Making an Impact

In the second bonus episode of the series, Wes Thurley and Sarah Calder, AI capability Manager at Skanska Group, discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the construction industry. They explore how AI can enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in construction processes, while addressing challenges such as data management, skills shortages, and cultural resistance to technology adoption. The conversation highlights the importance of leveraging data, building trust in AI tools, and fostering collaboration across global teams to drive innovation in construction.

In this bonus episode of Making an Impact, Wes Thurley, Schneider Electric's European Real Estate Segment Leader, discusses the critical role of AI and machine learning in decarbonising commercial real estate with Silvia Prieto, Head of Generative AI and Machine Learning for Global Financial Services at Amazon Web Services.  They explore the challenges of data accessibility, the cultural shifts needed for technology adoption, and the potential for AI to enhance building management and sustainability efforts.  The conversation emphasises the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas emissions and the responsibility of the real estate sector in creating a sustainable future.

In the final episode of our first season, Katie is joined by Marc Leckie, CEO of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation - an extra special finale, as it was recorded in the Schneider Electric suite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Marc takes Katie through what the foundation does, the importance of football clubs - like Spurs - having close ties with their associated charitable organisations, and how they work with the communities around them.Taking Katie through a few examples of the work and projects that the foundation undertake, Marc highlights the broad spectrum of causes they contribute to under their core pillars, including education and youth & community, before going on to explain how they're working to grow awareness of the foundation, and bridge the fans' emotional connection with the club to a cause that the charity address.With Tottenham Hotspur being named the greenest Premier League club five years running, Katie asks Marc to talk through how the green agenda is included within the foundation. Marc talks about the use of the club's kitchen garden - where the fruit and veg used to feed the men's, women's and academy players is grown - in educating young people about where their food comes from and how it's created.The pair discuss the importance of collaboration when providing the programs and courses the foundation offer, and how partnerships with companies, like Schneider Electric, are allowing them to grow and expand their offering. The conversation then moves to collaboration within the foundation's team, and Marc shares his views on how cognitive diversity is vital to innovation and challenging yourself as individuals and an organisation.Katie gets Marc to reflect on his career journey to date, before asking him the impact he'd like to leave on the world when he's gone.

In the penultimate episode of the season, Katie is joined by Smart Spaces Co-Founder and CEO, Dan Drogman.Dan starts by reflecting on the last two decades of his career - with Smart Spaces taking up the last 15 years of that time - and how his brother, Tom, gave him the spark to set up their own company after out-performing Dan on his first day of them working together.Katie asks Dan how he's seen the use of smart offices evolve during his time running Smart Spaces, allowing Dan to explain some of the features he and his team have developed and implemented into their offering, and the benefits they have to landlords and enterprise from an efficiency, sustainability, and conveniece perspective.The pair discuss the aging housing stock that London is home to, exploring how Smart Spaces investigate the specifics of each building - for example, how long an office takes to reach optimum temperature first thing in the morning - before sharing how much a new client could potentially save by implementing smart technology.Dan contemplates the potential of a "smart city", and how that would look to the every day person, while sharing his thoughts on technologies that are currently in place that make it more difficult for individuals to get on with their day, using parking apps as an example. He then goes on to share what he believes smart buildings could look like in the future, including the way that humans will interact with the technologies (including, potentially, installing microchips into a person's hand).As the episode comes to an end, Katie asks Dan what impact he'd like to have on the world, where he shares his ambitions for Smart Spaces, and a hope that it lives on long after he's gone.

The latest guest to join Katie in the studio is Grub Club's Co-Founder and CEO, Alessandro Di Trapani (known to his friends, including us, as Ale).Ale talks Katie through Grub Club's use of insect protein - from black soldier fly larvae - in dog food, and the sustainability impact they are trying to make on the pet food market, before going on to speak about the challenges he and his company face in communicating the benefits of using this food source as an alternative to traditional meat.Katie gets Ale to talk through the route he took to get into the position he's in today, including his background in finance and commodity trading, before studying at London Business School - where the idea behind Grub Club was formed.Ale explains how he and the company are aware that what Grub Club offer may shock potential customers at first, and how he uses the benefits of insect protein as the big selling point for the company; including sharing a story of one dog whose life was saved by switching to Grub Club food. He also explains why he doesn't knock other dietary choices owners make for their pets - comparing it to telling a parent how to feed their child.Finally, Katie dives into who Ale is a person, asking him to reflect on what impact he'd like to leave behind.--------Grub Club products are available online at mygrubclub.com and Amazon. You can also find the range in 460 Pets at Home stores nationwide, Planet Organic in London, and a range of independent pet shops across the UK.

Katie Mills, Head of Zeigo Power at Schneider Electric, welcomes her next guest into the studio - Shaunna Berensden, Chief Innovation Officer at Anglian Water.Shaunna begins their conversation by sharing the exciting work currently being undertaken in the water industry, including the proposed £104billion investment from Ofwat in the next five years, and the Anglian Water-led 'Safe Smart Systems' project - an autonomous water system where "AI meets water".Katie is put on the spot as Shaunna quizzes her on her water usage at home, after sharing the number of Anglian Water customers who don't think about where there water comes from, and the scale at which customers' estimation of water usage is compared to the real figure. Shaunna speaks about the water industry as a whole, and their need to capture their audience and customers in more engaging ways, rather than just through their bills.Katie asks how a water company such as Anglian responds when things go wrong, with Shaunna sharing her experiences of being on the phone to customers talking through the situation and setting expectations, with Shaunna explaining that "an informed customer is a happy one", and how Anglian aim to be accurate, timely, and realistic when engaging with their customers.As Chief Innovation Officer, Shaunna manages the team that helps the business to innovate, and sees every member as an innovator. Katie gets Shaunna how she builds a diverse-thinking group around her to keep innovation flowing, with Shaunna expressing her need for those in the team to be anti-fragile, and ready to question both processes and people.Katie and Shaunna share experiences of how they, as leaders, connect with their team on a personal level, including opening up about some of the struggles they've experienced outside of the workplace, but ultimately make an impact on them as individuals - both personally and professionally.Putting her job role to one side, Shaunna talks through her route to where she is today before looking to the future, and reflecting on what impact she'd like to leave behind.

Kicking off the second half of the season, Katie welcomes Alex Howard, Head of Flexibility Markets at UK Power Networks, into the studio to discuss his work in the energy sector. Alex takes Katie through an overview of what UK Power Networks do and are responsible for, before explaining what his role in Flexibility Markets looks like day-to-day. Looking at the future of power within data centres, Alex discusses how he and the wider team are having ongoing meetings to find solutions to best supply data centres with the capacity they need, working collaboratively to create a better outcome for all. The pair discuss the potential of a green grid, and how UK Power Networks are managing the unpredictability of renewable energy , where Alex explains their 'Flexible Connection' programme, and the incentives offered to customers for increasing or decreasing their power usage in line with the amount of power is available at certain times. Taking a look at his career, Alex reflects on how he made his way into the energy sector by chance following a conversation with a friend in the pub, but is encouraged by how many people are now entering the industry deliberately and enthusiastically. After taking the leap to join a startup business, Alex started in software before working his way to his current role. Katie finishes by asking Alex what impact he'd like to leave behind (before he relaxes on a beach in 2050, of course!), allowing Alex to consider the work he's currently undertaking, what he loves within his role, the solutions he's played a part in to-date, and those problems he's yet to solve.

In the final episode before the mid-season break, Katie Mills is joined by SolarAid's CEO, John Keane, from his home in Zambia. John tells Katie about his experience moving to rural Tanzania in his 20s, and how learning about the struggles of living without electricity, and being forced to use candles and kerosene lanterns led to the creation of SolarAid. The pair discuss the impact of the climate crisis on African countries, in particular the changes of rainfall patterns, and how local farmers are unable to account for the unpredictability they are now facing. John explains how SolarAid are helping communities with these challenges by providing electric facilities to build resilience against these issues. Katie asks John about SolarAid's 'Light a Village' project, and how it was created and actioned - with the ultimate goal of giving 100% of the communities access to electricity. Reflecting on his own Impact, John opens up about his battle with blood cancer, and how the diagnosis forced him to look at what he would leave behind when he was gone. Now, five years in remission, he looks to the future and what his next steps will be to leave an even larger impact on the world.

In the latest instalment of Making an Impact, Katie is joined by Opportunity London's Chief Executive, Jace Tyrrell.Jace talks through the importance of collaboration with partners outside of Opportunity London, and how it is helping them work towards their goal of £100 billion of investment into low carbon energy infrastructure and real estate over the next decade.With London being a capital city rich with history, and known around the world, Katie asks Jace why a venture like Opportunity London is needed to assist with outisde investment. The pair explore some of the hurdles investors may meet when looking at London as an investment opportunity, but ultimately how Opportunity London exist to help navigate these challenges.Taking a look at his career on an individual level, Jace talks Katie through some of his previous roles that have taken him around the world - from Singapore to Sydney, New York and London's West End - before reflecting on what impact he would like to leave behind.

In this episode, Katie discusses the impact Raffael Jovine is having on the world as Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Brilliant Planet - a UK-based research and development company that uses algae to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Raffael talks Katie through the effectiveness of the work Brilliant Planet are doing in locations around the world, including Morocco, South Africa and Oman. The pair discuss the impact the work is having not just on the environment, but also the communities around where the work is based - with many direct and indirect jobs created through the introduction of Brilliant Planet's work. Raffael emphasises the need for their work to not only be sustainable for the environment, but also from a social and community perspective, with many individuals involved in the process. Raffael reflects on the impact he and Brilliant Planet have had on the world so far, and where he feels they're headed as their work continues.