Discover this podcast and so much more

Podcasts are free to enjoy without a subscription. We also offer ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more for just $11.99/month.

Fiona Cousins on technical knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaboration

Fiona Cousins on technical knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaboration

FromDesign the Future


Fiona Cousins on technical knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaboration

FromDesign the Future

ratings:
Length:
47 minutes
Released:
May 4, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Fiona Cousins, a mechanical engineer by training, is the Americas Chair for Arup, guiding a 1,900-person engineering, design, consulting, and planning firm with a focus on collaborating and innovating to shape a better world. Fiona and her teams take a broad view as they pursue value for clients, considering climate change, social equity, and biodiversity. As a longtime leader in the field, Fiona has a keen perspective on the arc of progress. She says that the market transformation that has occurred in the past 30 years means that it feels a bit less like a movement now. “The floor has been raised, through codes and other policy and market work,” she says. “Buildings have to work harder now. But at the leading edge, it still feels like a movement. And now we are asking harder questions, such as: What does it mean for a building to have a biodiversity net gain?” As for what’s next, Fiona is inspired by growing dialogue around water, both as a human rights issue and a technical issue. “I think this topic is far more visceral to people than questions of energy or carbon ever can be,” she says. “And I think it could be the topic that really connects us to the subject of planetary boundaries in a meaningful, actionable way.” 
Released:
May 4, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (94)

Women are living, learning, and leading towards a sustainable future. Their stories can help us all accelerate toward that vision in the built environment. Design the Future is a podcast created to elevate and explore the voices of women driving sustainable practices in the built environment and related fields. Lindsay Baker, a sustainability and social impact leader, and Kira Gould, a writer and communications strategist, host these conversations.