Hosted by WSP Middle East’s Sustainability Associate, Shashi Narayanan, and featuring guest speaker Engineer Bodour Al-Meer, Sustainability Director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, this Anticipate Podcast episode explores how Qatar is championing the sustainable legacy of the first ever FIFA World Cup in the Middle East with a focus on the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ Sustainability Strategy and the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) process.

500 Days Until Kick-off: Building a sustainable legacy on the road to FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar™

In this Anticipate Podcast episode, Dr. Mohamed Nazier, Managing Director – Transport & Infrastructure at WSP in the Middle East is joined by Gabi Zijderveld, Chief Marketing Officer at Affectiva – a Boston-based pioneer in Human Perception artificial intelligence (AI) – to discuss how future technologies could improve safety and efficiency for user experiences in a world underpinned by digital.

Can technology humanise our society?

This episode is hosted by Daniel Gribbin, Corporate Sustainability Lead at WSP Middle East, who is joined by David Symons, the head of WSP’s global innovation and sustainability programme, Future Ready, as well as Elliot Cappell, WSP Canada’s National Director for Climate Change and the Practice Lead for ESG.

Net-Zero 2050: Charting A Meaningful Path to An Emissions-Free World

The 2015 Paris Agreement committed nearly 200 nations to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, the pledges countries made in Glasgow’s COP26 put the world on track for a temperature increase of 2.4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century!

Was COP27 successful in reviving the 1.5 degrees goal and in turning climate pledges into action? In this episode of the Anticipate podcast, our Marketing & Communications Manager for Advisory Services, Bushra Nassar, is joined by May Faraj, Senior Advisory Director and Mahmoud Hashish, Associate Director - Environment & Sustainability at WSP Middle East to answer this question and highlight the main outcomes of COP27. The talk also explores the implications that these outcomes have on our region and industries, as well as mapping out the journey to COP28.

COP28: A Look Back at COP27 and the Journey Ahead Towards a Greener, More Sustainable Future

Over the past five years, the mobility sector has witnessed an unparalleled surge in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence. However, alongside this remarkable progress, we must recognise that significant technological advancements bring not only opportunities but also challenges. 
In this episode of the Anticipate Podcast, Terry Smith, Intelligent Mobility Lead at WSP Middle East, is joined by Dr Raj Kamalanathsharma, Intelligent Mobility Advisor, to unravel the intricate web of AI-powered innovations and discuss the challenges and opportunities they present. The talk also delves into envisioning a future where mobility seamlessly integrates with advanced intelligent systems.

Smart Moves: Exploring AI's Impact on the Future of Mobility

In this enlightening podcast episode, we delve into the depths of WSP's groundbreaking Future Ready® programme. Hosted by Sophia Kee, Head of Future Ready for WSP in the Middle East, and featuring the insights of David Symons, Climate Change and Sustainability Director at WSP in the UK, this episode demystifies the evolution, implementation, and impact of Future Ready® across the organisation.

From its humble origins to its current global reach, David shares how the program was inspired by the need to anticipate future megatrends and their implications on WSP's long-lasting designs, ranging from towering buildings to intricate transport systems. The episode explores how WSP's forward-thinking approach not only benefits clients around the world but also attracts top talent, all while addressing complex challenges like climate change, societal shifts, and resource availability. Tune in to uncover the fascinating journey of WSP's Future Ready® program and discover how it's shaping the future of resilient design.

The Future Ready® Story So Far

In today's modern world, people spend most of their time indoors where air quality is found to be two to five times worse than outdoor air. But this is only one aspect of our indoor life and there are many more additional aspects that require our immediate attention.

In this episode of the Anticipate Podcast, Dalia Abdalla, Service Lead of Sustainable Development and Healthy Living at WSP Middle East, is joined by Tekha Selim, Vice President, Global Market Development & Head of MENA Region, at Delos to explore these aspects and explain how buildings significantly influence our health and productivity.

From The Ground Up: Shaping Healthy Spaces

Atlantis The Royal Resort and Residences is the new Dubai landmark on The Palm and one of WSP’s most exciting recent projects in the region. But what makes Atlantis The Royal so special, and what does it take to create a project of such scale? 

In this episode of the Anticipate Podcast, Liam O’Connell, Associate Director of Building Services, is joined by Andy Veall, Senior Technical Director at WSP in the Middle East, and John Shamon, Chief Technical Officer at Atlantis The Royal, to share their comprehensive insights into the making of this ultra-luxury experiential resort. 

This discussion explores the unique structural challenges, innovative design elements, and the exceptional teamwork that went into creating this architectural wonder, now ranked among the world's best 50 hotels. Our guests also discuss their personal experiences and pivotal moments during the project, offering an insider’s view of what it takes to bring such a grand vision to life.

Atlantis The Royal: Engineering one of the world’s latest architectural marvels

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is more than just a rapidly evolving futuristic technology. It is already an integral part of our daily lives, from the recommendations on your favourite streaming service to the algorithms that power critical business decisions. 

But what is AI exactly, and how does it work? How can we use it to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable solutions for our industry and the built environment? 

In this episode, James Mcallister, Smart Design Lead at WSP in the Middle East, is joined by Massimo Dragan, Unit Leader Digital Innovation, at WSP Italia to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the built environment. They explore the differences between AI and machine learning, the benefits of integrating AI into business operations, and the challenges of ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI. They also highlight how WSP has already leveraged AI tools in their processes and discuss the potential impact of AI on job displacement. The conversation concludes with a discussion on emerging trends and the future of AI in the built environment.

Blueprints of Tomorrow: AI's Role in Shaping Our Urban Future

As the Arabian Peninsula experiences shifts in weather patterns and faces more intense and frequent rainfall events, the demand for effective flood mitigation strategies has never been more critical. 

In this episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, Daymion Jenkins, Advisory Director - Environment & Sustainability is joined by Nariba Gittens, Associate Director – Water and Dr Farhad Jafari, Project Director at WSP in the Middle East to explore the role of design in flood management. They also discuss the challenges facing flood mitigation programs and explore the strategies, solutions and technologies that are reshaping the landscape of flood resilience across the GCC region.

From Rainfall to Resilience: Crafting Flood Solutions for the GCC Region

In this episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, Karisha Trotman-Welch, Principal Engineer - Enhancement & Lean Manager is joined by Dean Speer, Head of Technology and Digital at WSP in the Middle East to discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise from weaving technology into the fabric of traditional construction practices. They also envision and navigate the industry’s transformation journey towards digital construction, highlighting how Lean methodologies could be a key enabler to developing the right mindset for this radical yet exciting journey.

Leaning into Digital: A Key Transformation for an Agile Construction Industry

In this episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, Rinku David, Senior Consultant, Climate Change & Carbon Advisory at WSP Middle East speaks to Cle-Anne Gabriel, Managing Director at ThinkZero and Philipp Rosenthal, Associate Director, Climate Change & Carbon Advisory at WSP Middle East about the barriers and enablers of Carbon Literacy; and in the discussion, they also provide guidance to organisations on how to incorporate Carbon Literacy into their strategies.

From Awareness to Action: Carbon Literacy for Organisational Change

Imagine a skyline dotted with high-rises, each a testament to architectural ambition and economic growth. What happens when these towering structures, built around the same time, begin to show their age? 

In this episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, Susanna Noureddine, Head of Facades interviews Andy Dean, Senior Technical Director - Asset Transformation at WSP in the Middle East to explore how facades age, and the potential risks of neglect. More importantly, the discussion highlights the strategic planning and preparation needed to address the current situation of buildings in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Elevating Exteriors: The Criticality of Façade Refurbishment in the GCC

The UN-Habitat program estimates that by 2030, 3 billion, about 40% of the world’s population, will need access to adequate housing. This translates to 96000 accessible housing units every day. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) holds the promise of helping builders and developers meet the rising demand for housing. However, it represents a profound transformation for the building industry. 

In this new episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, Nizar Jegham, Advisory Director – Digital at WSP Middle East, is joined by Dale Sinclair Director – Head of Digital Innovation at WSP in the UK, and Hussam Ali, Director of Modern Methods of Construction at ROSHN Real Estate, one of the major developers in Saudi Arabia. The episode explores the potential of MMC and analyses the trends and drivers of its adoption globally. It also highlights the lessons learned from countries pioneering this transition.

Ambition vs. Reality: Can MMC Truly Transform the Construction Industry?

In this episode of the WSP Anticipate Podcast, David Leversha, Decarbonisation Lead for WSP, discusses driving value for clients through sustainability with Catriona Brady from the World Green Building Council and Daniel Socha from WSP's Global Sustainability and ESG Services. They explore the growing prominence of sustainability, the influence of ESG on financial markets, and what clients value in sustainability advice. They also discuss the need for policy and regulation and the role of collaboration and holistic thinking in driving sustainability forward.

Unable to listen to the full episode? Fast-forward to the key discussion points via the players above or read the key takeaways:

Discussion Points
00:00 	Introduction and Topic Overview
04:24 	The Growing Prominence of Sustainability
06:24 	The Holistic Approach to Sustainability
11:24 	The Influence of ESG on Financial Markets
14:40 	What Clients Value in Sustainability Advice
19:26 	The Role of Policy and Regulation
25:42 	Valuing the Broader Benefits of Sustainability
30:06 	Collaboration and Holistic Thinking in Driving Sustainability

Beyond Green: Driving Client Value Through Sustainability

As we shift our design focus to address pressing climate challenges, consider this startling fact: healthcare alone accounts for 5% of global carbon emissions. The urgency to reduce healthcare’s environmental impact and align with net-zero emission targets has never been greater. 

In this episode of our Anticipate Podcast, Alejandro Falcón, Technical Director and Healthcare Lead at WSP Middle East, is joined by Mike Barns, Programme Director – Architecture, at WSP in New Zealand. Together, they explore the transformation required to future-proof existing healthcare assets and propose a holistic approach to reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare design and construction.

Net Zero Hospitals: A prescription for a carbon-free tomorrow

WSP Anticipate is WSP Middle East’s thought leadership platform, where you will find a series of regular articles, podcasts, interviews and more, with special features from WSP’s experts, clients and thought leaders from across the engineering and construction industry. 

On this platform, we regularly share content that is created with the goal to capture unique perspectives, expert knowledge, and Future Ready insights. Our experts anticipate trends, explore industry hot topics, challenge the status quo and consider future solutions to complex problems. 

Some of our key topics include mobility, placemaking, technology, and future thinking, but with an industry and range of expertise as broad and diverse as ours, you can expect our content to be too.

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