The iMasons Innovation Podcast Thought Leadership

Romain Tranchant

Join the iMasons Innovation Podcast as we tackle technology’s toughest challenges and shape a sustainable digital future. Hear from global innovators sharing insights and ideas to drive the growth of digital infrastructure.

  1. Jun 11

    #38 | Thought Leadership | Power, Scale & AI: Inside the Data Centre Shift

    What does it take to build data centres fit for an AI-driven world? In this Innovation Exchange session hosted by iMasons Innovation, three industry experts explore the forces reshaping AI data center development. Pritesh Indore (Crusoe) breaks down why site selection is no longer a real estate decision — it's an energy procurement and geopolitical one. Eric Closson (Stream Data Centers) examines the sustainability challenges of extreme-density compute, from water use to power efficiency.  JP Buzzell (Eaton) dives into the evolving design strategies needed to future-proof facilities built for AI workloads. Together they tackle the big questions: Where will the power come from? How do we bring communities along? And what does the next generation of infrastructure actually look like? 💬 Topics covered: site selection, power availability, liquid cooling, SMRs, behind-the-meter energy, community engagement, and the future of AI factories. 🔗 Learn more & join upcoming sessions: imasons.org/events  Guests: 🎤 Speakers:  Pritesh Indore, Crusoe — How AI is reshaping global site selection strategies Eric Closson, Stream Data Centres— AI-driven scale and design agility JP Buzzell, Eaton — Tackling waveform impacts from AI loads Moderator: Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair

    59 min

  2. May 8

    #37 | Thought Leadership | Design for Success: Rethinking Risk, Speed & Sustainability

    In this episode, host Romain Tranchant speaks with Geene Alhady, President of Clark Pacific, about how industrialized, product‑driven construction is reshaping data center and AI infrastructure delivery. Geene explains why Clark Pacific has moved away from traditional project‑by‑project construction toward a manufacturing mindset focused on standard products, repeatability, and market share. He dives into design for manufacturing, logistics, and assembly (DFMLA), the shift from risk avoidance to guaranteeing success, and how early collaboration with owners and designers unlocks speed, cost certainty, and scalability. The conversation also explores sustainability through Clark Pacific’s Carbon Shield low‑carbon concrete, the realities of scaling prefabrication at pace, and why shared values—not just contracts—are critical to transforming one of the world’s most risk‑averse industries. A must‑listen for anyone interested in the future of construction, prefabrication, and sustainable building innovation. *** Guest: Geene Alhady President at Clark Pacific Moderator:  Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair *** Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, non-profit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all. #iMasons #InfrastructureMasons #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership

    39 min

  3. May 5

    #36 Innovation Unwrapped | Inside the iMasons Innovation Committee

    This episode of Innovation Unwrapped offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at how innovation is being shaped within the iMasons community.  Romain Tranchant, Chair of the iMasons Innovation Committee, shares a clear update on the Committee’s priorities and initiatives—from working groups and thought leadership to the progress of the iMasons Incubator Program.  He is joined by Rudolf Gordon‑Seymour, EMEA Regional Director at iMasons who brings a regional perspective on innovation across EMEA and APAC, exploring how market conditions, regulation, and infrastructure challenges are influencing local approaches to innovation.  The episode also features a fireside discussion with Angela Chan, Founder of Hackathons International, on how hackathons surface practical innovation and connect creative thinking with industry execution.  Together, these conversations reflect iMasons’ approach to innovation: collaborative, grounded in real‑world challenges, and driven by active member engagement.  🔗 Engage with the Innovation Committee  All opportunities to get involved are available in one place, including:  Working groups  Open meetings  Thought leadership  Startup Incubator  Innovation content  👉 Access the Innovation Engagement Hub:  https://forms.gle/nPuU8rq8N8Cq8UhTA  This is your single entry point to participate in iMasons Innovation.  Guests  Rudolf Gordon‑Seymour – EMEA Regional Director, iMasons  Angela Chan – CEO, Hackathons International  Moderator  Romain Tranchant – Chair, iMasons Innovation Committee  About Infrastructure Masons (iMasons)  Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, non-profit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all.   #iMasons #InfrastructureMasons #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership

    1h 6m

  4. Apr 6

    #35 _ From Power to Water: Start‑ups Taking on Data Center Bottlenecks

    Originally streamed live on February 3rd, 2026.  To participate in future sessions, live—and ask questions in real time—visit the Events – Infrastructure Masons page and register.   ------------  In this episode of the iMasons Innovation Committee series, we introduce a brand‑new format: ten‑minute spotlight presentations from cutting‑edge innovators shaping the future of digital infrastructure.  Hosted by Romain Trunchant, Chair of the Innovation Committee, this session features two start‑ups from the iMasons Incubator program—each tackling critical challenges facing data centers as the industry scales rapidly to meet AI-driven demand.  🔋 First, we hear from Dr. Hector Lancaster, co‑founder and CEO of SuperSix, who shares how next‑generation supercapacitors could transform short‑duration energy storage, improve power quality, reduce fire risk, and unlock new efficiencies across compute, grid interface, and backup power systems.  Hector breaks down why traditional batteries struggle with high‑power needs, how supercapacitors differ fundamentally, and how SuperSix’s breakthroughs in advanced materials could reshape data center power architectures.  💧 Next, Priyanka from Water From Air presents a radical rethinking of industrial cooling and water generation. Her team of mechanical engineers has developed a low‑energy atmospheric water extraction system powered by data center waste heat—producing ultra‑pure water for adiabatic cooling, reducing peak power demand, and offering new ways to manage water scarcity in hot and arid regions.  Following both presentations, Romain brings Hector and Priyanka back for a rich conversation on entrepreneurship, product‑market fit, working with the iMasons community, and the guidance and partnerships they’re seeking as they move toward pilots and real‑world deployments.  Whether you're passionate about energy innovation, sustainability, or the future of digital infrastructure, this episode offers fresh perspectives from two emerging technology leaders shaping what comes next.  Guests:  Hector Lancaster, CEO & Co-Founder at Super6 Ltd  Priyanka Kompella, Chief Operating Officer at Water From Air  Moderator:  Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair

    48 min

  5. Mar 10

    #34 | Thought Leadership | Driving Operational Efficiency and Resilience in the Next Generation of Data Centres

    Originally streamed live on Oct 8, 2025. To participate in future sessions, live—and ask questions in real time—visit the Events – Infrastructure Masons page and register.  ------------ This panel brings together leaders in AI optimisation, power management, and infrastructure innovation to examine how data centre operators can enhance efficiency while maintaining resilience. The conversation covers the critical balance between energy efficiency and operational risk, the adoption of predictive analytics and real-time monitoring, and the role of AI-driven cooling strategies.  The panel also discusses low-capex efficiency measures, the risks of introducing advanced technologies into existing sites, and how modular, scalable infrastructure can support fluctuating demand while enabling more sustainable operations. Guests: Danel Turk , Global Portfolio Manager, ABB Data Centers.  Eric Topham, CEO and Co-Founder, OctaiPipe. Joshua (JP)Buzzell, Vice President, Data Center Chief Architect, Eaton.  Dr. Parag Mehresh, Director of Technical Sales, Vertiv. Moderator: Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair

    1h 2m

  6. Mar 10

    # 33 | Thought Leadership | Emissions Rising, Rules Tightening: Are Data Centres Compliance Ready?

    Originally streamed live on November 12th , 2025.  To participate in future sessions, live—and ask questions in real time—visit the Events – Infrastructure Masons page and register.   ------------  The digital infrastructure industry is entering a new era of accountability. Regulations such as the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the EU’s CSRD and CSDDD demand detailed reporting on environmental and social impacts — far beyond traditional metrics like power usage effectiveness (PUE).  At the same time, the challenge is intensifying. Forecasts from Goldman Sachs forecasts that data centre emissions could more than double by 2030, putting many operators off track for their net-zero commitments. Customers and investors are watching closely, increasingly basing decisions on credible, transparent reporting. Weak or inconsistent data is no longer just a compliance risk — it threatens contracts, investment, and trust.  This panel brings together leaders from Iron Mountain Data Center, CBRE and Clear Decisions.to explore how operators can keep pace with fast-evolving regulations, close reporting gaps, and turn compliance from a burden into a differentiator in the eyes of customers, regulators, and society.  Guest Speakers: Chris Pennington, Energy & Sustainability Director at Iron Mountain Centers  Martin Reed, Global Energy& Sustainability Director, CBRE  Maximilian Weidl, CEO & Co-Founder, Clear Decisions  Moderator:  Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair

    1h 2m

  7. Feb 12

    #32 Innovation as the Catalyst for a New Supplier Engagement Model with Joel Farrington at Legrand

    Joel Farrington, UK Sales Manager for Legrand’s Critical Power Division, shares his expertise in navigating complex power infrastructure decisions. In this conversation, we delve into the evolving relationships between clients, operators, and suppliers—and examine what it takes to design accountable, future-ready systems.  Moderator:   Romain Tranchant, Chair of the Innovation Committee  Guest:  Joel Farrington, UK Sales Manager for the Critical Power Division, Legrand Data Center Solutions  ***  Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, non-profit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all.  #iMasons #InfrastructureMasons #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership

    48 min

  8. Jan 30

    #31 Thought Leadership | Powering the Future: Renewables, Resilience, and the New Data Centre Playbook

    Originally streamed live on September 18, 2025. To participate in future sessions, live—and ask questions in real time—visit the Events – Infrastructure Masons page and register.  -------------------------------------------------- This panel brings together leaders from Southwire , Enchanted Rock and RE24 to explore how next-generation data centres can secure power that is reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable.  The discussion explores the evolving balance between grid-delivered electricity and on‑site generation, the practical feasibility of hourly‑matched renewable energy, and how hydrogen‑ready and advanced gas generation technologies are shaping modern resilience strategies. The panel also delves into innovations in transmission, distribution, and cabling that are accelerating renewable integration, as well as the growing influence of community engagement and ESG priorities on infrastructure investment decisions. Guests: Joel E. Wynn, VP of Data Center Solutions Sale, Southwire Pete DiSanto, Executive Vice President, Data Centers, Enchanted Rock. (Recorded during Pete’s tenure at Enchanted Rock.) Dan Tennakoon – Founder & CEO, RE24 Moderator: Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Committee Chair – Youtube link - https://youtu.be/ERoY9XpmVH4

    1 hr
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Join the iMasons Innovation Podcast as we tackle technology’s toughest challenges and shape a sustainable digital future. Hear from global innovators sharing insights and ideas to drive the growth of digital infrastructure.

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