Engineering Reimagined

Scaling AI in complex infrastructure environments

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:00:22 +0000

How much has changed in AI during the last two years? Aurecon’s Dave Mackenzie revisits a past conversation he had on the Engineering Reimagined podcast with Nomic CEO Andriy Mulyar. They discuss how AI adoption in complex infrastructure environments has evolved from early experimentation to practical implementation. This episode also considers how roles are changing, with engineers increasingly acting as orchestrators, and reflects on the skills and capabilities needed for future-proofing.

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The need for bold and early decision-making in climate leadership

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:00:24 +0000

Explore how climate leadership measures should be a routine part of decision-making with Emeritus Professor Mark Howden and Aurecon’s Dr Ben McGarry. Together they discuss the role engineers play in shaping a low-carbon and resilient future; and why starting with values, incorporating systems thinking, and highlighting long-term benefits all matter when engaging stakeholders and delivering meaningful change. This episode of Engineering Reimagined was recorded live at the 2025 CAETS conference.

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Rethinking bushfire management: from reactive to proactive

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:00:29 +0000

Bushfires are becoming more frequent, intense, far-reaching and complex. How can we reimagine bushfire resilience with a more proactive, systems-based approach? In this episode of Engineering Reimagined recorded live at the CAETS conference, Aurecon’s Santiago Estrada sits down with Dr Marta Yebra, a Professor at the Australian National University and Director of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence. Dr Yebra shares how engineering-led innovation is transforming the way we predict, prepare for and respond to fire and other natural hazards.

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Choosing optimism to build resilience

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:00:18 +0000

Explore the science behind optimism. Aurecon's CEO Louise Adams speaks with clinical neuropsychologist Dr Kim Hazendonk about how choosing a positive mindset can help us to reshape the way we think, lead and build resilience. Find out how we can re-train our brains for optimism, despite the negativity bias all around us.

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Technology for people, planet and progress: 2025 season insights

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:46:38 +0000

Welcome to the 2025 season finale of Aurecon’s Engineering Reimagined podcast. Let’s look back on some of our favourite episodes of the year that all have one thing in common – the evolving technologies that affect or impact three critical areas of interest, including decision-making in the age of distraction, the energy transition and data centres.

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Innovation in operations: balancing risk, quality and efficiency

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:00:36 +0000

How can we match the right technologies to the right problems, while balancing speed with quality, and prioritising human factors that shape meaningful progress? Aurecon's Chief Operating Officer, Scott Powell, speaks with Professor Marcus Holgersson from Chalmers University of Technology. Together they explore the interplay between risk, innovation, efficiency and adoption, and how organisations can repeatedly unlock new value safely, be that through AI or other technologies.

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Rigour, creativity and systems thinking: a Silicon Valley veteran’s insights

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:00:39 +0000

Aurecon’s chief engineer Tanya de Hoog sits down with Silicon Valley pioneer Chandrakant Patel. They explore how imagination fuels innovation and why engineering fundamentals like rigour, creativity and systems thinking are as important today as they have ever been.

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Driving change in STEM: Insights from CAETS

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:21 +0000

Aurecon’s Director for Eminence and Sustainability, Evelyn Storey, speaks with Kylie Walker, CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). They discuss the need for stronger representation in leadership, why we must celebrate incremental innovation, and how building resilience and networks can empower the next generation of engineers and scientists.

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Making better decisions in the age of distraction and AI

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:25:50 +0000

How can we make better decisions in an era defined by distraction, cognitive bias, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence? In the second instalment of this two-part series, Aurecon’s Todd Battley continues his thought-provoking conversation with Professor Jason Mattingley from the Queensland Brain Institute.

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Our distracted minds: why we can’t focus and how to fix it

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:02:35 +0000

Explore how digital distractions are draining our energy and fragmenting our attention, making it harder to engage in the deep, focused work that leads to breakthroughs. Join Aurecon’s Chief Executive for Australia Todd Battley and Professor Jason Mattingley from the Queensland Brain Institute for this first part of a two-part series.

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From cautious to curious: the future of AI in water

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:00:20 +0000

Explore the opportunities and considerations of AI in the water sector in this special episode of Engineering Reimagined, recorded at the Ozwater'25 conference. Aurecon’s Dr Ryan Signor moderated a panel discussion with guests including the Honourable Karlene Maywald, Pierre Pauliac, Amanda Lewry and Dave Mackenzie.

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Data centres in the AI age: Power, Place and Cooling

Wed, 28 May 2025 23:00:14 +0000

Aurecon’s Simon McFadden joins Bree Miechel from Ashurst to explore the vital role of data centres. They discuss the growing demands they place on energy and water resources, and the critical engineering strategies being employed to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

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Energy infrastructure: trends shaping a surge in investment and development

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:00:00 +0000

Discover the trends impacting the biggest capital deployment we have ever seen for energy infrastructure. Aurecon’s Paul Gleeson and Ashurst’s Elena Lambros and Dan Brown discuss the current state of the energy transition, energy mix options including gas, hydrogen and nuclear and the economic choices that markets, investors and companies are making around the transition.

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John Hilton on 50 years of engineering and building eminence

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:00:09 +0000

In our first episode in this Engineering Reimagined series on ‘Engineering change’ in which we talk to engineers who are changing our world, Aurecon’s Tanya de Hoog sat down with John Hilton. They discussed John’s 50-year engineering career, how technology has changed over his half century in the industry and the seven personal traits they believe make an eminent engineer. Discover how John’s childhood curiosity in understanding ‘how things worked’ led him to a career in engineering and the one big project he’s most proud of.

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Safeguarding the environment by enhancing biodiversity

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:00:04 +0000

Jessica Holz speaks with Hugh Possingham and Paul Leader about the erosion of biodiversity and its effect on wildlife. They also discuss how cities and the natural world can co-exist in harmony and how appropriate planning for major infrastructure projects can have a nature positive outcome.

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2024 wrap up: Navigating transitions in leadership, renewable energy and AI

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

To be human is to live in a state of constant transition. In our final episode of season 6 of Engineering Reimagined we revisit a few conversations that focus on transition, from developing leadership skills at any stage of your career, to the economy challenges and opportunities of the energy transition and the AI boom.

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Exploring alternative funding tools for Aotearoa New Zealand’s infrastructure

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:43:24 +0000

Globally, and specifically in Aotearoa New Zealand, there is a long-standing infrastructure deficit that many governments are trying to address within inflationary environments. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Cameron Law and Laura Harris from Mafic Partners, discuss how alternative funding models used successfully across the world could help solve some of New Zealand's biggest infrastructure challenges.

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In conversation with Dr Mike Cook: building confidence in a changing landscape

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:48:47 +0000

In this episode, Tanya de Hoog, Aurecon Chief Engineering, Eminence and Innovation Officer and 2024 President of IStructE interviews celebrated structural engineer Dr. Mike Cook. They discuss the importance of collaboration, finding the confidence to speak up early in your career and how the human element of engineering is vital to maintain with the rise of AI.

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Resilient infrastructure: protecting the future of our communities

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:46:43 +0000

In 2009 the United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as COP15, was held in Copenhagen with public interest swelling behind the climate debate. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Michael Nolan speaks with Nicolas Buchoud, about the intention of COP15 and its impact on subsequent global decisions, the growing importance of resilient infrastructure and sustainable finance, and how major global events like the Olympic Games can reshape infrastructure for a host city.

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AI anxiety: managing the unknown for better business decisions

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:12:01 +0000

While AI undoubtedly has many benefits, the technology’s potential to change the way we work forever can feel unnerving. This episode of Engineering Reimagined features some of the brightest minds in the industry who spoke on a recent panel about what keeps them up at night about AI; the ethics around usage and data privacy; and the risks and benefits that organisations need to be aware of.

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AI: transforming the unknown into an asset

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:03:10 +0000

Find out why AI technologies should be considered an asset, not a threat. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Dave Mackenzie speaks with Andriy Mulyar from Nomic. Together they discuss how emerging AI technologies are being adopted within industries to increase workflow and professional expertise, how generative AI programs source and collate their responses and what causes an AI ‘hallucination’.

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Water security– what role can purified recycled water play?

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:00:44 +0000

What role does purified recycled water (PRW) play in addressing water security? Andrew Salveson from Carollo Engineers speaks with Aurecon’s Ryan Signor in this episode of Engineering Reimagined. They discuss the challenges faced in establishing PRW schemes, how machine learning can play a part in PRW and why communities should act now to stay ahead of a potential water crisis.

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Economics of the energy transition

Tue, 07 May 2024 15:05:19 +0000

In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Tony Wood, Energy and Climate Change Program Director, at the Grattan Institute, spoke to Aurecon professionals, including Paul Gleeson, Aurecon’s Managing Director, Energy ANZ and Group Director, Sustainability, about the economics of the energy transition – the challenges and opportunities for Australia and beyond.

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Mandatory climate disclosure: will it really combat climate change?

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:29:25 +0000

Mandatory climate disclosure reporting laws for large organisations currently exist in many jurisdictions and are about to be introduced into Australia. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Jeremy Cooper, Belinda Wade and Ryan Isaacs explore the challenges and opportunities of this mandatory reporting and the real potential for large companies and superannuation funds to help shape the decisions which influence the progression and impacts of climate change.

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An Olympian and Minerva Network Chair discuss female inclusion

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:29:46 +0000

In this episode, Olympic Gold Medalist Taryn Woods speaks with Christine McLoughlin AM, Chair and Co-Founder of the Minerva Network. Together they share the inspiration behind their career choices and why visibility of female role models is so important, the lessons they have learned from overcoming adversity, and the evolution of female representation in the workplace.

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Navigating your career from grad to c-suite

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:03:02 +0000

Getting valuable career advice can be life changing. To kick of season 6 of Engineering Reimagined, hear from three Aurecon professionals, each at very different stages in their careers. Lucia Fernandez, Louise Adams and Luke Morcom share how and why they set their career paths in motion, tips for navigating the ups and downs, and what they’ve learned about developing leadership skills along the way.

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2023 Wrapped: Designing a greener tomorrow

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:08:44 +0000

That’s a wrap for season five of Engineering Reimagined. It’s no coincidence that in 2023 a key recurring theme was climate change. Listen to highlights of some of our most popular episodes and explore how we can transition to a more sustainable future.

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Cooling our cities: the role of Chief Heat Officers

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:10:23 +0000

Managing heat is becoming a major climate challenge across the globe. The relatively new role of Chief Heat Officer has therefore never been more important and is gaining traction in many cities. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, City of Melbourne Chief Heat officers Krista Milne and Tiffany Crawford talk with Aurecon’s Michael Nolan about how they’re working towards keeping the city cool and protecting people, places and the planet.

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Circular economy: a future by design not disaster

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:03:43 +0000

The circular economy can be a significant enabler of a sustainable future through shifting away from our traditional linear approach of ‘take, make, dispose’ to a circular one of ‘design out, retain, regenerate’. Aurecon’s Jodie Bricout, talks to the CEO of ReLondon, Wayne Hubbard, and the Co-Founder and Managing Director of XFrame, Carsten Dethlefsen, about what they are doing to accelerate the adoption of a circular economy.

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Dear World: Perspectives for a better future

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 23:40:01 +0000

If you could change one thing about the world right now, what would it be? In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, our recent podcast guests their diverse perspectives with Aurecon civil engineer Ben Marsh. They discuss their ideas for creating a more sustainable future, be it environmental sustainability or social sustainability.

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Empowering communities through transport infrastructure

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 14:42:17 +0000

Transport infrastructure can empower communities economically, environmentally and socially, by creating opportunity, equity and access to employment, housing, services and connections. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Allison Heller speaks with two chief transport planners – Simon Hunter from Transport for NSW and Paul Glucina from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. They discuss the importance of aligning central government, local government, and the private sector to maximise investment and achieve better outcomes from major transport infrastructure.

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How to green your career

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Have you wondered if you could green your career? Tom Wainwright from Climateworks joins Aurecon’s Jenni Philippe to talk about how they have both transitioned to careers in sustainability and the role innovation plays in developing the circular economy.

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Australian Defence Force: Shifting workplace diversity

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:40:00 +0000

Join us for a candid conversation on Engineering Reimagined with Aurecon’s Nancy Francis and the Australian Department of Defence’s Mardi Jarvis talking about the importance of culture for shifting diversity, the challenges of single parenthood while juggling a busy career and everything in between. Inkling CEO and organisational psychologist Sophie Hampel explains what people of all genders can do to create impact and the pathways created for women though the Defence Aurecon Ascend Program.

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Passivhaus for warmer climates – can it work?

Tue, 02 May 2023 16:01:01 +0000

Passivhaus is a voluntary standard for design and construction that provides a template for ultra–low energy buildings that support high levels of occupant comfort, energy efficiency and resilience to future climate changes. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Pablo Sepulveda speaks with Architect and founder of the Passive House Network, Bronwyn Barry, about how and why she is a champion of Passivhaus, the impact it’s having on global design and the challenges it faces in becoming an industry standard around the world.

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Transforming telecommunications infrastructure with Amplitel

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:34:27 +0000

What happens when you need to start thinking like an infrastructure company rather than a telecommunications service provider? Aurecon's Simon McFadden, speaks to Amplitel CEO Jon Lipton about creating a national specialist tower company following the partial sale of Telstra’s tower business. Find out how Amplitel is developing a digital twin network across its 8,000 tower sites and investing in new tower technology, particularly with the emerging rollout of 6G.

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Driving towards better mobility through autonomous transport

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:42:15 +0000

How can we get ready for Connected Automated Vehicles? In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon's Terry Lee-Williams, spoke with Megan and Cathal Masterson about the challenges and strategies they’re considering as we adapt to the future of transport.

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Dear World: a child’s perspective on climate change

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 17:26:43 +0000

7-year-old Ashley shares his hopes for the future with his Mum, Suneiah Cullen, who is a Principal Advisor – Transformation for Aurecon. Listen to their conversation to see what the future generation thinks can be done to help solve arguably the most wicked problem our world currently faces: climate change.  

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Season 4 recap: becoming antifragile, measuring nature and planning the future airport

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:45:02 +0000

Listen to some of our favourite moments from season 4 of Engineering Reimagined. We’ll explain antifragility and how a simple tool can reduce anxiety and release your potential, we’ll examine how some organisations are seeking to go beyond ‘net zero carbon’ to become ‘nature positive’ and we’ll look at the future of airports and how they can provide a cleaner, greener, and seamless passenger experience.

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The fastest growing workplace demographic: menopausal women

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 17:13:07 +0000

By 2030, 25% of the female population will be menopausal - the fastest growing demographic in the workplace. If you are female, a leader, colleague, family member or friend of a female, you need to understand what menopause means for you and those around you. Aurecon’s Penny Rush introduces bestselling author Niki Bezzant to share her research.

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Universal design: two Paralympians championing accessibility for all

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:46:15 +0000

We will all experience accessibility issues at some point in our lives. Two Paralympians who share a passion for universal design – Nick Morris and James Millar – discuss how we can design for better accessibility and inclusion.

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Sustainable infrastructure with World Wildlife Fund

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:09:57 +0000

How can we influence biodiverse and climate positive decision-making for infrastructure design and development? Aurecon’s Nicolas Price talks with Kate Newman from the World Wildlife Fund about the Sustainable Infrastructure Strategic Framework and the greener future it will help create.

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Is 'nature positive' the new 'net zero'?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 15:55:19 +0000

Jessica Holz, speaks with Dr Adrian Ward about Accounting for Nature’s methodology for measuring environmental health, understanding that accounting for our impact on nature is an opportunity to go one step further in caring for our planet.

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Women’s sport - inspiring positive change in business and life

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 22:21:30 +0000

Olympic bronze medallist Jane Waldburger speaks with Dr Sarah Kelly OAM about the revolution in women’s sport and the positive social change this new wave of female role models can inspire within business and communities.

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Flying into the future by reimagining airports

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 23:05:27 +0000

Explore the future of travel and how airports are being reimagined to help us to fly seamlessly and sustainably into the future with Brisbane Airport’s Ryan Both and Aurecon’s Erik Kriel.

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Designing a circular future through collaboration

Tue, 17 May 2022 22:24:55 +0000

As communities and countries set net zero carbon goals and rethink the use of resources, can we achieve a circular economy? Aurecon’s John Poon talks with Sarah Thomson from Goulburn Valley Water about how a collaborative approach is making the ‘step-change’ required to achieve a circular future.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Creating sustainable communities by future-proofing infrastructure

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 08:07:55 +0000

How do you plan for the future of a city? With so many contributing factors like demographics, housing demand, transport infrastructure, economic and social challenges, sustainability targets and the impacts of climate change, it’s becoming increasingly important to look beyond our own borders and incorporate lessons from around the world. Hear from John Mauro, formerly the Chief Sustainability Officer for Auckland Council and now the City Manager at the City of Port Townsend in Washington State about mapping the future of cities and the invaluable lessons he’s learnt throughout his career. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Education in the new normal

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:18:00 +0000

The pandemic has presented the University of Queensland with an opportunity to consider its future. Hear Professor Terry’s thoughts on the future of online learning and how campus facilities will change to enable better engagement with students, academics, researchers, industry and the community. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Antifragility: changing your mindset for a better life

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 23:04:00 +0000

Explore the concept of anti-fragility, the important link between mindset and performance, the CIRCA methodology to reduce anxiety and even how scheduled napping can improve your focus. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com. 

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Season 3 Recap: The science of sleep, our energy transition and a booming space industry

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 23:45:00 +0000

In this Season 3 recap, we feature highlights of our most popular interviews, where we discussed the relationship between sleep, consciousness and creativity, Australia's energy transition and what’s ahead for the global space industry.

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Humanising cyber security with RMIT

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:11:00 +0000

How knowledgeable are we when it comes to safeguarding our data and information in the cyber world? In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Professor Matthew Warren from RMIT speaks with Eric Louw, Managing Principal for Data and Analytics at Aurecon, about how to humanise cyber security, the relationship between safety and security online and the unique challenges multinational organisations face against threats of cyber security.

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Microsoft and the next frontier in space

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Infrastructure opportunities in outer space are endless. Join Lynn McDonald from Microsoft's Azure Space Team and Aurecon's Chief Operating Officer, Lousie Adams, as they talk about exciting business opportunities in the emerging space industry, the importance of diversity and inclusion for engineering and why mentoring is the most important influence when growing your career.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Green Data Centres with SpaceDC

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 01:22:00 +0000

With reliance on the internet and cloud storage growing exponentially, how can the demand for green date centres be met? Carolyn and Nick Stavroulakis and join Colin Eddison, Technical Director, Buildings at Aurecon in Singapore to discuss the challenges in establishing much needed data centres in Asia, one of the world’s fastest growing markets.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Getting into the energy transition arena with AGL

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:05:00 +0000

“I want to be in the arena, I want to get in and get involved and work out for myself, how can you make a difference here?" How a former telco executive feared missing out on the energy transition. A self-titled “newbie” to the energy transition, AGL’s Executive General Manager, Future Business and Technology, John Chambers, talks to Aurecon’s Capability Leader, Future Energy, Dr Ben McGarry about how the transition provides more wicked problems to solve than one generally experiences in a lifetime. Do you have a fear of missing out on the energy transition?

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Climate change in Asia with South Pole

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 23:09:00 +0000

What can we learn from Asia and the region’s response to climate change? Aurecon's Coastal & Climate Change Director for Asia, Stéphanie Groen together with Renat Heuberger, founding partner and CEO of South Pole, talk about the actions the region has been taking to mitigate the effects of this global threat.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Sustainability strategy with Atlassian

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 07:02:00 +0000

Aurecon’s Managing Director Energy, Resources & Water, Paul Gleeson, talks to Atlassian’s Head of Sustainability, Jessica Hyman, about the role of corporate sustainability, the importance of science-based targets and why progress matters more than perfection when it comes to climate action.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Taking purpose off the lobby wall and rehumanising leadership

Tue, 18 May 2021 07:03:00 +0000

Aurecon Chief People Office, Liam Hayes, and Learning & Leadership Leader, Sam Fernando, talk to Duke Corporate Education CEO, author and speaker, Michael Chavez, about his views on rehumanising leadership – engaging people around a purpose, shared meaning and empathy, to create a foundation for greater sustainability in a world that is more complex and unpredictable than ever.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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The roaring 2020s: the rise of 20-minute neighbourhoods

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:47:00 +0000

Will a post-pandemic roaring 20s happen in the 21st century? Lucinda Hartley, co-founder of global urban tech company Neighbourlytics, and Aurecon Futures Research Leader, Noriko Wynn, discuss using digital data to inform decision-making to create better places for people.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Can design thinking democratise innovation?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:10:00 +0000

Aurecon’s Chief Experience Officer Maureen Thurston and Jeanne Liedtka, an author and professor of design thinking at the University of Virginia’s Dearden School of Business, discuss design thinking as a social technology, why creativity isn’t just for artists and how to democratise the process of innovation.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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How sleep makes us more creative, healthier and better human beings

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 09:23:00 +0000

It’s no secret that sleep – or the lack of it – can affect us personally and professionally, but just how big a role does it play in determining our ability to be creative, engage with others and contribute to our organisations and society as a whole? And what if a humble insect could help us unlock the mysteries of human sleep?

For this Engineering Reimagined episode, Aurecon’s Managing Director for Queensland, Evelyn Storey, talks to Associate Professor Bruno van Swinderen from the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland about the importance of sleep and how his research, using flies, is helping us to understand the role sleep plays in consciousness, creativity, performance and our overall health and wellbeing. Ultimately, we need sleep to not just survive, but to thrive. Beyond that, his research could help us better understand the role that artificial intelligence could play in the future.

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Innovation unpacked: What does it take to build Tesla and survive Silicon Valley?

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 07:13:00 +0000

After the year that was 2020, it can be argued that innovation and creativity are needed more than ever to help solve the increasingly wicked problems our world faces.

For the first episode of Engineering Reimagined’s third season, we feature Aurecon’s Chief Digital Officer Andrew Maher and Silicon Valley-based consultant, Ian Wright. From growing up fascinated with vehicles on a rural sheep farm in New Zealand, to helping found companies – including Tesla, the world’s biggest name in electric vehicles, and Wrightspeed, a company specialising in efficient range-extended electric vehicle powertrains – and filing multiple patents, Ian’s whole career has been focused around innovation across network computing and electric vehicle technology.

Join Andrew and Ian as they unpack the ingredients of innovation success and discuss why venture capital funding models are broken, how to come up with new ideas, and whether Silicon Valley will remain the hotspot for innovation.

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Future skills, digital engineering and a green recovery

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 09:25:00 +0000

2020 has certainly been a year of unprecedented events. Everyone – at home and work – has had to change the way things are done, and it’s been no different at Engineering Reimagined.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, we had to forgo the luxury of a ready pipeline of episodes and in-studio interviews. The team quickly adapted to home-based remote podcasting recording equipment, transporting it across the country so we can keep delivering and sharing quality, pandemic-appropriate content. We hope you have enjoyed this season and learned something new – because we certainly have learned to be agile and adapt to our changing world.

For this episode, we feature highlights of season two’s most popular interviews, where we discussed the future of engineering, the impact of digital transformation and the opportunities for a green recovery.

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Just Imagine: what lies at the heart of a sustainable future?

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 07:07:00 +0000

Just Imagine: what lies at the heart of a sustainable future? is an anthology of blogs about climate change and sustainability, viewed through the lens of L Frank Baum’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Like Dorothy and her friends, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow, we are on a journey – in our case to a sustainable future where all humanity can find and enjoy a home for years to come.

Unfortunately, a simple click of the heels won’t get us there. We will have to deploy our best tools and technologies to safeguard a sustainable future and give our story a happy ending. Perhaps, most importantly, we will need what a Cowardly Lion, a Scarecrow and a Tin Man needed: courage, brains, and a big heart.

This collection of blogs reflects the diverse journeys and stories of different industries and sectors on the path to achieve a sustainable low carbon future. In a series of provocative stories, it explores what we have done, how far we have come, and what else we can do.

You can also download the ebook version here.

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CSIRO: Solving wicked problems by making science real

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 10:08:00 +0000

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed how science, technology, engineering, research and industry have come together to innovate in ways we could never have imagined.

The CSIRO – Australia’s national science research agency – is a leading example of how, when great minds, diverse skills and real-life challenges merge, innovative solutions can result. The organisation is currently working with government, universities, industry and the community on a program to bolster Australia’s COVID-19 recovery and build long term resilience.

This is just part of the CSIRO’s purpose to solve the greatest challenges using innovative science and technology – collaborating on a missions programme across six major focus areas: Food security and quality; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; sustainable energy and resources; future industries and a secure Australia and region.

In this episode, Aurecon’s Chief Executive Officer William Cox and CSIRO’s Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall discuss the importance of multi-sector collaboration and diversity to foster innovation and create real change in our society, or putting it another way, ‘making science real’.

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WorldPride 2023: how to be more LGBTI inclusive

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 07:22:00 +0000

More than 50,000 people from across the world are set to visit Sydney in 2023, as the city becomes the first destination in the Southern Hemisphere to host WorldPride, the marquee international LGBTQI pride event.

Aside from all the glitter, floats and dancing, the festival will also host a Human Rights Conference, providing a platform for discussion and change around the many crimes and injustices still prevalent against the LGBTI community, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the movement for LGBTI equal rights has made significant progress in recent years, with same-sex marriage now legalised in many countries, the LGBTI community still faces discrimination and marginalisation. What impact does this have on workplaces and how can we better support this community, understanding the importance of embracing diversity to enable innovation?

Chief Operating Officer Andrew Muller talks to Kate Wickett, Interim CEO of Sydney WorldPride 2023, about how organisations can build an inclusive culture and its importance in industries like engineering. Kate also revealed how the team won the bid to host WorldPride and a few insights about what to look forward to at the 2023 event!

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Do we take good design for granted?

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:49:00 +0000

Design has a powerful impact on our lives, from the smartphone we use to stay connected with friends and family to the bicycles that enables us to get from A to B. The COVID-19 pandemic, while being extraordinarily challenging, has inspired many designers to innovate and repurpose their production processes to meet demand for hand sanitisers, PPE and ventilators.

What lessons can we learn from this creativity to reimagine the manufacturing sector and drive economic growth?

There is mounting evidence that organisations that excel at design significantly outperform their industry peers financially. So should organisations embed design as a strategic tool within their business to improve performance or has the term design thinking done more harm than good?

In this episode, Aurecon’s Chief Design Officer John McGuire catches up with Dr Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia, to discuss the remarkable world of design as we celebrate Good Design Week.

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How do you run a train network during a pandemic?

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 12:47:00 +0000

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how much we rely on essential workers. Whether working in a hospital or supermarket, they have been providing services non-stop while putting their own health at risk. It’s become apparent how vital public transport is in enabling our modern-day heroes to travel to and from work, but means operators also face the huge challenge of supporting the safety of employees and passengers and maintaining operation of the network.

However, with more people working remotely along with growing fears among the community of catching the infection, passenger numbers have dwindled for many metro systems. Active transport – on the other hand – is on the rise, with cycling surging in densely-populated cities like New York.

How can public transport operators rebuild customer confidence in using their services in a post-pandemic world, as cities move further towards integrated, multimodal transport systems? And what can we learn from cities where lockdowns have eased, to improve the public transport passenger experience?

To answer these questions, Aurecon’s Managing Director for Transportation in Australia & New Zealand Becky Wood talks to Metro Trains Melbourne’s General Manager for Passenger Experience Tilly Loughborough.

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Will engineers be the rock stars of the future?

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:08:00 +0000

So many sectors around the world, including aviation, tourism, hospitality and retail have been hit extremely hard by COVID-19, leaving millions of people jobless. Fortunately, many engineers have quickly adapted to digital ways of working despite delayed or cancelled projects.

Given their skills in finding solutions to complex problems, will engineers be the new rock stars of our post pandemic world? Aurecon’s Chief Executive for Australia and New Zealand, Louise Adams, speaks with Trish White, Board Director of Engineers Australia, about the role they will play in global economic recovery and how they can pivot to different industries where their skills are required right now.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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How can renewable energy boost economies?

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:21:00 +0000

As COVID-19 restrictions start to ease in many parts of the world, economic recovery plans are taking shape to stimulate jobs and growth. A recent Clean Energy Council report demonstrated how renewable energy could create an estimated 50,000 new jobs and inject approximately AUD 50 billion worth of investment in Australia, particularly in regional areas where projects would be located.

Whether it’s the Australian Outback or rural Southeast Asia, people in remote areas all over the world deserve affordable and reliable connectivity to survive and thrive, and it’s important that remote places aren’t left behind in the renewable energy transition.

Aurecon’s Harriet Floyd speaks to Clean Energy Council’s Director of Energy Transformation Lillian Patterson about the potential for economic recovery through investment in renewable energy, while Ekistica’s Lachlan McLeod shares the opportunities and challenges of delivering renewable energy projects to regional areas.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Caring for your mental health in a pandemic

Tue, 19 May 2020 07:31:00 +0000

When the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in Australia, Beyond Blue, an independent non-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, suicide, anxiety and other related mental disorders, witnessed their online forum activity reach an all-time high in its "coping during the coronavirus outbreak" chatroom.

In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Scott Powell talks to Beyond Blue Chief Executive Officer Georgie Harman about how we can support our own and each other’s mental health and wellbeing in the coming months.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Engineering during and beyond COVID-19 – lessons from Asia and Middle East

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:25:00 +0000

In this special episode of Engineering Reimagined, Maria Rampa talks to Stephane Asselin, Aurecon’s Chief Executive for Asia, about his insights on the COVID-19 pandemic and what lies ahead for the region, and Mark Mauerberger, Aurecon’s Electrical Team Leader in Dubai, who shares his experience on what it’s like working on a live construction project during a period of lockdown.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Engineering during and beyond COVID-19 – an ANZ perspective

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 06:42:00 +0000

In this special episode of Engineering Reimagined, Maria Rampa talks to Louise Adams, Aurecon’s Chief Executive of Australia and New Zealand, on COVID-19’s impact on the engineering sector across both countries and the opportunities available to industry post the crisis. Engineering geologist and Aurecon’s Spatial Team Leader Camilla Gibbons also shares her insights on how lessons learned from the Christchurch earthquake could be helping to inform New Zealanders’ responses to the current crisis.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Some excellent reasons for women to become engineers

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 05:12:00 +0000

In this Engineering Reimagined episode, Aurecon’s Kylie Cochrane talks to engineer and award-winning speaker and entrepreneur Felicity Furey about the new breed of engineers leading social change and making a name as a young female professional in a male-dominated industry.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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BIM for infrastructure: why it's better for everyone

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 21:20:00 +0000

In this Engineering Reimagined episode, Aurecon’s John Hilton talks to Office of Projects Victoria’s Tim Mumford about the role of digital engineering and Building Information Modelling on the development of complex, smart, and efficient infrastructure.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Engineers bring different energy to the boardroom

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:00:00 +0000

Engineering is often seen as synonym for disruption. Numerous disruptive forces in the global economy right now owe their existence to engineering. From AI and robotics, to micro medical procedures and quantum computing, engineers are enabling key disruptors that are changing the way we live, work and play, particularly in these times of climate change and natural disasters. Nowhere is this change and innovation more stark than in the energy sector, where the rules of generation, distribution, transmission and consumption are being over-turned by new waves of engineers who are unbound by the past. With this newfound status of digital disruptors, engineers are seeking to make an impact, not just in their fields of practice, but more broadly across business and society.

Join Paul Gleeson from Aurecon and Leeanne Bond, owner of Breakthrough Energy and a professional non-executive director, as they discuss the future of energy and how engineers are not only contributing to the technological advances of the 21st century, but are transitioning from executive engineering careers to sitting on some of the most powerful boards in the country, helping to shape and create decisions in an entirely different way.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Conversations from the World Engineers Convention

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 04:11:00 +0000

Last month more than 3000 engineers from around the world descended on Melbourne for the World Engineers Convention. Engineering Reimagined established a recording studio in the exhibition hall of the event and we captured some fascinating conversations, highlights of which are featured in this special bonus episode. Our roster of Aurecon podcast hosts were fortunate enough to speak to a handful of speakers about everything from flying cars, what makes a good engineer, the impact of renewable energy projects on bushfires, and much, much more.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Reimagining the future through passion, collaboration and innovation

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 04:39:00 +0000

Engineers create a positive legacy for humanity. The work they do makes a difference in the lives of current and future generations. What does it take to solve the world’s complex challenges? When we asked our guests about how they’re helping to reimagine the future, three key themes emerged – passion, collaboration and innovation. In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, listen to highlights from season one.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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The Good, the Bad and the AI of It All

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 06:25:00 +0000

With the rise of artificial intelligence or AI, technology will play an even greater role in our lives. AI will significantly change not only the type of work performed in many professions but also the roles themselves over the coming years. But what about the ethical challenges that AI also bring? If AI is used for simulation of human intelligence processes, what role do professionals have as ethical guardians in the work they do? In this final episode of Season 1, Professor Anne Gregory, a Professor of Corporate Communication at the University of Huddersfield and Danielle Bond, Global Head of Marketing of Communications at Aurecon, discuss some of the ethical risks and challenges that AI could pose.

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Do our universities need to change?

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 06:12:00 +0000

Universities are ancient institutions and have long been considered the melting pot of society’s ideas, culture, and change. But against the backdrop of new technologies, what role will universities play in the future? Will the advent of digital learning mean that university campuses become a thing of the past? In this episode, Professor Ian Harper, Dean of Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne and Susie Pearn, Client Director for Education and Research at Aurecon, discuss how universities need to reimagine their futures and what role engineers can play to achieve this transformation.

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Redesigning STEM education for diversity and inclusivity

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 07:05:00 +0000

Across the globe, private and public education policies are changing to increase the diversity of students in higher education. Unfortunately, in some institutions, increasing student diversity is hampered especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – also known as STEM. In this episode, Aurecon Civil Engineer Rebecca Ilunga chats with Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng about what the future curriculum might look like and how we can achieve inclusive excellence.

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How can art and engineering create meaning in our lives?

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 21:27:00 +0000

Throughout history, public art has played a vital role in communicating our culture and heritage. It creates a conversation and adds a deeper meaning to our lives. So, why does public art often take a back seat in modern design, and does it have a more significant role to play? In this episode of Engineering Reimagined, Aurecon’s Design to Innovate Partner Veronica Nolan and Urban Art Projects’ Managing Director Matt Tobin explore the value of public art in our lives and what role engineers can play in helping it to become a reality.

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Breaking the mould: how can design achieve equality for all?

Tue, 28 May 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Many communities today are full of people of different shapes, ages, races and access needs. Yet do our spaces reflect that diversity so that everyone experiences equality of access, comfort, and familiarity? This episode explores the vital role that design can play in creating better communities. Aurecon’s Associate Director and Mechanical Engineer Suds Hettiarachchi talk to two eminent leaders in this field – Australia’s former Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM and cross-cultural consultant and anti-racism champion Tasneem Chopra

Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Moving to Mars: my childhood dream to live on the red planet

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:00:00 +0000

The expansion of our society beyond this planet is within reach according to NASA, which plans to send humans to Mars by the 2030s. Dr Adriana Marais, one of Africa’s foremost physicists, chats with Aurecon’s Dr Gabi Wojtowitz about why she wants to move to Mars and how engineers can contribute to the pursuit of space discovery. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Innovation versus risk: how do visual contracts stack up?

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 22:02:00 +0000

How are lawyers and engineers joining forces to innovate and disrupt at the same time? The answer is in visual contracts. Aurecon’s Managing Director for Built Environment John McGuire and Professor Camilla Andersen discuss the complexities of innovation versus risk and the vital role visual contracts can play in engaging people. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Engineers and earthquakes: the first 24 hours and beyond

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 20:31:00 +0000

What’s the role of the engineer in emergency response and disaster recovery? Carl Devereux, Aurecon’s New Zealand Regional Director and one of the first responders during the February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, chats with fellow responder John O’Hagan on the critical role of engineers in the entire earthquake recovery and regeneration process of a city. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Waste not, want not: how innovation is saving Mother Nature

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:30:00 +0000

How can we repurpose waste into valuable assets? Aurecon’s Kourosh Kayvani chats with materials engineer and inventor Veena Sahajwalla about new ways industries can repurpose waste as a sustainable, low-cost alternative to raw materials and fossil fuels. Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Leadership lessons from the kitchen table to the board room

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:00:00 +0000

How can lessons learnt in the kitchen be applied to leadership in business? Australia’s top French Chef, Guillaume Brahimi shares leadership insights with Giam Swiegers, outgoing CEO of global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon. Find us online at www.aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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Trailer: Engineering Reimagined

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 02:50:00 +0000

Introducing Engineering Reimagined, a podcast series exploring how, like engineers, people from all walks of life are reimagining the future. Join us to hear inspiring stories from a range of guests. The first two episodes will drop on 30 January 2019. Subscribe now at http://bit.ly/2Avq9iF.

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