What's Now. What's Next.
In conversation with...
Each of these conversational podcast and video packages presents a fresh perspective on community issues that while experienced locally, have universal relevance and applicability. In this series, we talk to experts from a range of fields – from industry to academia – to discuss the trends impacting communities in every corner of the globe.
Innovative solutions through digital transformation
GHD’s Senior Advisor for Simulation and Decision Science, Brendan Langfield, explores insights from the CROSSROADS research report, demonstrating how digital transformation is solving complex infrastructure challenges.
→ Listen on Spotify
Digital innovators leading change
Jackie Lee-Joe, a digital and media expert, discusses working with youth grappling with eco-anxiety and economic uncertainty. As young leaders step up, they address critical issues for a brighter future.
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Navigating the energy shift to renewables
GHD’s Future Energy Lead, Tom Foley, explains the 21st-century transition to renewable energy and its implications for social and infrastructure development, promoting community support for a fair transition.
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Transforming urban landscapes for social equity
María Fernández, Head of Sustainability at Multiplex in the UK, tackles urgent urban development issues. In this episode, Maria focuses on decarbonisation, Net Zero transitions and social equity to evolve urban environments.
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Global water challenges: A deep dive
GHD’s Water Market Lead, Gemma Dunn, examines global water issues like aging infrastructure, population growth and climate change, assessing their impact on equitable water access.
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Nurturing tomorrow's leaders: Inspiring collaborative innovation
Jennifer Weerasinghe from York University and Professor Franz Newland from Ottawa University highlight academia's crucial role in crafting a vibrant, equitable future. Emerging leaders are creating community-focused solutions driven by a strong sense of responsibility.
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What history teaches us about community re-builds
Pablo Allard, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts at the Universidad del Desarrollo reveals the key lessons learned from his experience leading the recovery masterplans for more than 150 Chilean cities and towns after a recent, destructive flooding event.
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Achieving social impact, equity and justice in our built environments
Catriona Brady, Director of Strategy and Development at the World Green Building Council, highlights how considering the ‘S’ in ESG during the design and development of our built environments will shape thriving communities of the future.
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Housing: the global challenge playing out at a community level
Carolyn Whitzman, housing researcher at the University of Ottawa, discusses how we can address some of the biggest challenges impacting housing around the world, from lack of supply to changes in construction methodologies.
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On the move: The shifting role of transport in unprecedented times
Myles Lind, Chief Engineer at Auckland Transport, explores how unprecedented weather events, changing community behaviour and pressure to decarbonise is transforming the role of transport providers.
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Competing places: Attracting international labour to critical industries
Chris Conway, CEO at Food and Beverage Ontario, discusses the fragile, interconnected relationship between place, food security and labour – revealing how competition for talent is impacting the industry.
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Teams, talent and technology: Trends impacting the development sector
Steven Coates, Managing Director at Matthews Southwest EMEA, unpacks the influences shaping investment in the development sector – from ESG, to migration, competing cities and the changing nature of work and travel.
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Food insecurity, equity and digital solutions
Claudia Bonilla Keller, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank, shares her experiences tackling food insecurity across Orange County in Los Angeles, revealing how digital solutions are improving equitable access to this fundamental human need.
Building community resilience through effective engagement
Professor Sara Bice, Foundation Director of the Institute for Infrastructure in Society at the Australian National University, breaks-down the importance of community engagement in realising fit-for-purpose infrastructure and ultimately, enhanced resilience.
The changing nature of people, place and community
Matthew Davis, Director of the Institute of Place Management, explores current and future trends impacting the relationship between place, community and social infrastructure across the United Kingdom.
Choosing the path to positive legacy
5x5x5 – five challenges facing our Future Communities
Five themes. Five perspectives. Five podcasts. In this 5x5x5 series, specialists from across our global network team-up to discuss current and future challenges facing communities and how we can help shape thriving places and spaces that put people first.
Housing: Affordability and accessibility
Many communities around the world are facing a housing crisis.
How can practical solutions, technological developments and major reforms help us make headway on this intergenerational issue?
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
→ Read the full article
Access and equity: Social infrastructure
Access to infrastructure varies from place to place, sometimes drastically impacting people’s quality of life.
We explore how to ensure equitable access to social infrastructure across the urban/rural divide.
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
→ Read the full article
Adaptation and resilience: Sustainability and climate shock
With more frequent and intense weather events happening across the world, climate change has reached a heightened level of international concern. It’s clear that our Future Communities must be agile, adaptable and resilient to an ever-changing world – the question is, how?
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→ Read the full article
Mobility: People-orientated transport
Against a backdrop of increasing urbanisation and shifting human behaviours, decision makers have more dynamic factors to consider than ever before. With limited space to accommodate everyone's needs, we explore how we can effectively plan and build more sustainable, equitable transport networks.
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→ Read the full article
Asset transition: Future of work
Conversation around the future of work is often dominated by contrasting opinions on hybrid working styles. Amid this debate, our CBDs are becoming quieter. In this context, how can organisations ensure they are making the right decisions for their assets?
→ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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Helping our clients get the balance right — to support the communities of today and tomorrow.
Perspectives from our future leaders
We asked the next generation of scientists, engineers, designers, placemakers and city-shapers for their views on the forces shaping our Future Communities.
I feel passionate about helping our communities get better at internet access. In this digital age, good access to internet is crucial to progress, collaboration and the realisation of new opportunities."
Many people have made their way of living by the land and sea and by default have had a mindset of preservation of those resources. To me, "what's next" symbolizes the continuing of this way of life and the protection of those resources."
My hope for the future is to have built-for-purpose, affordable and social housing. And a connected, active transport network as the city grows."
I believe there needs to be a movement towards more holistic planning and humanitarian engineering. Approaches that consider the social, environmental and economic benefits of what we do, to ensure that our projects are valuable for the community and the environment."