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Jun 2026

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Discover stories, strategies and breakthroughs from engineering leaders in Ireland’s top engineering podcast. Listen now to discover the latest trends in engineering and gain advice on how to progress your career from experts in the field. The #1 Business & Innovation Podcast of 2025 in the All Ireland Podcast Awards.

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June 1, 2026Episode 6236 min

Carl Devlin: Mega Project Management Secrets

Mega projects often struggle under their own sheer weight, leading to massive budget overruns, stakeholder conflict, and unmanaged complexity. The challenge lies in managing change ruthlessly while maintaining safety and quality across vast, long-term undertakings.This episode explores the disciplined mindset required to deliver major infrastructure on time and on budget, focusing on "right-to-left" planning, risk ownership, and the crucial role of collaboration. We also look at how digital tools like BIM and AI are revolutionising project delivery and safety in the construction sector.Our guest is Carl Devlin, Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. His three decades of experience include senior leadership on iconic projects such as London Heathrow Terminal 5 and upgrading 40 per cent of the London Underground networkTHINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTDriving career with big goalsRight-to-left planning and requirementsMinimising change on mega projectsLeading rail expansion in Hong KongUsing AI for construction safetyGUEST DETAILSCarl Devlin is the Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. He oversees new railway projects and major upgrades for Hong Kong's sophisticated transport network. His core expertise includes navigating the immense complexity of mega-projects, balancing technical excellence with strategic stakeholder demands, and spearheading digital transformation in construction.Connect with Carl Devlin:Website: https://www.mtr.com.hkSocial Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-devlinMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESWhen you're managing change, you have to look holistically at the whole system, not just at the components that you're actually accountable for. - Carl DevlinChange is the thing that drives mega projects off course, because once you've committed a supply chain... and you change one of the requirements, it can have a huge knock on impact on the project. - Carl DevlinI keep saying to my team, if you were spending the money out of your wallet, would you do this? - Carl DevlinKEYWORDS #MegaProjects #ProjectManagement #EngineeringLeadership #DigitalConstruction #InfrastructureInvestment

May 4, 2026Episode 6030 min

David Sanderson: AI Will Not Replace Engineers

Engineers spend too much time fixing broken data instead of focusing on high-level design. This inefficiency, known as workflow friction, is a major enemy of modern construction projects.This episode explores how intelligent automation and verified software can eliminate manual rework and enhance global collaboration. We discuss the crucial challenge of trust between engineers and fabricators, the necessity of specialised AI solutions, and the innovations of Trim BIM.Our guest is David Sanderson, a former site engineer who now leads Product Strategy for Trimble’s structural tools. He offers a unique 40-year perspective, having witnessed the digital transformation of engineering since 1982THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTAccidentally invented structural software in 1982Lack of trust creates workflow frictionSpecialised AI best for tedious tasksCommercial value prioritises software featuresContractual deliverable is still 2D drawingGUEST DETAILSDavid Sanderson is the Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble. His expertise is rooted in structural design, leading product strategy for major tools like Tekla Structural Designer, and championing the use of verified, quality-assured software in the industry.Connect with David Sanderson, Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble:PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.trimble.com/en/products/teklaSOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sanderson-49926852/MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESThe contractual deliverable is still a 2d drawing, believe it or not. - David SandersonThe biggest issue that I can see now is that within a project, you've got many stakeholders. - David SandersonPeople have got to start accepting other people's models on trust, in my view. - David SandersonKEYWORDS #StructuralEngineering #IntelligentAutomation #WorkflowFriction #TrimBIM #PortalFrameDesign

April 6, 2026Episode 5938 min

Noel Clancy: Coastal Engineering and Adapting to Climate

Building and maintaining Ireland's vital coastal infrastructure requires facing the relentless challenge of climate change and rising sea levels. Protecting the country's six dedicated fishery harbour centres and their multi-million euro capital programme demands innovative engineering and strict public spending compliance.This episode explores the high-stakes engineering required to adapt harbours for tomorrow, deploying modern tools like GIS and drones for efficiency, and the unexpected permitting hurdles government departments must navigate. You will also hear about the fascinating complexities of Noel’s private sector career, including the challenging Dunboy Castle restoration and the mammoth Opera Lane basement construction in Cork City.We are delighted to welcome Chief Engineer at the Marine Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Clancy, who shares his journey from Cork construction sites to leading national coastal upgrades.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTCareer journey from private to public.Restoring Dunboy Castle from ruins.Constructing deep basements in Cork City.Managing Ireland's fishery harbour centres.Designing coastal infrastructure for climate change.GUEST DETAILSNoel Clancy is the Chief Engineer in Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, leading the Marine Engineering Division. A civil engineering graduate and Fellow of Engineers Ireland, he is renowned for modernising public sector projects with GIS mapping and drone inspections. He manages the operation, maintenance, and capital upgrades for state fishery harbours while promoting lifelong learning and mentoring young engineersConnect with Noel:PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/biographies/noel-clancy/SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-clancy-41989738MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESSo the better the information that we have at the front end, the better chance we have of not getting into dispute with the contractor. - Noel Clancy "It's very important to have a relationship, and it's very important to have no surprises, you know, so to have everything properly planned. - Noel Clancy One key thing is adaption, and essentially that's changing what you have to deal with, what you know is going to happen. - Noel Clancy KEYWORDS #MarineEngineering #CoastalAdaptation #CivilEngineering #PublicSectorProjects #FisheryHarbours

March 2, 2026Episode 5836 min

Siobhán McHugh: The Future of the Irish Grid

Achieving Ireland's ambitious decarbonisation goals and meeting climate action targets requires massive investment and innovative engineering solutions across the energy sector. This is compounded by the increasing digitisation of our infrastructure and the need to deliver reliable power to a growing economy.This conversation explores the strategic response to the climate and energy crisis, examining the future makeup of the Irish power system, the explosive growth of solar power, and how data and artificial intelligence are revolutionising asset management. We also look at the evolving role of engineers, the importance of complementary commercial skills, and how to advance your career in the sector.Joining the discussion is Siobhán McHugh, Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, and the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland. Her experience spans regulation, grid operation, and strategic consulting.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTCareer progression diverse energy rolesAI data transforming asset managementSolar generation exceeded cost projectionsInfrastructure delivery policy advocacyHuman skills complement technical expertiseGUEST DETAILSSiobhán McHugh is a Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, where she advises clients in the electricity, water, and gas sectors on large-scale digital and energy transformation projects. Her expertise draws heavily on her deep operational background from EirGrid and a regulatory background from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), giving her a rare whole-system view of the industry. She also serves as the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland.Connect with Siobhán:PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILSwww.pwc.ie/industries/energy-and-renewables/team.htmlSocial Media:www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanmchugh/?originalSubdomain=ieMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESSo I'd say a lot of the challenges probably have a hidden positive in them, in that it's an advancement in technology, but it's just about figuring it out. - Siobhán McHughYou're always working with people, and so that is the piece of experience. I think you need to help build your younger colleagues. - Siobhán McHughIf I think of solar energy when we would have been modelling it, it was completely different cost basis, solar was quite expensive. That cost has come down now. - Siobhán McHughKEYWORDS#EnergyTransition #IrishGrid #EngineeringCareers #DataAndAI #ClimateAction

February 2, 2026Episode 5342 min

Sustainable Swords Strategy Transportation Planning|Danny Pio Murphy

Engineering faces housing crisis, climate change crisis and biodiversity crisis simultaneously requiring everyone onboard with diversity of thought for new solutions.Danny Pio Murphy shares how sustainable swords strategy engaged 800 school children and hundreds of adults through covid restrictions, why plumburroughs greenfield site allowed testing protected cycle infrastructure before design manuals existed, how DBFI Consulting Engineers achieved gold accreditation investors for diversity with 85% inclusivity score, and why half LGBT engineers remain closeted through fear despite marriage equality referendum changing Irish society fundamentally.The chartered transportation engineer, associate director at DBFL Consulting Engineers and former chair of engineers Ireland inclusion diversity society discusses mentoring graduates through four year development programmes, intelligent mobility hubs coming online Cork Docklands, and why people skills matter as much as technical expertise when moving from engineer to leadership.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTKids want safer routes school cycling tracks greeningGreenfield sites test new infrastructure before manuals existHalf LGBT engineers closeted through fear workplace safetyGold diversity accreditation 85% inclusivity score achievedIntelligent mobility hubs drone technology electric charging futureGUEST DETAILSDanny Pio Murphy is chartered transportation engineer and associate director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, leading sustainable Swords strategy transforming town into 100,000 person city and plumburroughs strategic development zone creating 23,000 residents with 25,000 jobs. A former LGBT activist for nine years giving wellbeing lectures across Ireland and UK, he chaired Engineers Ireland inclusion diversity society and helped DBFL achieve gold accreditation investors for diversity held by only 28 organisations nationally. His achievements include pioneering protected cycle infrastructure before Irish design manuals existed, increasing company female representation from low base to quarter over five years, and mentoring graduates through four year chartership development programmes whilst supporting diversity networks across 30 nationalities.Connect with Danny:PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS Website: www.dbfl.ieSocial Media: www.linkedin.com/in/dannypiomurphy/?originalSubdomain=ie MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTES"We're facing a great challenge here in engineering, because we're facing a housing crisis, a climate change crisis, biodiversity crisis. We need everyone on board to help us with that, and we need different points of views and a diversity of thought for new solutions. - Danny Pio MurphyThe kids were saying that they want safer routes to school, cycle tracks. They wanted more public transport and actually more greening around our town as well. They were very environmentally conscious. They wanted more seating areas and greening. It was really good to hear that. They're always so positive. - Danny Pio MurphyThere's a lot of things that we as engineers can see on paper and we're following standards, but the local knowledge is indispensable at times, and you can include that in your designs. - Danny Pio MurphyWe got gold accreditation in investors for diversity by Irish Centre for diversity. It's only held by 28 organisations in the country. - Danny Pio Murphy"My first job interview, I had LGBT on my CV. The person doing the interview didn't read my CV, and when they got there, they stopped for 10 seconds in silence, and they were very uncomfortable seeing that I was an LGBT activist and I didn't get the job. - Danny Pio MurphyKEYWORDS#SustainableTransport #DiversityInEngineering #LGBTEngineers #IntelligentMobility #CycleInfrastructure

January 5, 2026Episode 5441 min

Susan McGarry: Low Carbon Cement Decarbonising Construction

Construction sector faces urgent decarbonisation challenge whilst Ireland maintains only 11% women in engineering unchanged since 2011 despite ambitious housing and infrastructure targets requiring diverse workforce expansion.Susan McGarry, Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem pioneering low carbon concrete company, explains journey from Greenpeace member receiving Rainbow Warrior dolphin pictures to becoming youngest MD at 30 years old, how ACT advanced cement technology reduces clinker from 85% to under 30% achieving 600 kilos CO2 savings per tonne, why Irish regulatory system lacks assessment route for new low carbon materials despite ambitious National Development Plan targets, and how cancer diagnosis at 34 prompted reflection on policy passion over operational leadership.With expertise spanning technical concrete troubleshooting through European policy advocacy and member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, Susan shares practical advice on visibility without egotism, why nice girls who don't ask get nothing, and how senior management diversity influences maternity leave, IVF cover and bereavement policies attracting retaining women throughout career pipeline. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTLow carbon cement ACT reduces clinker eighty five percentIrish regulatory system lacks assessment route new materialsWomen engineering eleven percent unchanged since two thousand elevenVisibility senior management influences hiring maternity IVF policiesCancer diagnosis thirty four prompted policy passion reflectionGUEST DETAILSSusan McGarry is Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem, pioneering company developing low carbon concrete, expertly handling concrete procurement rules and public affairs guiding construction industry toward ambitious climate targets whilst scaling sustainable building solutions across Ireland. Passionate advocate for diversity as prominent woman in structures and construction sector historically low on female engineers, she uses platform driving inclusion highlighting systemic barriers women face from cultural challenges to logistical issues like accessible female bathrooms on construction sites. Member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, she joined Ecocem as environmental services intern in 2011 becoming youngest MD at 30 years old in 2020, now serving as Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability for Ecocem Global after cancer diagnosis prompted career reflection focusing on policy passion over operational leadership spanning European officials and global partnerships.Connect with Susan McGarry:Website: https://www.ecocemglobal.com/en-ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mcgarry-73582542/?originalSubdomain=ieEcocem GlobalMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESThere's still not enough women to see it on mass as a career choice. I think visually, it still looks quite male dominated, and that is off putting. My personal kind of goal would have always been to like help increase the visibility at senior management level for women in engineering, women in construction. - Susan McGarryThe state is the biggest consumer of concrete in this country. We do have procurement rules now where 30% clinker substitution is required. That's not super ambitious but we've gone from nothing to something. - Susan McGarryI had a decision to be a generalist or specialist at about 26. The Chairman of Ecocem said I did this course in UCD in industrial engineering in 1965, it turned engineers into CEOs. You should have a look at that. - Susan McGarryYou get nothing if you don't ask, and if you don't have confidence, you kind of fake it. By being an open person to opportunities and being a helpful person that you'll take on workload. - Susan McGarryWhen I graduated as an engineer in 2011, 11% of the engineering population was made up of women. In 2025 it's still only 11%. It has not changed. That's a very small percentage. When you want a network, you do need a network. You need somebody that you can pick up a phone to that's kind of like minded. Women in Engineering Group created that network.KEYWORDSLowCarbonCement #WomenInEngineering #SustainableConstruction #PolicyAdvocacy #CareerProgression

December 15, 2025Episode 5734 min

An Engineer Like Me: Hearing From Engineering Graduate Employers

Successfully transitioning from university to a professional engineering career is a critical moment for any graduate, and the application process requires strategic preparation beyond just academic competence.Many students struggle to understand what employers truly seek in a new engineer and how to showcase their potential effectively.This episode unlocks the secrets to a standout graduate application, sharing direct insights on core soft skills like communication and teamwork, the role of mentorship, and the career growth trajectory within leading firms.Learn about the value of different-sized companies, from large-scale multi-office execution to a hands-on, personal approach, and the importance of professional development and diversity initiatives. Host Dusty Rhodes is joined by two exceptional industry leaders: Michelle O'Hagan, Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, and Bill Bates, Director at DBFL.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTWhy graduate programs are essentialBig vs small company advantagesSoft skills employers demand nowSuccessful career progression examplesHow to make your application stand outGUEST DETAILSMichelle O’Hagan is the Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, a leading global project management and engineering company known for delivering complex capital projects worldwide. She manages the full graduate recruitment lifecycle across PM Group’s international offices, ensuring the company attracts top emerging talent. Michelle's extensive experience, including prior roles at Deloitte UK and Citi Bank, makes her an expert in understanding what drives success in early engineering careers.Bill Bates is a Director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, one of Ireland's leading civil, structural, and transportation consultancies. Bill is responsible for overseeing the Civil Engineering team and has extensive experience in the design and delivery of major infrastructure and development projects across the country. As a Director, Bill is deeply involved in DBFL's Graduate Development Programme and the career progression of their staff, making him a key resource for understanding the pathways to Chartered Engineer status and professional success within the Irish engineering sector.Connect with AMPLIFIEDWebsite: engineersireland.ieSearch podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcastsMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESConfidence, talking about themselves, talking about their other aspects, their engineering career is only at the start, so they have very little to talk about in that. But I want to know what they've done to date. Tell me about themselves. - Bill BatesThe actual programme itself is a two year programme, but it runs in parallel with your job. So you're permanent from day one, you don't have to re-interview for a role on completion of the programme, which a lot of graduate programmes in our industry does. - Michelle O'Hagan Be confident in your own ability, but be able to show humility and be able to listen to all others perspectives. - Bill BatesCommunication going into project management, being a strong and effective communicator is essential. Being clear, concise and well structured - Ena O'DriscollKEYWORDS#EngineeringGraduates #GraduateProgramme #CareerDevelopment #SoftSkills #StandoutCV

December 8, 2025Episode 5647 min

An Engineer Like Me: Making An Impact During Your Studies

Leaving Certificate students have an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse realities of an engineering career and discover practical strategies for success as they fill out their upcoming CAO forms.Ena O'Driscoll, Mechanical Engineering student at MTU Cork and Student Ambassador at PM Group, alongside Sean Ryan, Automation Engineering student at SETU and Student Engineer at Jabil, share their university experiences with host Dusty Rhodes. Early STEM encouragement, fostered through school programs and family ties, significantly influences career choices. The discussion highlights the importance of paid internships for developing real-world problem-solving skills and building an invaluable CV. Finally, it offers practical advice for creating standout applications by emphasizing leadership roles, volunteering, and project work, while also stressing the need to balance academic demands with societal involvement through networking and mentorship via groups like the Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTEngineering career choice STEM encouragementPaid internships practical experience benefitsCV building leadership & volunteering standoutTime management balancing studies & activitiesCAO strategy Level 7 & Level 8 optionsGUEST DETAILSEna O'Driscoll is a Mechanical Engineering Student at Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork. Ena is an excellent example of maximising university studies by actively engaging with industry. She gained valuable professional experience through an internship and placement with PM Group, a leading international project delivery firm. Following her successful placement, Ena has continued her association with the company and the wider engineering community by serving as a Student Ambassador at PM Group, demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting engineering and bridging the gap between academia and professional life.Sean Ryan is an Automation Engineering Student at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford. Sean is currently applying his technical expertise as a Student Engineer at Jabil, a global manufacturing services company. He possesses a strong academic background complemented by valuable practical experience, including previous work as a controls engineer at Integer. Sean is highly engaged within his university community, having served as a peer-to-peer mentor and senior mentor to support first-year engineering students. Sean is also Chairperson of the Young engineer society south east. Hailing from a farming background, Sean brings a unique perspective to problem-solving and engineering challenges. Outside of his studies and work, Sean is an active rugby player for both his college team and a local club. Connect with AMPLIFIEDWebsite: engineersireland.ieSearch podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcastsMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESMy secondary school was actually really good in terms of promoting STEM. Every couple of weeks we'd have different people come in and talk about different areas - Ena O'DriscollI'm on currently working as a controls and automation engineer student for Jabil healthcare, which is ideal because it's only two minutes walk from my college and I'm able to go in there part time and the hours are flexible which is amazing - Sean RyanWe were given real work to work on from day one. It started with helping other engineers, carried out a study. We were able to find that quadrant that was the problem and implement that change.- Sean RyanI've always enjoyed Maths, Physics, anything problem solving wise. I've always wanted to be an engineer since probably around 14. I interviewed one of my dad's best friends who's a civil engineer. I got into the mechanical side because of my godfather. - Ena O'DriscollKEYWORDSEngineering studies, STEM promotion, student engineers, automation engineering, mechanical engineering, industry experience, internships

December 1, 2025Episode 5536 min

An Engineer Like Me: Life as a Graduate Engineer

Two recent engineering graduates, Jennifer Smith (Manufacturing Operations Engineer) and Denis Hardi (Graduate Commissioning Engineer), share essential advice for students considering engineering. They emphasise that internships are vital for discovering career preferences across diverse fields like pharma and civil engineering, making the flexibility of the degree its greatest asset. Their key message is that curiosity and resilience matter more than loving mathematics, as engineering fundamentally relies on problem-solving. They also stress that networking through groups like the Young Engineers Society provides crucial leadership opportunities and connections.The graduates provided practical insights on career growth, highlighting rotational programmes as the best way to gain broad experience (quality, global roles) and understand facility operations. They advised students on navigating early career decisions and underlined the necessity of establishing work-life balance by setting boundaries. Overall, the discussion offers an encouraging view of the modern engineering profession, stressing that the career path is highly adaptable to individual interests and goals.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTInternships shape careers through pharmaceutical supply, precision engineering, civil engineering, material science hands-on experience discovering preferences.Engineering degree flexibility enables pharmaceutical, automotive, medical device aerospace careers with curious minds shaping any industry choice. Networking through Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society provides leadership opportunities professional connections across counties and internationally. STEM subjects are important but curiosity and resilience matter more than loving mathematics with problem-solving training and multiple solution approaches.Graduate rotational programmes offer quality global roles and multiple facilities whilst a work-life balance requires setting boundaries with compensation.GUEST DETAILSJennifer Smith (AbbVie): Manufacturing Operations Engineer and University of Galway graduate with a distinguished academic record. Her career shows the flexibility of an engineering degree, covering pharmaceutical manufacturing, materials, and civil engineering.Denis Hardi (H&MV): Graduate Commissioning Engineer and TUS graduate, who has held significant leadership roles including Founder of the South East Young Engineers Society and Senior Vice President of Internal Relations for Young European Engineers. His work includes international commissioning projects in Norway and Finland.CONNECT WITH AMPLIFIED:Website: engineersireland.ieSearch podcast player: AMPLIFIED Engineers IrelandApple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts.MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESOpportunities are truly limitless with an engineering degree. If you have a curious mind, you can shape your career to be any sort of industry you want. – Jennifer Smith. I'm actually based in Finland now on site working on a substation project. I was in Norway before this. I never expected to be travelling around the world, it is a rich experience. – Denis Hardi. Internships will really shape the way you take your career. I did internships across pharmaceutical, precision, civil, and material science. Getting internships is a great way to have a better idea of what you want to do once you finish college. – Jennifer Smith. Internships give you rich experience showing what you study might or might not be applicable. I worked on combined heat and power, microchips, photonics research, and technical sales, giving me an idea of how it is to work on site and in the lab. – Denis Hardi.KEYWORDSEngineering degree, career transition, internships, problem-solving, work-life balance, networking,professional growth,

December 1, 2025Episode 5236 min

AI Construction Planning Future | Enda Grimes

Managing billion-euro construction projects across multiple continents requires more than technical expertise—it demands strategic planning that can unite diverse teams around complex, evolving designs. From Formula One theme parks in Dubai's desert heat to Sweden's groundbreaking European Spallation Source research facility, construction planning specialist Enda Grimes has spent two decades mastering the art of breaking massive projects into manageable pieces. Now leading his own consultancy Strata, he reveals how digital rehearsals, AI-powered data analytics, and one often-overlooked foundational skill are transforming how Europe's largest construction projects come to lifeTHINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTHow breaking mega construction projects into smaller, team-owned pieces enables successful delivery.Why engineering principles provide the strongest foundation for strategic time planning.How using digital rehearsals BIM models can safely plan logistics before physical execution on siteHow AI and data management are transforming construction planningWhy communication skills and practical site experience matter for career advancement The value of international experience and cultural adaptability in engineering career progressionGUEST DETAILSEnda Grimes is Director and Owner of Strata, a construction planning consultancy he founded in 2016 that manages projects valued up to €2 billion. His career spans some of Europe's most complex construction projects, including serving as Head Planner for Skanska on the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden—the world's largest research facility of its kind—where he developed contract programs for this state-of-the-art super-microscope facility. Previously, Enda spent over five years as Planning and Bid Manager with John Paul Construction/Absal Paul in Dublin, leading strategic technical submissions and commercial strategies. His international experience includes planning the $600M Formula One Theme Park in Dubai and the €145M Criminal Courts Complex PPP in Dublin with PJ Hegarty & Sons. Enda specializes in translating complex construction requirements into executable plans using cutting-edge planning, modeling, and visualization technology.Connect with Enda:PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILSWebsite: https://stratadigital.io/Social Media:https://www.linkedin.com/in/enda-grimes-86539a25/?originalSubdomain=ieMORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/ Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESEngineering is a really good base for time planning, and if you can understand the technical challenges and relate that to time, you know, you get a lot of respect. - Enda GrimesIt's made up of multiple project teams. If you're able to isolate each component piece to the individual project teams and let them deal with them on a project by project basis, it's a lot easier. – Enda GrimesWhat is a digital rehearsal? It's about building something digitally and rehearsing it and then putting it in practice in real life... the whole purpose is to plan out those works in a safe manner, to make sure that it works. - Enda GrimesI learned that sometimes to be Irish is a good thing in international projects because we're good at talking. We're probably have a good way about us with people, and you're able to bring different cultures together. - Enda GrimesI think practical experience is really important actually. There is a shortcoming in our education process at the moment. It's too theoretical, and that connection to industry is lost. - Enda GrimesKEYWORDS#Engineering principles #strategicplanning #constructionprojects #FormulaOnethemepark #Europeanspallationsource #projectexecution #timemanagement #digital tools #BIM #digitalrehearsal #communicationskills #career progression #internationalexperience #practicalexperience #leadership