Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

• A Century of Innovation | Joe Walsh, Siemens Ireland

  What does it take to stay at the cutting edge of technology while also fostering innovation, sustainability, and personal growth? Today, we explore how one global powerhouse continues to reinvent itself in Ireland through groundbreaking projects, strategic acquisitions, and a deep investment in people. From historic feats like the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme to the rise of digital and AI, this episode covers the past, present, and future of engineering excellence. We’ll uncover how digitalization is revolutionizing infrastructure, and why a culture of continuous learning and collaboration is now more critical than ever. Our guest began his journey as an apprentice electrician and rose through the ranks to help shape the future of one of Ireland’s most innovative engineering and technology companies. Now serving as General Manager and Head of Fire and Security Solutions at Siemens Ireland, it’s a pleasure to welcome Joe Walsh to the podcast.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTHow the Ardnacrusha legacy still matters today’s engineering landscape Building a career from apprentice electrician to General Manager of Siemens Ireland Leveraging AI, digital twins, and automation to transform infrastructureTackling global challenges like sustainability and resource efficiencyCulture, collaboration & lifelong learning: a people-first approachGUEST DETAILS​Joe Walsh is the General Manager of Siemens Limited in Ireland, a role he has held since November 2021. He also heads the company's Solutions and Services division, overseeing areas such as fire safety, electronic security, building automation, and smart lighting .​Joe is deeply committed to advancing sustainable and digital technologies, playing a pivotal role in projects like the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme and initiatives aimed at decarbonizing data centers through renewable energy and green hydrogen solutions . His leadership extends to standardization efforts, serving as Chair of the NSAI TC16 Working Group on Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, where he has been instrumental in modernizing Ireland's fire safety standards .​Known for his authentic leadership style, Joe emphasizes collaboration, continuous learning, and innovation. His dedication to these principles has been central to Siemens' century-long presence and ongoing success in Ireland .​https://ie.linkedin.com/in/joewalsh1965 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.QUOTESWhere is my passion? It's to take the current business that we have and the model that we have and bring it into the future. - Joe Walsh We work really hard to create a sense of belonging and ownership. - Joe Walsh It's not what you know today. It's more about how you learn. That's the real trick. - Joe Walsh We have a term we use in Siemens, if Siemens knew what Siemens know. Experience is the sum of your mistakes.  - Joe Walsh KEYWORDS#engineering #challenges #Siemens #infrastructure #fire #AI #digitaltwins #sustainability #innovation #leadership

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• The Chaos of City Construction | John Gavigan, PJ Hegarty

  Building in highly dense city centers presents a unique set of challenges—tight spaces, heavy traffic, and the need to preserve historical structures while meeting modern safety and sustainability standards. Today we hear from an experienced engineer turned project manager who is an expert in navigating these complex logistics, from coordinating material deliveries with precision to ensuring that construction doesn’t disrupt the surrounding urban landscape. We hear how to safely excavate deep beneath a centuries-old building and what it takes to integrate modern engineering solutions into historic sites, along with the ever-growing importance of sustainability in engineering.Our guest today has nearly 30 years of experience in construction across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and large-scale commercial projects. He is a regional director at PJ Hegarty, John Gavigan. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTDiverse and challenging projects keep work interesting Mastering logistics in city-center constructionBlending modern engineering with historic structuresMaking safety the number one priority of any build The evolving role of sustainability in constructionGUEST DETAILSJohn Gavigan joined PJ Hegarty in 1996 as a graduate engineer. He progressed within the company embracing new responsibilities and roles, completed several projects as Contracts Manager and was appointed as Regional Director in 2023. John’s experience includes projects across several sectors: pharmaceutical, city centre commercial, healthcare, semi-conductor, logistics, education, retail and PPP bids. He was the site lead for 10 Molesworth Street and Tropical Fruit Warehouse in Dublin city centre and the Zoetis project in Tullamore.Molesworth Street project https://www.pjhegarty.ie/projects/10-molesworth-street/ Tropical Fruit Warehouse project https://www.pjhegarty.ie/projects/tropical-fruit-warehouse/ 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 challenges are the things that you remember. That's what keeps it interesting. - John GaviganGetting concrete trucks into the city centre location in the middle of the day during business hours, was very challenging. - John GaviganIt's knowing how to judge when there's an opportunity. - John GaviganAs an engineer who has evolved as a project manager in my career, you learn different problem solving techniques, you develop analytical skills. - John GaviganKEYWORDS#engineering #city #projectmanagement #construction #logistics #trafficmanagement #safety

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• Bridging The Equality Gap | Martina Finn, Atkins Realis

  The engineering industry thrives on innovation and problem-solving, yet it continues to struggle with one persistent challenge—gender diversity. Women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles, leaving many aspiring female engineers wondering how to break through.Today, we tackle this pressing issue head-on with insights from one of Ireland’s leading engineering voices. We uncover practical strategies for empowering more women into leadership, explore how inclusive teams drive better results, and reveal lessons from high-pressure projects like the London Olympics. Our guest leads one of Ireland's most progressive engineering and design consultancies, and is a chartered engineer with a passion for change. It's a pleasure to welcome Atkins realis Managing Director, Martina Finn.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTMeeting impossible deadlines on huge projectsNecessary disruptions to provide long-term infrastructurePromoting diversity and inclusion in engineering Embracing AI with correct policy implementation Self-development and the power of reverse-mentoring GUEST DETAILSMartina Finn is Managing Director at Atkins Realis and a Chartered Engineer with over 20years experience in the construction industry. She has been with Atkins since 2001.https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-finn-a7400812/ 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.QUOTESWith every major progression we do, there has to be some disruption and some sacrifice. - Martina Finn The percentage of women in engineering globally has fallen since 2020 from 15% to 13.7%. - Martina Finn The more diverse our workforce is, both culturally and in gender diversity, then the better solutions we can deliver for our clients and our communities. - Martina Finn For anybody entering a company, get into a mentorship programme. - Martina Finn KEYWORDS#Engineering #diversity #inclusion #mentorship #careerdevelopment #AI #projectmanagement #education #gender 

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• Key Ingredient to All Projects | Alasdair Henderson BAM

  Often in engineering we focus on the technical, production parts of a project, but it is the people who make the projects. As a leader, learning to support those people is vital. Today we hear from a prominent engineer who through his work in ground engineering, consulting, operations, HR and business, has gained many skills in managing and leading people. He believes safety, quality, inclusion and collaboration should be at the forefront of every project and combining that with purpose-led business creates the ultimate best outcomes. Our guest today has almost 30 years of experience with one of Ireland’s leading construction companies and believes in adapting the construction industry to support diversity and sustainability. He is BAM UK & Ireland’s Executive Director of Ireland, Alasdair Henderson. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTTransitioning from managing projects to leading people Approaching safety with prevention instead of reaction Working on public infrastructure such as the National Children’s Hospital Sustainable design to support a net zero futurePlanning diversity and inclusion to create an accessible society AI, robotics and material innovations for the future of engineering GUEST DETAILSAlasdair Henderson is BAM UK & Ireland’s Executive Director of Ireland. Alasdair joined BAM as a graduate engineer in 1996 and has worked his way up through a variety of operational and business leadership roles across BAM. He is well known as an advocate of purpose-led business, believing that the best and most sustainable financial results are achieved when the things we build add value to society. He holds safety, quality, inclusion, and collaboration as key tenets of what makes a good business and is delighted that he sees all these things on a daily basis at BAM.  Alasdair is actively involved in policy development in the industry and is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a fellow of the Institute of Quarrying, and a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alasdairehenderson 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 time you spend thinking most about safety is normally immediately after an accident. - Alasdair Henderson It's one of the largest buildings in Europe. - Alasdair Henderson If you start with a misaligned scope, it never gets better. It just gets worse and worse and worse. - Alasdair Henderson You can absolutely make those environments safer, warmer, more welcoming by changing the way you design that infrastructure. . - Alasdair Henderson Our industry is addicted to concrete and steel. If we want to get to net zero, we're going to have to do something around that. - Alasdair Henderson KEYWORDS#Engineering #construction #BAMIreland #NationalChildren'sHospital #publicprocurement #sustainability #diversity #digitalization

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• Engineering The Shard | Roma Agrawal MBE

  Building skyscrapers is an incredibly complex task. From the complexities of designing foundations to considering wind forces, and working with multi-disciplinary teams in busy urban areas. Today we’re joined by an engineer who worked on the design of Western Europe’s tallest tower, The Shard. We delve into the unique challenges she came across and the top-down construction method that was used for maximum efficiency, along with what she learned about the importance of relationships in the engineering space. Our guest is an engineer, physicist, author and presenter with almost 15 years experience in the industry. It’s a pleasure to have Roma Agrawal, MBE. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTThe historical significance of The Shard design Challenges of building a skyscrapers foundations Considering factors such a local disruption and wind force Collaboration and team-work across multiple disciplinesWhy we need to shout louder about engineering success GUEST DETAILSRoma Agrawal is an engineer, author and presenter who is best known for working on the design of The Shard, Western Europe's tallest tower. She studied at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford. Roma has given lectures to thousands at universities, schools and organisations around the world, including TEDx talks. She has also presented numerous TV shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and Discovery, and hosts her own podcast, Building Stories.Her first book, BUILT (2018) won an AAAS science book award and has been translated into eight languages. Roma is passionate about promoting engineering and technical careers to young people, particularly those from minority groups, and has won international awards for her technical prowess and for her advocacy for the profession, including the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering's Rooke Award. She was appointed an MBE in 2018 for services to engineering.https://www.romatheengineer.com/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.QUOTESI really love the idea of responding to what's there. This building could only have been on this particular site. - Roma Agrawal There's lots of different systems that have to work together to make sure that a big skyscraper stays stable. - Roma Agrawal A building like The Shard, we predict might move about half a metre. What's key as a structural engineer is to make sure that we don't feel that. - Roma Agrawal As a student, I don't think I ever understood how essential the skill of being able to work with other people is to be an engineer - Roma Agrawal I think being enthusiastic about what you do is a big thing. I think we're all too modest. - Roma Agrawal KEYWORDS#construction #theshard #site #management #wind #design #collaboration #engineering

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  44:50

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