The Trailblazers Presented by BST Global

In this episode of The Trailblazers podcast, BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady speaks with Namitha Vinay, Knowledge and Information Leader at Mott MacDonald, about how AEC organizations can translate knowledge, data and emerging AI capabilities into meaningful business outcomes. 
 
Namitha draws on her background in software engineering, data science and enterprise AI strategy to define the criteria for driving innovation within large, multidisciplinary firms. She emphasizes the importance of context — why data foundations, governance and organizational structure determine whether AI becomes trusted, scalable and genuinely useful. 
 
The conversation explores how firms can move past isolated pilots by grounding solutions in real project needs, integrating tools into day‑to‑day delivery and proving value through measurable impact. Namitha also highlights the role of leadership, change management and co‑creation with project teams to ensure adoption feels natural rather than imposed. 
 
She closes with practical guidance for AEC leaders looking to start small, prioritize the right problems and build momentum toward a future where knowledge‑enabled, AI‑supported engineering becomes the norm. 
 
Listen to the full episode to hear Namitha’s insights. 

In this episode, Ian Lumsden, UKIMEA Digital Services, Data & AI Group Leader at Arup, joins BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady to explore how forward-thinking firms are building a more sustainable and data-driven future for the AEC industry.  
During their conversation, Ian talks about the progress Arup has made with their net-zero carbon strategy and the growing collaboration across the industry as decarbonization becomes a shared priority. He even shares an example of this initiative in action, detailing a project where AI-enabled design reduced the need for hard infrastructure and delivered significant carbon savings.  
Looking ahead, Ian emphasizes that the key to driving meaningful progress around climate change lies in establishing consistent data standards and reliable baselines across the built environment.  
 Tune in for the full story. 

In this episode of The Trailblazers podcast, BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady talks with James P. Cooper, Global Director of Water at Arcadis, about the rapidly accelerating role of AI and digital innovation in the water sector. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across operations, engineering and utility leadership, James offers a candid look at why the industry is at a pivotal point. 
Their discussion dives into the immense scale of water systems, the expanding capabilities of digital twins and the organizational mindset shifts needed to fully embrace AI. James emphasizes that digital transformation goes far beyond new tools — it represents a fundamental shift in how utilities use data, manage assets and make decisions. He also shares practical examples of AI already driving measurable impact, from boosting safety and regulatory performance to cutting excavation costs and enabling smarter, more cost‑effective energy planning. 
This conversation paints a vivid picture of how the AEC community can build more resilient, data‑driven and future‑ready organizations through technology, collaboration and empowered teams. 
Tune in to hear James’ full perspective and insights. 

Jazz Pabla, Chief Innovation Officer at WSP, joins BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady to explore how AI is transforming the future of engineering and the communities it serves. From applying AI to weather data to building safer, smarter infrastructure, Jazz shares how innovation can deliver real-world impact. 
Drawing on his journey from municipal IT leadership to a global engineering firm, Jazz reflects on how working closely with citizens shaped his belief that technology should ultimately enhance everyday human experiences. That people-first mindset continues to guide his approach to innovation today. 
He also outlines a vision for a future-ready engineering firm that balances rapid AI adoption with quality, trust and human judgment and spotlights the opportunity to unlock meaningful value by embedding engineering expertise directly into AI-driven solutions. 
Throughout the conversation, Jazz shares his optimism about the next generation, recognizing how their blend of technical skills and empathy can help shape how AI benefits society. 
 Tune in to hear the full conversation. 

Jack Li, Global Future Focus and AI Director at AtkinsRéalis, sits down with Eileen M. Canady, Chief Marketing Officer at BST Global, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the AEC landscape and redefining what it means for firms to be prepared for the future. 
Drawing on a career path that spans consulting, finance and startups, Jack explains how his diverse background sharpened his ability to anticipate disruption and help large organizations navigate rapid technological shifts. He breaks down his current role, which involves monitoring emerging innovations and guiding the business toward the opportunities with the greatest impact. 
Jack also examines the rising presence of major tech players in the AEC industry, the importance of unlocking siloed data and the growing necessity of human + AI collaboration. He highlights why critical thinking, curiosity and people‑centered skills are becoming even more essential as AI accelerates technical work. Jack closes by outlining the core ingredients of a future‑ready firm: skilled teams, flexible processes and strong data foundations that enable AI to deliver meaningful value. 
Tune in to hear Jack’s full perspective on where the industry is headed next. 

In the latest episode of The Trailblazers podcast, GHD’s Chief Information Officer, Paul Murphy, and Eileen M. Canady, Chief Marketing Officer at BST Global, explore important AI and AEC industry topics, including: 
How GHD is upskilling its people across the firm 
Why humans should be in control when AI is involved 
How AI will link the built and natural environments 
Paul talks about build-by-partner as a strategy and why creating specialty solutions from scratch is not always the best course of action for engineering firms. He also expresses his hope for a future in which AI-powered technology solves the most pressing and complex environmental problems to make our planet safer for humanity. 
We also learn why Paul thinks being in leadership is like stand-up comedy and how that piece of wisdom has served him throughout his career. Find out what else Paul shares when you listen to the full episode. 

In this episode, Lalitha Krishnamoorthy, Vice President of Data & Artificial Intelligence at Stantec, joins BST Global’s Chief Marketing Officer, Eileen M. Canady, for a compelling discussion on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the architecture, engineering and environmental consulting (AEC) sector. 
Lalitha highlights a generational shift in the workforce, where emerging professionals are entering the field with AI already embedded in their education. She explains that these new designers and architects don’t need to be introduced to AI but instead should be given space to innovate with it. She outlines how Stantec is adapting its culture and infrastructure to support this new wave of AI-fluent talent. 
The conversation also dives into the potential of neuro-symbolic AI to bring greater transparency and accountability to complex models, making them more understandable for project teams, regulators, and decision-makers alike. Looking ahead, Lalitha recognizes that AI is becoming less about technology and more about business and how it can help generate value. 

It’s the second time The Trailblazers podcast is featuring Ricardo Lorenzo, Chief Technology Officer at Parsons Corporation. In this episode, Ricardo sits down with BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady to talk about the delicate balance between risk and reward in a rapidly changing technological environment. Ricardo explains his approach to risk management: think holistically. That means focus on the real-world implications, start early and small, include everyone from the beginning and always be transparent. 
 
As the discussion continues, Ricardo reveals that firms can achieve big wins by using data they collect to bring unexpected value to their clients. His best piece of advice to AEC leaders is to let employees “go wild” but first establish guardrails to minimize risk. Ricardo also tells Eileen that he’ll choose passion over just about anything else when it comes to investing in people. 

In this episode, Freek Matheij, Global Director of Citizen Development & AI at Arcadis, joins Eileen M. Canady, Chief Marketing Officer at BST Global, for a dynamic conversation about empowering employees through citizen development and strategic upskilling. Freek shares how Arcadis is fostering a culture of innovation by encouraging staff to engage with coding and development tools within clear governance frameworks to ensure responsible use. 
The discussion also explores Arcadis’ goal to become a skills-powered organization where employees are supported in shaping their career paths based on personal strengths and aspirations. This skills-first approach not only fuels individual growth but also gives leadership valuable insights into workforce capabilities.
On the topic of AI, Freek underscores the power of turning the lens inward, focusing on how AI can enhance internal processes and productivity. As he puts it, “It’s really thinking about how you can use AI and how it amplifies your work.” 
Listen to the full episode to hear more from Freek. 

On this episode of The Trailblazers, Joseph Joseph, Partner and Chief Digital Officer at Gensler, joins BST Global Chief Executive Officer Javier A. Baldor for an inspiring conversation in which he reveals the moving stories behind his approach to leadership, design and AI. 
Speaking candidly about his personal journey, Joseph shares what fuels his passion for technology, design and meaningful innovation. He dives into the pivotal role digital transformation is playing in the AEC industry, the growing impact of AI and the importance of storytelling in shaping spaces that truly serve people. 
Javier and Joseph also contemplate what the future holds for the built environment, maintaining that human experience must factor into every design decision. It’s a masterclass in resiliency, foresight and the power of storytelling. 
Listen to the full episode to hear more of Joseph’s insights.