The Infrastructure Podcast

Antony Oliver

A new regular podcast series which features conversations with some of the key leaders and influencers from across UK infrastructure sector.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    New York's Penn Station with Andy Byford

    This is a special episode recorded live in front of delegates at the recent Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit in New York – the latest in this series of global events supported by software giant Bentley Systems and the UK Government. My guest is Andy Byford, Special Advisor at Amtrak, former London Transport Commissioner, and the man in charge of the massive multi-billion dollar transformation of New York’s vast Penn Station, the busiest rail hub in the Western Hemisphere.  The Station sits on Seventh Avenue in the heart of Manhattan alongside the Maddison Square Garden sports and concert venue. It serves hundreds of thousands of passengers each day, via numerous the MTA subway lines and the Long lsland Railroad. Yet for decades it has struggled under the weight of aging assets, fragmented governance, and chronic underinvestment.  The result has been a station that works hard, but not well enough for the city, the region, or the nation it serves. But that is now beginning to change. Under the expert eye of Andy - AKA the "Train Daddy" - the Penn Station Transformation intends to redefine what a modern, customer-focused, high-capacity rail hub can look like in the heart of one of the world’s densest urban environments.  And after a career running London’s Transport network, and before that, transportation in Sydney, Toronto and New York, he is the man that knows what passengers – and crucially what politicians want from this kind of station transformation. I kicked off by getting to grips with this vast and highly political project - and asking what world class actually looks like? Resources Penn Station tranformationAmtrak New Era of Rail websiteMTA project websiteTIP New York Summit 2026American Society of Civil Engineers website

    37 min

  2. 20 APR

    Infrastructure resilience with Sue Percy

    In this episode we talk about infrastructure resilience: the challenge of designing and building infrastructure in an age of deep uncertainty, where a changing climate, a growing population, and a shrinking public purse have rendered traditional asset management models all but obsolete. To discuss this vital issue, my guest is Sue Percy, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation and our focus will be on the resilience of the UK’s transport networks.  Sue is well placed to tackle the subject given that she fronted the CIHT’s annual conference last month titled “From Risk to Resilience” at which delegates debated a range of critical issues facing the national and local transport sector. As the conference heard, the UK’s highways and transportation sector has operated for decades on the logic of risk management - calculating known variables to maintain a steady state.  But that era is pretty much over.  And as the conference concluded, that range of systemic pressures requires a fundamental pivot in mindset and practice to move from risk to resilience. It requires us to view our infrastructure not as a collection of isolated assets, but as a living system.  That means building networks that don't just withstand disruption - whether from flooding or funding gaps - but infrastructure that actually adapts to it; embracing digital twins and predictive maintenance; breaking down the silos between engineering and policy, and finding the "technical leadership" necessary to deliver results when the skills gap is wider than ever. It’s a complex story of moving beyond high-level theory to the sharp end of delivery. So let’s hear more  Resources CIHT annual conference 2026 - Risk to ResilienceCIHT websiteSue Percy Linked InNational Highways Road Investment Strategy 3AIA Alarm Survey 2026Integrated National Transport Strategy UK government £1bn structures fund Climate Change Committee

    37 min

  3. 13 APR

    Women in Property with Sam McCabe

    In this episode we take a close look at the work of the Women in Property network and preview a special breakfast discussion that they have planned on 19th May at UKREiiF, the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum being held in Leeds on 19th to 21st May. Joining me is Sam McCabe, the newly installed national chair of Women in Property who in her day job, is Passive House Lead for the UK and Sustainable Buildings Lead for Scotland at consultant WSP. There is much to discuss at the UKREIIF breakfast. The property and infrastructure sector is at a moment of both urgency and opportunity. Huge amounts of public and private investment are promised to underpin the nation’s growth ambitions, yet there are still a vast number of barriers to overcome. Sam’s theme for her year in office tackles these challenges head on and underpins her career mission to deliver buildings and infrastructure that actually work for the environment, for people,  for communities and for the bottom line. So when she talks about “Building more with less,” she makes a direct challenge to the industry’s "silo mentality" and the systemic inefficiencies that too often see great designs diluted by late-stage value engineering.  And by championing inclusive leadership as a practical means to drive better decision-making, Sam is setting out at both WIP and WSP to bridge the gap between diversity and delivery. So as usual the question is how to drive change. So let’s dig in and discuss her vision for a more collaborative more diverse, more effective and more sustainable industry. Resources Women in Property websiteUKREiiF website WiP breakfast meeting 19th May at UKREiiFMale Allies UK - National Allyship Summit 14 MayWiP People - Innovation - Place Summit - 23 April 2026WSP websiteSam McCabe Linked In

    33 min

  4. 6 APR

    Nuclear powered sustainable aviation with Caroline Longman and Hannah Vickers

    This this week's episode we discuss the decarbonisation of global aviation - and specifically a new project that aims to leverage the growth in nuclear technology to accelerate us towards a new world of affordable e-SAF - sustainable aviation fuels Because for all the pressures of driving towards a net zero emissions future, the world's hunger for air travel continues to grow. Which leaves the environmental cost of traditional kerosene as no longer sustainable. And to be honest, given the impact of war in Iran, the pressure to accelerate towards new types of fuel is only going one way. Today I am joined by Caroline Longman, director and guiding mind at nuclear energy consultancy Equilibrion and by Commercial lead Hannah Vickers. Together they are going to talk us through a potential solution - Equilibrion’s flagship e-SAF project, Eq.flight. Decarbonising aviation is a tough challenge – perhaps one of the biggest challenges of the global Net Zero transition. Unlike road transport, which can lean on batteries, long-haul flight requires high-density liquid fuels.  And global SAF mandates are tightening – the UK and EU have mandated a 2% SAF blend by 2025, rising to 10%–22% by 2030 - making now an increasingly critical moment. While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) exists, current bio-based methods face a feedstock ceiling - there simply isn't enough waste oil or land to fuel the global fleet. The Eq.flight programme attempts to changes the equation by leveraging the carbon-free power of nuclear energy. Working in collaboration with partners like Rolls-Royce SMR, Equilibrion it is moving from consultancy to delivery, recently launching a call for partners to join a "trusted, outcome-focused" supply chain. Resources Equilibrion websiteThe Eq.Flight projectEq.Flight - call for partnersEU mandate on SAFCaroline Longman Linked InHannah Vickers Linked In

    42 min

  5. 30 MAR

    Systems Stewardship: managing evolving risk with Donna Lopata

    In this episode we tackle the evolving challenges of managing infrastructure investment risk in a rapidly changing world. As systemic threats like climate change, population growth and social inequality intensify, infrastructure funding models centred on individual assets, on clearly defined risks, and on relatively predictable climate conditions are reaching their limit.  In short, if we are to continue to attract private sector cash to underpin investment in our vital public assets, we need new thinking. My guest today is doing that thinking and helping to take the necessary action.  Donna Lopata is senior manager for corporate engagement at the Sydney based Investor Group on Climate Change and has just been working with the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney on some ground-breaking research into Systems Stewardship, a radical new way for infrastructure investors to approach the management of risk in this changing world. Donna’s work caught my attention at the recent Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit in Melbourne. In her presentation she pointed out that the Australian infrastructure investment industry is waking up to a stark reality: if the overarching economic and environmental systems fail, no individual portfolio is safe. However, the IGCC’s report: Systems Stewardship: Managing Interconnected Climate Risks for Lasting Value suggest that a fundamental shift is already underway. Yet while some 85% of investment professionals now apply "systems thinking," a significant implementation gap remains, hampering the transition from high-level belief statements to concrete action. Bridging this gap requires rethinking everything from procurement and carbon assessment to the very fundamental of assessing risk.  Resources Investor Group on Climate ChangeThe Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology SydneySystems Stewardship: Managing Interconnected Climate Risks for Lasting Value Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit Melbourne 2026Donna Lopata Linked In

    36 min

  6. 23 MAR

    Water for public benefit with Mark Thurston

    In this episode we are talking about water sector reform with Mark Thurston, chief executive of Anglian Water, arguably one of the most progressive and innovative water companies in the UK. Not without its problems and critics of course, but Anglian is certainly one water company that has really taken on the challenge to work with its supply chain to boost infrastructure productivity and cut out carbon.  Mark joined Anglian in July 2024 having previously spent nearly seven years at the helm of the challenging and controversial HS2 project – the subject of our last conversation for the Podcast when he joined me back in 2023 for Episode 5.  No question, it’s a challenging time for the water sector. After years of public anger over sewage spills, service failures and rising bills, the water industry in England and Wales is facing a once-in-a-generation reckoning. That moment crystallised last summer with the final report of the Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe. This pulled no punches and in it 88 recommendations called for sweeping reform: replacing Ofwat with a single integrated regulator, creating regional water planning authorities, mandating water metering, and embedding a new “public benefit” duty into company licences. At the same time, Ofwat’s latest price review has demanded a step-change in asset renewal, resilience to climate change, and service performance - all while keeping water affordable and the sector investable. The stakes could hardly be higher.  Without action, the country faces a potential shortfall of around a third of today’s public water supply by 2050. Right now, Anglian is responding with plans to deliver new reservoirs in Lincolnshire and the Cambridgeshire Fens, and battling to unlock delivery without compromising environmental protection or public trust. So Mark finds himself once again at the heart of the infrastructure challenge. But his background perhaps brings rare experience of leading mega-projects under intense public and political scrutiny - experience that I’d say the water sector urgently needs right now.  So let’s explore those challenges. Resources Anglian Water websiteAnglian Water annual performance report 2025Independent Water Commission - Cunliffe ReviewOfwat's AMP8 final determination Anglian Water's Business Plan for AMP8HS2 website

    39 min

  7. 16 MAR

    RAF’s professional engineering flight plan with Squadron Leader David Littlemore

    In this episode of the podcast we are explore the way the UK Armed Services has been radically upping its game in terms of the support, promotion and development of professional engineering careers.  To do this, I'm joined today by Squadron Leader David Littlemore from the Royal Air Force, currently executive officer infrastructure at Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.  David is also fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, in fact, the only chartered civil engineer in the RAF, and I'd say that he is also a passionate advocate for merging the best of military and civilian engineering training to create complete and capable professional engineers fit for the future.  David’s engineering career journey was unorthodox. He started straight from school, aged 16, working in a bridge design office, where he progressed through ONC and then HNC studies before gaining a degree in Civil Engineering at Durham University. He then switched to the military by being commissioning into the Royal Air Force in 2008.  Since then his career has bridged the gap between civilian consultancy and high-stakes military infrastructure, tackling work across the UK and from the South Atlantic to the Middle East. And today, as a Chartered Civil Engineer, he is certainly testament to the "long winding road" of modern professional engineering careers.  Beyond his technical expertise in project management and infrastructure delivery, he mentors young technicians and engineers and is committed to helping the next generation understand the profound value of professional recognition, and what it takes to build a career. Resources RAF Cyber and Specialist Operations CommandRAF professional engineering careersDavid Littlemore Linked InICE routes to membershipICE CouncilQUEST scholarships

    34 min

  8. 9 MAR

    Transforming Infrastructure Performance with Mark Coates

    In this episode we dive into the infrastructure sector’s journey towards digitisation, decarbonisation and modernisation – a journey which to be honest, seems like one that we have been on for some time. To do this, my guest is Mark Coates, Vice President of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at software giant Bentley Systems and the guiding mind behind TIP, the Transforming Infrastructure Performance global Summit initiative, the latest iteration of which was held last month in Melbourne. Full disclosure – from the earliest days TIP back in 2022, I have been working with Mark to deliver the summits – in London, Manchester, Singapore, Toronto, New York and, as I say, most recently Melbourne. And it’s fair to say that, throughout this global journey, we have seen many common failings across the delivery chain but also, thankfully, identified a huge number of positive lessons to be shared. One thing that is clear is that “business as usual”,  the "old way" of delivering projects - siloed data, stagnant productivity, and resource-heavy construction – is broken. Hence the need for a Transformation of Infrastructure Performance. Born from a UK government initiative and now championed by the National Infrastructure Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) alongside partners like Bentley Systems and the Institution of Civil Engineers, TIP has evolved from a local policy framework into a worldwide movement aimed at repairing this broken model. It’s goal is to help governments around the world to find better ways to deliver the infrastructure needed to support their communities. So let’s hear more – what does the roadmap look like for a future where infrastructure truly performs for people and the planet? Resources Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit MelbourneUK government 10 year Infrastructure StrategyMark Coates Linked InBentley Systems Year in Infrastructure 2025Australian Infrastructure Investment MonitorBentley Systems websiteConstruction Leadership Council

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

A new regular podcast series which features conversations with some of the key leaders and influencers from across UK infrastructure sector.

Information

  • Creator
    Antony Oliver
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    162
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Infrastructure Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Infrastructure Podcast

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