECOM. Having launched the podcast back in 2019. I’ve seen it grow from something that was, to be honest, a bit of an experiment, to something that is now adding real value to our clients and the industry. With a growing and diverse audience, I’m always amazed when I receive emails and social comments from listeners all over the world. So, keep them coming!  

Useful links: 

• Podcast survey – take part in our podcast survey to help shape the future of the podcast. You could win your very own exclusive Talking Infrastructure podcast mug (T&Cs apply): https://forms.office.com/r/6DcYTjsgza  

• Come and work for AECOM: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.jobs  

• Get a copy of our FOI report here: https://infrastructure.aecom.com/ 

Connect with us on social: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aecom/,https://www.instagram.com/aecom/, https://twitter.com/aecom 

Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. 

We'll be discussing everything from driving cost and time efficiencies within the rail industry to the importance of collaboration in bringing hydrogen projects forward. 

Episode 4: Closing the net zero divide: how do we ensure no community is left behind?  

For this episode, our host James Banks is joined by Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy and Helena Rivers, AECOM’s net zero lead for the built environment to discuss the challenges and opportunities in achieving net zero.  

From the importance of retrofitting homes and buildings to enhance energy efficiency to the latest green technology improving heat networks, our speakers explore how we can reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment – and why a people-centric approach is key. 

Central to the conversation is how we can meet our climate goals whilst addressing the disparities and inequalities between communities to ensure that no one is left behind.  

As well as busting some common myths, our speakers tackle questions such as: 

• What does 'net zero' really mean and why is it vital for our future? 

• What role does technology play in making homes more energy-efficient and sustainable? 

• How can we effectively engage the public and bridge the knowledge gap? 

• How can global cooperation and policies accelerate the move towards net zero? 

Plus, Emma shares the creative ways that Octopus is reshaping public perceptions towards green energy – including a touring wind turbine named Gusty Springfield. 

Expert speakers: 

• Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director, Octopus Energy 

• Helena Rivers, AECOM Net Zero lead for the built environment

About the host 

James Banks, Director of Marketing and Communications. Been at AECOMnfor 6 years.  

Hosting the Talking Infrastructure is a real highlight of my role at AECOM. Having launched the podcast back in 2019. I’ve seen it grow from something that was, to be honest, a bit of an experiment, to something that is now adding real value to our clients and the industry. With a growing and diverse audience, I’m always amazed when I receive emails and social comments from listeners all over the world. So, keep them coming!  

Useful links: 

• Podcast survey – take part in our podcast survey to help shape the future of the podcast. You could win your very own exclusive Talking Infrastructure podcast mug (T&Cs apply): https://forms.office.com/r/6DcYTjsgza  

• Come and work for AECOM: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.jobs  

• Get a copy of our FOI report here: https://infrastructure.aecom.com/ 

S3E03: Engineer of the future: building tomorrow’s workforce 

Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. 

We'll be discussing everything from driving cost and time efficiencies within the rail industry to the importance of collaboration in bringing hydrogen projects forward. 

In this episode, host James Banks is joined by Dr Sara Venning from Northern Ireland Water, Dr Alice Bunn of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and Eloise John, AECOM's energy lead for Europe and India.  

Together, they discuss how we can plan, develop, and recruit a workforce fit for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  

Our guest speakers address questions such as: 

• What are the key technologies shaping the future of engineering?  
• What emerging trends should engineers be aware of and prepare for?  
• How can we cultivate greater diversity in the workplace? 
• How can engineers foster innovation and creativity in their work? 

As well as emphasising the importance of soft skills alongside technical expertise, the discussion also highlights the necessity of lifelong learning – and why it’s crucial to remain agile in an industry where future job roles are yet unknown. 

Expert speakers: 

• Dr Alice Bunn Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 
• Dr Sara Venning CEO at Northern Ireland Water 
• Eloise John AECOM Energy Lead, Europe and India 

About the host 

• James Banks, Director of Marketing and Communications. Been at AECOM for 6 years.  
• Hosting the Talking Infrastructure is a real highlight of my role at AECOM. Having launched the podcast back in 2019. I’ve seen it grow from something that was, to be honest, a bit of an experiment, to something that is now adding real value to our clients and the industry. With a growing and diverse audience, I’m always amazed when I receive emails and social comments from listeners all over the world. So, keep them coming!  

Useful links: 

• Podcast survey – take part in our podcast survey to help shape the future of the podcast. You could win your very own exclusive Talking Infrastructure podcast mug (T&Cs apply): https://forms.office.com/r/6DcYTjsgza  
• Come and work for AECOM: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.jobs  
• Get a copy of our FOI report here: https://infrastructure.aecom.com/ 

Connect with us on social: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aecom/,https://www.instagram.com/aecom/, https://twitter.com/aecom 

🎙️Talking Infrastructure Season 3 

Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. We'll be discussing everything from driving cost and time efficiencies within the rail industry to the importance of collaboration in bringing hydrogen projects forward.  

In this episode, we take you on a journey behind the scenes of one of the rail industry’s most successful partnerships - the South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA). The SRSA is one of three alliances set up to complete vital track renewals necessary to improve the rail network for the benefit of passengers across the UK.   As a successful working example of an alliancing delivery model, the SRSA is widely regarded as collaboration best practice by industry peers both in the UK and across the globe.    

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Expert speakers:  

👉 Stuart Calvert, Wales & Western Capital Delivery Director at Network Rail. Stuart has over 40 years' rail industry experience and now leads our capital delivery team responsible for managing all the investment projects in the region. Stuart makes the most of the Devon coast and countryside enjoying walking, sailing, cooking and bell ringing! (more info in attached bio if needed)   

Why you’re excited to join the TI podcast: It is very important to discuss the benefits of effective working between suppliers and clients and how strong collaborative arrangements can benefit all parties. We have extensive experiences in working this way and sharing best practice, so others can benefit and learn is a key aspect of a collaborative leadership approach. 

👉 Ondrej Roubicek, Deputy CEO at Colas Rail UK. Ondrej has over 15 years of experience in the Railway Industry, initially starting with Track renewals, he is overseeing all of Colas Rail UK’s first tier business with Network Rail. 

Why you’re excited to join the TI podcast: Ondrej's direct experience of working with traditional as well as Alliancing contracts has made him a big advocate of collaborative culture. He believes that In the complex environment of the UK rail we will always deliver the best outcome for the passengers by working together in an open, transparent and collaborative manner. 

👉 Susan Evans, Rail, Structures and Ground Engineering Director at AECOM. A business leader with 30 years’ experience in the aerospace, scientific research and rail sectors.   Strong supporter of EDI strategies, including Women In Rail London region Vice-Chair. 

Why you’re excited to join the TI podcast: I was keen to be on this podcast because collaboration models, including Alliancing, is of interest to many clients around the world so it was a great opportunity to step back and chat informally. Especially to be able to do that with our Colas partners and our Network Rail client– it doesn’t often happen that we can kick back like that. 

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About the host James Banks, Director of Marketing and Communications. Been at AECOM for 6 years. Hosting the Talking Infrastructure is a real highlight of my role at AECOM. Having launched the podcast back in 2019I’ve seen it grow from something that was, to be honest, a bit of an experiment, to something that is now adding real value to our clients and the industry. With a growing and diverse audience, I’m always amazed when I receive emails and social comments from listeners all over the world. So, keep them coming! 

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Useful links:  

➡️Podcast survey – take part in our podcast survey to help shape the future of the podcast. You could win your very own exclusive Talking Infrastructure podcast mug (T&Cs apply): https://forms.office.com/r/6DcYTjsgza  

➡️Case study: South Rail Systems Alliance: driving efficiency for Network Rail: https://aecom.com/projects/south-rail-systems-alliance-driving-efficiency-for-network-rail/ 

➡️Three ways collaboration is driving efficiency across the UK rail industry: https://aecom.com/without-limits/article/three-ways-collaboration-is-driving-efficiency-across-the-uk-rail-industry  

➡️Come and work for AECOM: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.jobs  

Connect with us on social: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aecom/,https://www.instagram.com/aecom/ , https://twitter.com/aecom  

👉 Key points

As well as an introduction into how hydrogen is made, what it is used for, its pivotal role in the energy transition, and public impact, listeners can expect:

- practical insights on hydrogen project planning and delivery

- commentary on regulation, investment and technology

- thoughts on balancing profitability and risk

- an insight into how green ammonia could decarbonise the agricultural sector and stabilise local food systems

- a glimpse into exciting new developments that we may see unfold over the next decade.

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Expert speakers:

➡️ Olivier Mussat: CEO at ATOME, the first and only green hydrogen, ammonia and fertiliser production company listed on the London Stock Exchange. ATOME is currently progressing plans to build one of the world’s first commercial large-scale green ammonia facilities in Paraguay.

Experience/background: Started as a field engineer in the power sector, moved to oil & gas, then infrastructure finance, before joining ATOME he was the chief investment officer of global energy at the IFC, the private investment arm of the World Bank.

➡️ Dr Nigel Holmes, CEO of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, an organisation at the heart of Scotland’s ambition to become one of Europe’s clean energy powerhouses.

Experience/background: Has been CEO of SHFCA since 2011. Nigel has also worked for the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and BP Chemicals before leading the national industrial symbiosis programme for reuse of industrial by-products (NISP Scotland).

➡️ Sam Mackilligin, Hydrogen Director for Europe at AECOM.

Experience/background: After 15 years in project and commercial roles in the automotive industry and four years as a turbine supplier/EPC contractor building windfarms, Sam has been with AECOM for nearly 15 years looking after energy clients of all shapes and sizes. He now leads service delivery to hydrogen developers, managing the accounts of large corporate clients and new entrants, permitting and engineering some of the largest green hydrogen projects moving to their delivery phase.

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About the host

➡️James Banks, Director of Marketing and Communications. Been at AECOM for 6 years.

Hosting the Talking Infrastructure is a real highlight of my role at AECOM. Having launched the podcast back in 2019 I’ve seen it grow from something that was, to be honest, a bit of an experiment, to something that is now adding real value to our clients and the industry. With a growing and diverse audience, I’m always amazed when I receive emails and social comments from listeners all over the world. So, keep them coming!

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👉 FOI report: https://infrastructure.aecom.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=tipodcast_s3&utm_content=eu_foi 

👉 Discover how partnering with ATOME on the world’s first commercial large-scale green ammonia scheme will help decarbonise agriculture project: https://publications.aecom.com/sustainable-legacies/projects/nurturing-green-ammonia-production-in-paraguay/ ?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=tipodcast_s3&utm_term=video_&utm_content=eu_episode1

👉 Find out how we are decarbonising a carbon-intensive industrial cluster at Net Zero Teesside: https://publications.aecom.com/sustainable-legacies/projects/net-zero-teeside/ ?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=tipodcast_s3&utm_term=video_&utm_content=eu_episode1

👉 Careers: discover the recruitment opportunities here: https://aecom.com/careers/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=tipodcast_s3&utm_term=video_&utm_content=eu_episode1

👉 Podcast survey – take part in our podcast survey to help shape the future of the podcast. You could win your very own exclusive Talking Infrastructure podcast mug (T&Cs apply):

Connect with us on social: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aecom/ | https://www.instagram.com/aecom/ | https://twitter.com/aecom

Our latest episode was recorded live at an AECOM-sponsored panel at the 2022 Labour Party Conference. Convened by leading thinktank Policy Exchange, the expert panel share how local leaders across the UK are building momentum to decarbonise cities and encourage green economic growth through effective public/private partnerships.

The line-up comprises Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority; Paul Ormerod, economist, and Chair of the Atom Valley project; Helena Rivers, Net Zero Lead, Buildings + Places Europe at AECOM; and Ruth Kelly, Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange.

In the latest episode of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast, we hear from Michael Gove MP, the former (and soon to be reappointed) Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, on the importance of strong local leadership and taking an integrated approach to deliver levelling up at the scale and pace required.

Gove was speaking at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference during an AECOM-sponsored panel event convened by thinktank Policy Exchange. He was joined by Councillor Abi Brown from Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Ben Derbyshire, former President of the Royal Institute of British Architects; Ike Ijeh, Head of Housing, Architecture and Urban Space at Policy Exchange; and Jonathan Moore, Head of Project, Programme and Cost Management, North of England at AECOM.

In our latest episode, host James Banks is joined by digital, carbon and programme management experts from infrastructure specialists AECOM, Arup, Costain and Egis to talk about the challenges that industry must solve to leverage the transformative power of data.

In the latest episode of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast, AECOM’s Chief Executive for India and Europe, Colin Wood, talks to Nick Smallwood, Chief Executive of the UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority. They discuss how to create ambition across the sector, drive collaboration and find smarter ways to deliver infrastructure that truly benefit society.

Host James Banks is joined by Andy Mitchell, CEO at Thames Tideway, Terry Wong, MTR, and Colin Wood, CEO Europe at AECOM to explore the role infrastructure has to play in opening up new opportunities and supporting communities in the decades to come.

Further reading: https://infrastructure.aecom.com/en-gb/creating-social-impact

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the idea that we need to make our towns and cities more resilient was growing. From aging and deficient infrastructure… to the challenges of climate change and population growth, it’s widely acknowledged that we are under-prepared to meet the increasingly unpredictable challenges of today. James Banks is joined by Angela Ryan, Water Supply and Resources Strategy Specialist at Irish Water, Caitlin MacLean, Senior Director of Innovative Finance at the Milken Institute and Stephen Engblom, AECOM’s Global Cities Director.

Further Reading https://infrastructure.aecom.com/2020/paying-it-forward-why-resilience-is-a-rising-priority