S3E03: Engineer of the future

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.