As we look forward to better days ahead (hopefully) as we emerge from pandemic restrictions, there’s a distinctly future theme to this issue of the magazine. Our interview with the brilliant Emma-Jane Houghton is a must-read and the live recording of the chat I had with her about the future of our industry is a must-watch too.

We cover the government’s future plans for the rail network following the Williams Review and the sector’s response to that and also take a look at how the public realm might look post-COVID, as well as how it can be shaped to make it a more diverse and welcoming place for all communities.

Our coverage of the Big Contracts Debate we organised with Atkins offers an insight into how the industry needs to frame its commercial arrangements going forward. Spoiler alert – contracts need to change to support the sector’s digital transformation. We also shine a spotlight on the future of work and ask whether we’ll all be sat at a city desk or in a spare room in the months and years ahead.

Most importantly, four months before the UK hosts the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, we also examine the current state of play on the industry’s and the nation’s race to net zero. There are big challenges remaining in this area and, frankly, the jury is still out on whether that race will be won.

Thanks for your continuing support of Infrastructure Intelligence and I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine.

Andy Walker is the editor of Infrastructure Intelligence.

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