The Infrastructure Podcast

In today’s episode we will focus on the state of public infrastructure in the United States of America.Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases what’s been called “the nation’s most important report you’ve probably never heard of” - the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Using a simple A–F grading scale, it assesses the state of everything from roads, bridges, and railways to water systems, schools, broadband, and energy grids. And this year’s Report Card gives U.S. infrastructure an overall grade of C highlighting a mix of hard-won progress - and mounting risk.So what does that actually mean on the ground Well to help us break it all down, I’m joined by Tom Smith, Executive Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and one of the country’s most respected voices on infrastructure strategy, resilience, and investment. Tom gives a great insight into why this year’s report card matters, what it reveals about how we build and maintain critical systems, and what it’ll take to move from crisis response to long-term planning.And in particular explains what it means for everyday Americans.ResourcesASCE Report Card 2025ASCE websiteASCE "Cities of the Future" film Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Bentley Systems' Transforming Infrastructure Performance New York summitRenewable Natural Resources FoundationICE State of the Nation report card

In today's podcast we’re going to explore the UK government's latest announcement to invest vast sums of public cash in the nuclear industry.The latest spending review included £14.2bn to kickstart the Sizewell C plant and £2.5bn to underpin ongoing research into fusion technology. But crucially, it also outlined plans to pump £2.5bn into Small Modular Reactor development – something that I think is perhaps one of the most ambitious – and transformational announcements in the UK’s energy history.And it’s this announcement that I really want to focus on today.But it is also clear that after decades of hesitation, the UK government – through it’s public energy business Great British Nuclear part of GB Energy - has committed to a bold new era of nuclear power, And its backing it with public cash. So what does this actually mean in practice? What is an SMR – and why is the government betting on them to power millions of homes and secure the nation’s energy future? How do these small, factory-built reactors compare to the large-scale nuclear power plants like Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C? And critically – can we really deliver this bold vision on time, on budget, and with the skilled workforce we need?Well to unpack all of this – and help make sense of the opportunities and challenges ahead – I’m joined once again on the Infrastructure Podcast by Tim Stone, Non-Executive Director, Great British Nuclear and former chair of the Nuclear Industry Association, the body at the heart of this once-in-a-generation transformation and my go to mind for all things nuclear.ResourcesGovernment press release on SMRsRolls Royce SMR press release Government press release on Sizewell CGreat British Energy - NuclearNuclear Industry Association release on nuclear investment 

Today’s podcast is another special episode, this week recorded live in New York at the recent Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit hosted by Bentley Systems.My guest is Aruna Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland State, who I interviewed to open the summit with a discussion on her role in the recovery and rebuild of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge which catastrophically collapsed in March 2024 after the container ship Dhali collided with a pier while passing beneath.In a matter of seconds, this vital transportation artery crumbled into the River, claiming the lives of six workers and bringing Baltimore’s economy to a standstill. The collapse was a pivotal event with profound implications for Maryland State, raising many questions about the value of our infrastructure and the economic and social consequences of failure.And as a civil engineer turned politician, the Lieutenant Governor clearly has a unique perspective on the challenge of recovering and rebuilding after this disaster.I started by taking her back to the 26 March 2024 to talk us through the immediate response to the collapse. ResourcesTransforming Infrastructure Performance Summit New YorkThe Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuildMaryland State infrastructure priorities US Federal Government FSK Bridge response Bentley Systems Infrastructure Policy AdvancementLieutenant Governor Aruna MillerICE FSK question and answer

Today’s podcast is a special episode recorded live at Bauma 2025 in Munich—the global showcase for construction technology innovation.My guest today is Ivan Di Federico, the newly appointed President and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems, a leader in geo-positioning and construction technology, with solutions that are being used everywhere in infrastructure and agriculture today.Ivan steps into this role at a pivotal moment. Digital transformation is accelerating across both infrastructure and agriculture, driven by automation, AI, and advanced positioning technologiesSo how does a business like Topcon stay ahead of the curve - and the competition? What does the future of Topcon look like through Ivan's eyes? In this episode, Ivan shares how the company is navigating today’s challenges and preparing for what’s next.ResourcesTopcon WebsiteHistory of Topcon Positioning Infrastructure techAgriculture techTopcon technologyMillimeter GPSTopcon sustainability

In this week's podcast  we talk about the challenges of building a career in the complex modern world of structural engineering.My guest today is Claire Gott, Head of Structures at global consultancy WSP - an engineer whose work has helped shape some of the most ambitious and high-profile structures in the UK and beyond but who has also devoted large parts of her career to date helping and encouraging others to join and navigate the profession. I first met Claire back in 2011 when, just out of Southampton University, she won the New Civil Engineer Graduate of the Year Award. She was hugely impressive then, and she continues to be today in a senior leadership role at WSP that puts her at the heart of designing many of the buildings and infrastructure that define our cities and communities.Major projects such as 40 Leadenhall, a landmark commercial tower in the City of London that’s redefining how we think about wellbeing, heritage reuse and sustainability; the visionary Eden Project North in Morecambe, a regenerative design project pushing boundaries on biodiversity, embodied carbon and community engagement; London Bridge Station refurbishment, Paddington Square and of course a rake of structures on the London the Birmingham HS2 project.And I imagine that she will be turning her hand to the newly approved 1 Undershaft, and it’s clear her influence spans some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile developments.But as we will explore, Claire’s impact extends far beyond the drawing board. A powerful advocate for diversity in engineering, she is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a mentor with the Circle Partnership, and a visible role model for women in STEM. And she remains hugely active in Cameroon Catalyst, the charity she co-founded at university focused on sustainable development in rural Africa.So how do you build such a rounded and complex career like this? Overcoming the technical and cultural challenges to lead projects that build not just for performance, but great places for people and the planet. ResourcesClaire Gott Linked InWSP websiteCameroon CatalystCreating the LEGO Bridge: A Civil Engineering ChallengeICE Connects40 LeadenhallEden North

In today's podcast we look at the world of nuclear decommissioningNuclear power has played a vital role in the UK’s energy story for more than half a century. But as the country transitions toward a low-carbon future, there’s another story unfolding—one of responsibility, innovation, and transformation. The story of the decommissioning.At the heart of this story is the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, tasked with one of the largest, most complex environmental remediation missions in Europe, and responsible for safely, securely, and efficiently decommissioning the UK’s civil nuclear legacy. This means dealing with decades-old infrastructure, hazardous materials, and a technical challenge that spans generations. But it’s not just about dismantling what’s old—it’s about building the systems, skills, and strategies needed to do it better, faster, and more sustainably.Today, the NDA is in the midst of a major transformation programme. From digital innovation and smarter asset management to a cultural shift that embraces agility, collaboration, and change, the NDA is rethinking what it means to manage nuclear legacy sites in the 21st century. To find out how this strategy is being turned into reality, I am joined on the podcast today by Stuart Miller, Programme Director at NDA who will help us to explore the opportunities and obstacles on the road ahead. What does decommissioning look like in an era of digital transformation? How do you drive change in a complex, risk-averse environment? And what does this work mean - not just for the UK today, but for future generations and global best practice?In short, it’s an opportunity to shed light on one of the most important, yet often overlooked, national missions of our time.ResourcesNuclear Decommissioning Authority WebsiteNDA priorities and policiesStuart Miller Linked InSellafield business plans

In today's podcast we focus on the UK’s mammoth, unprecedented, and, often, highly controversial water investment challenge.As climate pressures mount, population grows, and economic demands increase, the security of our water supply is becoming a defining issue for national resilience. Last December, Ofwat’s latest Price Review - PR24 – underscored the scale of that challenge, with more than £48 billion in capital investment planned across England and Wales over the next five years. At the heart of this effort is the need to secure an additional 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 - equivalent to more than a third of the current supply.This is a national endeavour. The RAPID programme, launched by Ofwat in 2019 to oversee water company spending and prompt more collaborative approach to investment, is now being scaled up to deliver a new generation of strategic water infrastructure in AMP9 – the water companies’ latest five year Asset Management Plans. This means new reservoirs, water recycling, large-scale transfers and desalination schemes - many of which will define how and where the UK secures its water future. But meeting these goals will require not just infrastructure, but public trust, regulatory innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. All issue that of course are being reviewed for government right now by Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Independent Water Commission.My guest today is at the sharp end of this challenge. Siân Thomas is Director of Strategic Asset Management at Anglian Water, one of the biggest and perhaps most progressive water companies, serving over 7 million customers across the East of EnglandSiân is delivering Anglian’s AMP8 business plan - the largest in its history, including two new reservoirs, significant upgrades to water recycling and mains networks, and a commitment to cut emissions and improve river health. So well placed to give great insight into the challenges.Siân welcome to the Infrastructure PodcastResourcesOfwat's PR24 determinationThe RAPID programmeAnglian Water's AMP8 plansUtility Week article - "Big projects lured me back into water" (behnid paywall)Sir Jon Cunliffe review

In today's podcast we focus on decarbonising the UK’s vast building stock.The global buildings sector is one of the most essential but also perhaps the most overlooked frontiers in the fight against climate change. Homes, offices, shops, schools, and factories - they're where we live, where we work, and where we gather. They are the fabric of our society. But, as highlighted by a new report from the Energy Transitions Commission, they are also responsible for a staggering one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions – that’s around 12.3 gigatonnes of CO₂ in 2022 alone. And for context, that’s more than the emissions from transport or from industry.These emissions come not just from heating and cooling, but also from lighting, cooking, appliances, and even the materials and methods we use to build in the first place. And as the global population grows and more people gain access to energy-intensive services like air conditioning, the challenge is only getting more urgent.The good news is that we already have the solutions. In its powerful new report Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible, the Energy Transitions Commission sets out a clear roadmap for transforming the sector - arguing that we can cut emissions while also improving quality of life and reducing energy bills – but only if we act quickly and ambitiously.So what needs to happen? How do we turn strategy into action?Today, we’re joined by a Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission to unpack the findings of this important report, explore what’s possible, and understand the path toward a zero-carbon buildings future.ResourcesEnergy Transitions Commission websiteETC report "Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible"Lord Turner of EcchinswellCOP 30UK government plan for net zeroRetrofit 25 "what's stopping us?" - The Building Centre

In today's podcast we delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence to explore the future of infrastructure and technology - and the people reshaping both. To do this we’re diving into one of the biggest - and most urgent - challenges facing the built environment: namely how we manage and maintain our ageing infrastructure in a world of rising costs, growing risks, and tightening resources.Across the UK and beyond, roads, bridges, railways and public assets are showing their age. Traditional methods of inspection and maintenance are expensive, reactive, and often too slow to really move the dial and catch up decades of under-investment. But there’s a quiet revolution underway - powered by artificial intelligence - that’s potentially changing how we understand and care for the structures we rely on every day.And my guest today is someone right at the heart of that transformation.Tom Bartley is Director of Civil Infrastructure at AI scale-up Mind Foundry and brings a deep understanding of both the engineering and the technology worlds. With past roles at WSP and Jacobs - and as co-founder of Barbal and dotBuiltEnvironment, he's spent his career championing digital transformation across planning, design, and delivery.Now at Mind Foundry - a company born out of Oxford University research - he’s working to deploy responsible AI that helps asset owners predict risk, extend the life of critical infrastructure, and make better decisions, faster. So let’s find out and explore how AI is being used on projects like HS2, ask what’s holding the sector back from adopting innovation, and see if Tom can convince us why human-AI collaboration - not replacement - is the key to building smarter, safer systems.ResourcesMind Foundry websiteTom Bartley Linked InAI for Civil EngineersMajor Projects Association - "AI is the solution - what's the question?"

In today's podcast we focus on hydrogen – zero carbon fuel of the future or an exercise in wishful thinking?That said, as the UK sharpens its focus on delivering a net zero future, hydrogen is increasingly taking centre stage in the national energy conversation. Touted as one of the cleanest and most versatile fuels available, hydrogen holds significant promise for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, construction, and long-haul transport. It also offers a route to greater energy resilience and system flexibility – two critical ingredients in the UK’s evolving low-carbon economy.But while the direction of travel is clear, the path to delivery is far from smooth. Despite a government ambition to scale hydrogen production to 10GW by 2030 – with at least half from green electrolytic hydrogen – progress has been slow. Today, only a fraction of this capacity has reached final investment decision, and fewer still are under construction.However, the recent announcement of 27 shortlisted projects in the government’s second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) has been welcomed as a step forward in terms of putting in place the subsidies that might secure future production business models. But, and there are always many buts… major questions still remain about how this fuel production might be scaled.Can we develop the infrastructure, market frameworks, and demand signals needed to unlock investment? And crucially, where does hydrogen genuinely add value – rather than simply an expensive distraction on route to zero carbon?Well to find out, I’m joined today by Brett Ryan, Head of Policy and Analysis at Hydrogen UK, the industry’s leading trade body in the sector. He is the ideal person to chat through the commercial and policy challenges that are shaping the market, the opportunities that hydrogen presents for UK industry and innovation, and what needs to happen now to convert ambition into action. ResourcesHydrogen UK websiteBrett Ryan Linked InUK Government HAR2 announcement National Infrastructure Commission: Needs Assessment tech annex on hydrogenHydrogen UK - the hydrogen story