Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN)’s Post

In six days time it will be ‘Day One’ of ‘Year Two’ for me at South Staffordshire Plc, and whilst in some ways it feels like it has flown by, in other ways I feel like part of the furniture! Timing leads me to reflect on progress over the past year and celebrate some of the key milestones we have achieved as a group: * We co-created, launched and embedded a clear Vision, Mission and Values for the Group so we understand our direction, the part we all play, what we stand for and our values and the behaviours linked to this. This allows our people to be recognised easily and is starting to support our every day purpose, as well as future growth planning! * We have pushed forward with our people strategy – enhancing our leave policies, simplifying and relaunching other key policies, and because being a ‘great place to work’ is really important for us, we have launched our People Transformation Programme with a current hit list of 51 mini projects and counting! We have also launched and trained additional Mental Health First Aiders, our Women’s Network, and have made commitments for other Networks, all to support our diversity and inclusion ambitions! * We have focused on commercials, contracting arrangements and cash (it’s not a dirty word, it’s key for a thriving business). We improved our internal management and governance, have been better at positioning ourselves for growth, and have been more focused at collecting in a timely way for the products and services we provide. * We have launched new objectives linked to our balanced scorecard, building on our people, customer/client, safety, ESG, and financial priorities. As part of this work we now have thriving working Groups for ESG and Health & Safety and clear targets in place to measure our progress. * We have begun a new business planning process, providing us with a clear strategy for the future, ensuring we have a clear plan of how and where we want to grow, who is responsible for this and to make sure we have joined up thinking across the Group to pursue the exciting opportunities I know are ahead. None of which would have happened without the people involved! I’m incredibly thankful for the new connections and relationships I have built across our diverse group of businesses over the last year, with our amazing team of people who have been so welcoming, our engaged and supportive shareholder Arjun Infrastructure Partners, and our committed, trusted supply chain. Working together we are positively focused to deliver for our clients, customers, communities and to protect the environments in which we operate! Which leads me to finish by celebrating some new appointments to support our future success - Joel Stevens and Steve Smith we can’t wait to welcome you to the business and I’m excited to see what your ‘Year One’ looks like 🤩

GOAL 17 - PARTNERSHIPS To be successful, everyone will need to mobilize both existing and additional resources, and developed countries will need to fulfill their official development assistance commitments. We are all in this together. The Agenda, with its 17 goals, is universal and calls for action by all countries, both developed countries and developing countries, to ensure no one is left behind. We will need to mobilize both existing and additional resources— technology development, financial resources, capacity building— and developed countries will need to fulfill their official development assistance commitments. Multistakeholder partnerships will be crucial to leverage the inter-linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals to enhance their effectiveness and impact and accelerate progress in achieving the Goals.

Ashurst Adds Teruma Naito As Partner In Tokyo's Projects And Energy Transition Practice Ashurst expands its Projects & Energy Transition practice in Tokyo by appointing Teruma Naito as a partner, adding expertise in international project finance and cross-border investments. Link to read full News: https://lnkd.in/dw43skgq #Ashurst #EnergyTransition #TokyoLegalMarket #ProjectFinance #LawFirmNews

Delighted to have attended the Edelman Smithfield Investor Summit 2024 as part of the panel on #ESG Outlook chaired by Julia Wright recently. I was also interviewed by John Schaffer of Citywire on my views on #sustainableenergy particularly in light of the incoming #US administration. Victory Hill Capital Partners LLP. #victoryhill #enrg #vhglobalenergyinfrastructureplc #sustainableinvesting #energytranstion #unsdg #energy #sustainableinvesting #assetmanagement #infrastructure Links to both in the comments section below.

Mark Fitzgibbon and I have been so fortunate over the years to work with a number of wonderful professionals that align with our values and objectives. People that are excellent at their craft, who want to make a difference and deliver work that benefits the community and environment. We have always wondered how we can make a greater difference than we already do through regulatory advice. With that in mind, an opportunity presented itself to support some unbelievable professionals to pursue their interests, in the same way we did with URA. We are honoured and privileged to announce we are partnering with the amazing Melissa Thek to establish Utilities Strategy Advisory (USA), a separate but complementary business to URA. USA will seek to support our same clients, through the development and delivery of corporate strategy and business transformation advice. Many of you will know Mel from her time as General Manager Business Transformation with Gippsland Water and Director Strategy, Transformation and Delivery at Sequana. Joining Mel will be Sarah Thomson, former General Manager of Strategy, Governance and Finance (CFO) at Goulburn Valley Water. Mel and Sarah will be ably supported by Peter Skeels, former General Manager of Operations and Senior Executive Advisor at Gippsland Water, and former CEO of the ESC, John Hamill, GAICD. We have always sought to bring together the best professionals to help industry, and this is no exception. We are incredibly excited by our new venture, and we hope to see USA working with you on important industry leading activities. These businesses will operate under the Utilities Advisory Group, allowing for further growth of services into the future. There will not be any change to URA, which will continue to focus on the provision of specialist regulatory economics advice. Please reach out if you would like to hear more! Robert Tiong Jason Lim Kevin Nguyen Ron Ben-David #utilitiesregulationadvisory #utilitiesstrategyadvisory #utilitiesadvisory Consultancy Australia

🌏Exciting News: The Launch of Utilities Strategy Advisory (USA) I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Utilities Strategy Advisory (USA), a new venture created in partnership with Tim White and Mark Fitzgibbon —exceptional industry leaders who share my passion for driving impactful change in the utilities sector. USA is a separate but complementary business to Utilities Regulation Advisory (URA). Together, we bring the best professionals together to help water businesses navigate challenges, drive innovation, and build resilience for the future. I’m honored to join forces with a phenomenal team, including: •        Sarah Thomson: Former GM of Strategy, Governance, and Finance (CFO) at Goulburn Valley Water. •        Peter Skeels: Former GM of Operations and Senior Executive Advisor at Gippsland Water. •        John Hamill, GAICD: Former CEO of the Essential Services Commission (ESC). Together, we’ll deliver corporate strategy and business transformation advice to help businesses meet the demands of climate change, regulatory complexity, and evolving customer expectations. This venture reflects my career-long values—working with professionals who make a difference and deliver outcomes benefiting communities, customers, and the environment. Reflecting on My Journey This chapter follows an incredible experience at Sequana, where I worked with a brilliant team to deliver meaningful outcomes for the water sector. I’m deeply grateful to Frank, Mike, Daniel, and the Sequana team for their support and opportunities to contribute to thought leadership in the industry. Looking Ahead Our mission at USA is simple: to provide actionable strategies, robust governance frameworks, and optimised processes that help water businesses deliver exceptional outcomes for communities and the environment. “This partnership amplifies the difference we can make together supporting the water sector with expertise, collaboration, and a shared vision for a resilient and sustainable future.” If you’d like to learn more about USA, please reach out! Here’s to building a brighter future together! #UtilitiesStrategyAdvisory #WaterSector #Leadership #Governance #Sustainability

Get to know Āpōpō Congress Technical Speakers Our three concurrent technical streams have been inspired by the holistic principles of te ao Māori that perfectly inform how we need to approach the responsibility of managing our infrastructure assets. Stream 2 is Rangatiratanga - leadership, autonomy, and self-determination. The presentations on day two, Rangatiratanga stream are: Rangatiratanga - Planning for the people by the people Michala Lander, GHD Everyone knows that when looking for the best place to eat, you ask a local. They are the location experts. Their knowledge is critical to successful infrastructure design 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gEsTdWtu   - Te Kapehu Whetū navigating our way to climate adaptation - An Asset Managers perspective Priyani de Silva-Currie, Beca In our calamitous world where the best decisions are often not the easiest to make, asset managers are in unique roles which consider ALL the drivers and factors that influence community infrastructure planning, including, but not limited to just climate adaptation planning 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gx8jdzSJ -   Improving asset management through invested leadership and a culture of collaboration Adele Jones, WSP in New Zealand   When we think of improving asset management, we often think about getting new tools, technology and processes; but if you look where asset management is thriving and improving, you always find invested leadership and a culture of collaboration and learning 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gq9V4Ysj   Stay tuned as we share more on the technical presenters speaking at the #ĀpōpōCongress2024 https://lnkd.in/gFrTEEyP

Excerpts from the panel discussion on the 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 - 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Up next; 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: VRE grid integration, project investment, and sustainability. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - https://bit.ly/PRA_RES

Our latest report gives insights on how private capital can help finance natural infrastructure to meet our water needs. Inside the report: 📈 Find out why investors are starting to view natural infrastructure as a less risky investment. 💬 Expertise shared from multiple interviewed experts from asset management organizations, insurance companies, and investment firms. 🏛 How government support and partnerships can incentivize and better facilitate private financing. 🚰 And more on scaling up investments in the natural infrastructure sector. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gfHHae2F International Institute for Sustainable Development authors: Marina Puzyreva | Edoardo Carlucci | David Uzsoki | Josée Méthot

📢Speakers announced! PPP - What does long term partnership look like? Join our expert panellists for an insightful discussion exploring key factors in successful collaboration through the lifetime of PPPs. We will delve into topics such as how client stakeholders contribute to project success and how proactive collaboration between private and public sectors is vital for effective change management and achieving project decarbonization. Discussion Points: - How can client stakeholders contribute to project success by setting clear objectives and fostering open communication to facilitate decision-making throughout the project? - How do we ensure cost-effectiveness, speed, and embrace new technologies and Net Zero goals? - What lessons can we learn from successful Handback projects in other countries? - Can decarbonization targets be integrated into Handback projects? Speakers: Moderator: Neil Collins, KPMG Cathal Masterson, Transport Infrastructure Ireland Kerr Houston, Johnston Houston - Part of Drees & Sommer Stuart B., Pinsent Masons Yvonne Jones, Invesis 📅 - Wednesday 23 October, 2024 🌏 - KPMG, Platform X, Harbourmaster Place, Dublin 1 🕓 - 5.00pm Register now: https://lnkd.in/eZfYMwM4 This in-person event is kindly co-hosted by Invesis and KPMG. #IPFA #Energy #GlobalNetwork #Community #Connecting #PPP #Dublin #Ireland