I

was delighted to attend the Global Infrastructure Conference in Geneva organised by FIDIC.

A worldwide gathering of the “association for associations” it was an opportunity to share ideas in a number of areas – notably sustainability and climate change – and learn from each other.

As chair of ACE’s Emerging Professionals, it was also great to share our work on behalf of the next generation of business leaders with emerging professionals from across the globe, and tackle the big question of how we can attract the best talent from the up and coming generation.

Global action on climate

There was clear consensus on the need for greater global action, a new way of thinking, and a doubling down on renewable energy (wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectricity) to address climate change. Not only do renewable sources support domestic energy security, but they’re also an investment in our future.

The industry should be ramping-up efforts to speed-up the decarbonisation of our existing infrastructure and ensure that new build projects are truly sustainable. The current global energy crisis is, actually, an opportunity for quicker decarbonisation and a move to a more sustainable society.

While the focus on the ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria is important, we should be putting social value firmly at the centre of everything we do. We need to be better at reviewing the current industry landscape including procurement trends, government, client drivers and examining their importance in delivering social value. This will change the way we work and our businesses and organisations will also need to be supported in adapting to new regulations and standards.

From the energy and technological perspective, I was pleased to hear that the digital developments such as digital thermal twins, clean energy certification and ‘drone-in-a-box’ use are driving the energy transition. The challenge is – of course – in rolling roll out innovation and new technology. We need to get better at bringing new solutions to the market and ensuring they are widely adopted. Regulation naturally plays an important role, but consulting engineers should be influencing the process earlier on and calls for a more collaborative approach across the construction supply chain were heard.

In a world where candidates are now interviewing potential employers and challenging them on how their organisation is making a difference to people, planet and society, our businesses need to demonstrate a positive purpose and show how they are playing their part in delivering a truly sustainable future. Wojciech Szewczak, ACE Emerging Professionals

Engineering the future

The current challenges around staff retention and attracting talent are not only felt in the UK but across the world. The question we are all asking is, how can our industry become more attractive to the next generation of engineers?

Following the Conference, it was clear to me that we need a global and collaborative solution to answer this question as we can no longer afford to lose our best engineers to other industries, such as technology or financial services. The challenges we face as a sector and society are simply too big for the brightest minds not to be involved.

Ensuring our industry is welcoming and diverse is a great starting point. I am pleased to see the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is currently championing inclusion through its Building Inclusivity campaign and showing the way to help our businesses create inclusive workplaces which are welcoming to all no matter race, gender, disability, or culture.

In a world where candidates are now interviewing potential employers and challenging them on how their organisation is making a difference to people, planet and society, our businesses need to demonstrate a positive purpose and show how they are playing their part in delivering a truly sustainable future.

With this increased competition, businesses need to “think outside the box” and recruit from other disciplines and areas of expertise, while selling themselves as the deliverers of a brighter tomorrow – firmly “part of the solution” in transforming people’s lives for the better.

With rapid population growth and rising education levels across the planet, it could create an opportunity to develop a global marketplace for talent. For this to happen we will need to ensure we are clearly communicating how progressive and welcoming our industry is, while emphasising the positive impact a consulting engineer can have on society, as well as the real differences they make to people’s lives.

Emerging and established leaders working hand-in-hand

Whether sustainability or attracting the next generation, it has never been clearer to me that we need global and collaborative solutions. Senior leaders should be working hand-in-hand with the emerging leaders to help achieve this – or at the very least creating the conditions for future success.

This will be easier thanks to global forums such as FIDIC, where best-practice can be shared, innovation introduced, and common issues discussed – critical if we are to answer the fundamental questions we collectively face.

Wojciech Szewczak is chair of ACE’s Emerging Professionals.