Constructive Voices

In this episode of Constructive Voices, we dive deep into the world of resilient design and urban planning with Lisa Lattu, a pioneering "plangineer" who blends the best of civil engineering and urban planning to create sustainable, disaster-resistant communities. Hosted by Jackie De Burca, the conversation explores the critical importance of resilient infrastructure, particularly in cities prone...

Under 5 Minutes Listen Newsflash: Wetlands Restoration & Recording Breaking Temperatures Mossy Earth and their local partners have restored a 40 hectare meadow wetland! In cooperation with their local partners, the BROZ  Nature  Conservation Association, who were also partners on the Flooded Forest project, they have flooded another wetland along the Danube! This time the project focused on a...

In this newsflash, 5-minute episode, you will learn about why scientists are warning that the Pantanal, often described as a "paradise on Earth," could be irreversibly damaged by the Hidrovia project. The delicate balance that sustains this unique ecosystem is already under pressure from climate change, deforestation, and other human activities. Learn about how one of our longterm collaborators is...

Alexandra Steed Podcast: Part 3 The ground-breaking author, Alexandra Steed, talks to Jackie De Burca in a series of four podcast episodes that delve deeply into her brilliant book. She has also generously agreed to give away 10 copies of her book. Be sure to enter below. Listen to  Part 1 on this page  and  Part 2 here. In Part 3,  host, Jackie De Burca, and guest Alexandra Stead, a landscape arc...

In this short 17 minute episode, you will discover how this visual biodiversity net gain tool can help you do your BNG calculations and planning efficiently. Tune into Panu Pasanen as he talks to Jackie De Burca, about this BNG tool which enables you to work without an ecologist for some phases of your BNG work. About Panu Pasanen Panu Pasanen is the CEO and sole founder of  One Click LCA , the wo...

Part 2: The ground-breaking author, Alexandra Steed, talks to Jackie De Burca in a series of four podcast episodes that delve deeply into her brilliant book. She has also generously agreed to give away 10 copies of her book.  The first episode offers great insights into the concepts you will discover in this book. The author explains some of the core principles that are featured. De Burca speaks t...

Part 1: The ground-breaking author, Alexandra Steed, talks to Jackie De Burca in a series of four podcast episodes that delve deeply into her brilliant book. She has also generously agreed to give away 10 copies of her book.  The first episode offers great insights into the concepts you will discover in this book. The author explains some of the core principles that are featured. De Burca speaks t...

In this enlightening episode of the Constructive Voices Podcast, Jackie De Burca talks to  Dr. Ciaran Byrne , the Director of National Retrofit in Ireland. He offers invaluable insights into the country’s experience to date and the future of retrofitting in Ireland. About Dr Ciaran Byrne Dr. Ciaran Byrne is currently the Director of the National Retrofit Directorate in  Sustainable Energy Authorit...

Welcome to another episode of Constructive Voices! Today, we have an exciting guest with us, Panu Pasanen, the CEO and founder of  One Click LCA.  Panu is the brilliant mind and driving force behind this innovative lifecycle assessment and environmental product declaration software. Used in 170+ countries, this is a tool that can help you fast track built environment sustainability. About Panu Pas...

In under half an hour, learn how you and your colleagues can reduce plastic consumption in the construction industry. Jackie De Burca speaks to Neal Maxwell, a highly successful construction company owner who sold his business to allow him to focus on showing others how to reduce plastic use. His story was originally featured in one of the world's top newspapers: The Guardian, by Henry McDonald. H...

In the first of a new series of short but insightful conversations with construction industry thought leaders, Steve Randall is joined by René Morkos of Alice Technologies. Are you ready to explore the cutting edge of construction technology?  René shares his remarkable journey, from hands-on construction projects around the world to pioneering AI applications in the industry. Learn how AI is not...

Building Better Cities: A Journey Through Urban Design Host:  Jackie De Burca Guest:  Dr. Julian Bolleter, Co-Director of the  Australian Urban Design Research Centre Below are a few of his books and you can check out  Dr. Julian Bolleter on Amazon. Introduction: Jackie De Burca  welcomes  Dr. Julian Bolleter , an influential figure in landscape architecture and urban design. Julian shares his per...

Welcome to Constructive Voices. In Episode 1 of Season Three, we explore the urgent shift within the construction industry towards more sustainable practices, particularly in the face of the UK government’s net-zero targets.  The construction industry is seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional cement due to its significant carbon footprint, with the UK government setting net z...

This episode features Yaron Dycian, co-founder of  WINT , who discusses the integration of AI in water management to combat water scarcity and climate change. WINT employs AI algorithms to monitor water flow patterns in buildings, identifying anomalies that indicate leaks or damage, which can result in substantial water savings and reduced carbon footprints. The system is designed to alert staff t...

“I never really saw engineering as the career for me and it wasn’t really pushed. When I was studying subjects like art, science, maths, those subjects were always my passion from school all the way up to college. But I was always looking at different career pathways like medicine, going into maths, or even going into marketing and media. And it wasn’t until I did lots of different work experience...

“I grew up seeing my Dad as my role model. And he is a civil engineer. So I saw him working with interesting tools and software. I remember he had this huge table with massive white papers. It had scribbles of buildings all over it, and a ruler that was taller than me. He also had sketches on his computer. He had lots and lots of books. And all of this really fascinated me. I would even do pretend...

Tune in to this podcast episode that could be life-changing for you, someone you love, or friends at work or on the next site you go to.  Jackie De Burca talks to Bill Hill, chief executive of the  Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity . The charity has been in existence since 1956 and has evolved immensely over the decades. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and its extensive network...

Emma Nicholson speaks to Helen Ramsay whose enthusiasm and drive is bound to inspire you. Helen, who seems to have boundless energy, has worked in steel, water consultancy and medical device manufacturing, during her engineering career. “We need to be able to change the way we work and live, to be able to manage and also to reduce our impact on the environment. So I absolutely think it’s key. We c...

“I never dreamed that I will get to the point where I am.” Emma Nicholson speaks to the very insightful Magda Sartin about many aspects of her work in engineering and the path that led to it. From being a ballerina to now being a Mum who balances her successful career in engineering, Magda’s story will resonate with many of you. She touches on how motherhood has helped aspects of her work and also...

This episode features a really interesting conversation between two construction industry experts. Irish builder and TV star, Peter Finn, talks to David Hernandez, Managing Director of  Elecosoft LLC.  Although David is based in America, he also talks to Pete The Builder about how the industry is doing there right now, Elecosoft’s history can actually be traced back to 1895 in Essex, England.   .....

Constructive Voices, has been inspired by a former guest to create something new and exciting. Thanks to  Emma Nicholson,  we are collaborating to bring you a number of episodes that Focus on Females in the built environment. So far these have been extremely well received. In the third Focus on Females episode features , Emma Nicholson speaks to  Océane Mbaguta , a recent Environmental Engineering...

In the second Focus on Females episode features , Emma Nicholson speaks to a trailblazing female engineer, Jo Parker. Jo Parker is a chartered civil engineer who was awarded an MBE by the Queen, in 1994, for her services to the water industry. What we talk about Jo has had a fascinating career. She was originally inspired to be a civil engineer when she was only around 14 years of age. It was the...

Once again, Constructive Voices, has been inspired by a former guest to create something new and exciting. Thanks to  Emma Nicholson , we are collaborating to bring you a number of episodes that Focus on Females in the built environment. This very first Focus on Females episode features Emma Nicholson interviewing Kat Draper. Kat is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has been working in the constructi...

We are delighted to announce the Beyond Biodiversity Net Gain accessible online training series created with our Ecology Training Leader, Claire Wansbury along with many other esteemed experts. In our 60th episode ever, Claire Wansbury talks to Jackie De Burca about biodiversity net gain, its implications and specifically the online training series that we are creating in partnership with Claire a...

Constructive Voices has recently been listed as one of the UK's Top Sustainability Podcasts on Feedspot According to the World Economic Forum ,  Heating and cooling are essential to modern life. This includes comfort control for homes and buildings, and temperature control in industrial processes. It also includes the cold chain that ensures safe delivery of food, medicine and vaccines around the...