The Trailblazers Presented by BST Global

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Sep 2026

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In this industry-focused podcast, AEC experts and technology innovators discuss emerging trends and how they affect our industry. Listen in as BST Global leaders, AEC experts and industry innovators explore the latest ideas, strategies and transformational technologies that are redefining the built environment and the world as we know it.

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32 recent

September 21, 2026Episode 3219 min

Leading Through Change With Parsons Corporation’s Dr. Jim Birdsall

In this episode, Dr. Jim Birdsall, Chief Technology Officer of Infrastructure for North America at Parsons Corporation, breaks down how the company is integrating advanced technologies across its 21,000‑person global organization. He notes that he’s seen significant progress as contractors, designers and clients compound organizational knowledge and accelerate innovation. Jim also offers real‑world examples of AI in action, from using traffic data to speed up citywide safety analytics to embedding AI into rail operations, asset management and Parsons’ broader digital engineering framework. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes a disciplined, value‑driven approach to adopting AI that strengthens infrastructure and the communities it serves. Tune in to learn how leaders like Jim are leveraging AI to drive digital transformation across the AEC industry.

September 8, 2026Episode 3324 min

Agent to Agent With GHD's David McLaren

In this episode of The Trailblazers podcast, David McLaren, Enterprise Data and AI Leader at GHD, joins BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady to discuss what it really takes for AEC firms to move from AI experimentation to meaningful, scalable impact. Drawing on his background in automation, application development and data strategy, David shares why strong data foundations, practical use cases and clear governance are essential for successful adoption. He explores where firms are already seeing value — from faster project starts to smarter knowledge retrieval and workflow automation — and explains why human oversight remains critical as AI capabilities continue to evolve. David also offers his perspective on the future of AI agents and how they may transform collaboration across teams and even across companies. Tune in to hear David’s full perspective and insights.

August 24, 2026Episode 3124 min

The Art of the Possible With Jacobs’ Michael Brown

The Trailblazers podcast welcomes Jacobs’ Senior Vice President of Enterprise AI, Michael Brown, to discuss the realities of deploying AI at scale inside one of the world’s largest engineering firms. He and BST Global CMO Eileen M. Canady examine the operational complexity of enterprise AI, from governance and data sovereignty to the need for unified, worldwide practices. Michael also explores emerging agentic AI applications in construction and program management, highlighting how real‑time insights can help projects stay on schedule and on budget. Rounding out the discussion, he reflects on AI as a catalyst for creativity, empowering engineers to imagine new solutions and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Tune in to learn how leaders like Michael are integrating AI, and check out more of his insights in our “ AI + Data Insights 2026: Global AEC Industry Report ,” available to download for free.

August 10, 2026Episode 3027 min

Context Matters With Mott MacDonald’s Namitha Vinay

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.

July 27, 2026Episode 2925 min

Human Led, AI Powered With Arup’s Ian Lumsden

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.

July 13, 2026Episode 2829 min

Truly Transformational With Arcadis' James P. Cooper

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.

June 29, 2026Episode 2724 min

Reimagine the World With WSP’s Jazz Pabla

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.

June 15, 2026Episode 2631 min

Future Focused With AtkinsRealis' Jack Li

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.

November 10, 2025Episode 2520 min

Bridging the Built & Natural Environments With GHD’s Paul Murphy

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.

October 27, 2025Episode 2432 min

Thinking Beyond Tech With Stantec’s Lalitha Krishnamoorthy

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.