A Global Outlook by James Phillis – COO, Infrastructure + Energy 

The Role of Technical Excellence To Engineer Positive Change

Genuine technical excellence is a cornerstone of global economic growth. Delivering outstanding technical solutions positions engineering consultancies as critical players on the global stage. Today we face unprecedented global challenges; climate change, growing populations and strain on our natural resources, making the need for robust technical foundations paramount.

As we strive to build better, to focus on a regenerative future, to meet global net zero targets and of course, deliver in the omnipresent context of the transition to renewable energy, engineering and our technical capability to innovate, regenerate and critically deliver meaningful infrastructure has never been more important.

The Energy Transition: Balancing Ambition with Foundations

The global energy transition is accelerating at a remarkable pace, with annual energy-related CO2 emissions needing to decline 70% below today’s levels by 2050 to set the world on a pathway toward meeting the climate goals. Renewables, energy efficiency and substantial electrification can provide over 90% of the necessary reduction.

While this momentum is clearly crucial for addressing climate challenges, it raises a critical question for engineering consultancy: in our well-intentioned haste to deliver are we building the right foundations? The adequacy of global capabilities, both in quality and quantity, to deliver transformation at this scale and within required timeframes is under scrutiny. If foundational capabilities fall short, the risk of undermining rapid progress increases significantly. When ambition outpaces foundational groundwork, there is a heightened risk that deliverables may not achieve long-term sustainability. 

As an industry, we must influence our global communities, governments and partners on the best, holistic approach to deliver the required net zero targets and transition to renewable energies, without compromising the integrity of the infrastructure delivered. Alongside our net zero targets, the goal needs to be the preparation and delivery of a regenerative future, which is the broader context within which the energy transition resides.  

As an industry, we must influence our global communities, governments and partners on the best, holistic approach to deliver the required net zero targets and transition to renewable energies.


Beyond Sustainability: A Regenerative Future

Adoption of sustainable practices has been steadily evolving over the course of this century, and is increasingly becoming the new normal, with the next phase of global progress being to advance this practice toward regenerative design. While our current focus on sustainability centres around minimising our footprint and maximising social, environmental and economic outcomes, regenerative design asks a different question: how can we go beyond doing ‘no harm’ to create systems and design infrastructure that fosters feedback loops, ultimately enriching ecosystems and improving and enhancing our environments? This shift in perspective encourages us to think beyond reduction and, in unison with clients and partners, actively contribute to the vitality of the natural world. 

That said, our work in sustainability and materials reduction remains both unfinished and critical, and there remains incredible scope here for us to continue to make a significant positive impact on the environment. Concrete and steel currently contribute heavily to CO2 emissions, with concrete alone contributing up to 8% of global annual emissions, and as an industry traditionally reliant on these materials, we must use our technical skill to innovate and find solutions to reduce their impact and emissions levels, to reduce their use in future projects overall, and to repurpose those already existing, capturing the past emission and not creating more. Collaborating with clients, we are rethinking design and construction practices, prioritising a reduction in embodied carbon while optimising material use and maintaining structural integrity. Through our technical excellence our role is to leverage advanced digital tools, overlaid with our deep project knowledge and expertise, to minimise waste and prioritise low-carbon alternatives.  

While these actions are essential, to truly embrace regenerative design principles, there is much more to consider. We must reduce the use of materials, no question, but by applying a regenerative design framework, we can take these discussions one step further to explore ways in which we not only reduce harm, but deliver infrastructure for the enhancement of ecosystems and communities by applying thoughtful engineering. Again, this requires a sophisticated technical response, drawing heavily on the combination of decades of global project experience and ever emerging digital capabilities to create innovative, practical solutions. With our global network as part of One SJ, we have access to 16,500 experts across the world, with unique and valuable specialisms to help us realise this potential. We have that awesome opportunity, and I would argue further that it’s our responsibility, to help shape a regenerative future through our technical excellence.

Partnerships Are Powerful

The goals and challenges ahead are immense, and achieving them requires more than industry effort alone - collaboration across clients, partners, governments, and communities are essential. By fostering innovation and respectfully challenging conventional approaches, strong and respectful partnerships drive transformative solutions, reduce materials, and promote regenerative design. This collective effort is crucial for delivering meaningful projects that enhance liveability for future generations. 

Bold decision-making is also imperative. Sometimes, advocating for restraint, choosing not to pursue projects that could harm the environment, may be the most responsible action. This approach requires courage and integrity, especially when economic pressures, such as the slowing of Australian investment in traditional infrastructure, may discourage such bold calls. Doing what’s right, even when faced with short-term pain, may deliver long term gain for all, not just a select few. Through our trusted partnerships we must be empowered to be bold, and to be guided by our purpose and principles; real impact, made together.

The industry more broadly must prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term gains to lead toward a net-zero future, and our advocacy in this space is key.

Delivery is the Cornerstone of Credibility

In amongst the constant narrative of innovation, we must remember the solutions we design must do more than inspire; they must be done right, and they must work. They must balance innovation with practicality, meet immediate needs of a community while anticipating longer-term impacts, scalability and adaptability, and advance a more regenerative future.  

Achieving this requires unparalleled technical rigor and a commitment to solving problems holistically. Whether optimising material use to reduce emissions, designing resilient infrastructure for uncertain climates, or driving sustainable economic growth, our ability to execute effectively will define our relevance and impact. We have stood apart from our competitors in our ability to deliver technically excellent, real life, tangible solutions. It’s a core of who we are as a business and continues to be one of our key strengths.

By embracing partnerships, prioritising regenerative design, and making courageous decisions, engineering consultancies can inform and influence advancements that pave the way for sustainable and regenerative outcomes.

Conclusion

Today the world demands brilliant and smart technical solutions; the intersection of economic challenges, the energy transition, and the push for net-zero emissions demands big picture out of the box thinking, technical excellence, bold leadership and ultimately the delivery of infrastructure that works.  

By embracing partnerships, prioritising regenerative design, and making courageous decisions, engineering consultancies can inform and influence advancements - ultimately contributing significantly to a regenerative future through technical excellence.