Insights for what's next

Explore practical perspectives that turn complex challenges and emerging trends into real-world outcomes.

135 items
PFAS-Podcast-Graphic
Podcast

Navigating PFAS: Pioneering solutions for a healthier tomorrow

How are PFAS affecting your work and our world? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large class of long-lasting, synthetic chemicals used extensively in industrial and household products. Many PFAS don’t degrade readily on their own, and some are highly mobile in the environment. They can be found worldwide in water, soil, air, plants, animals and even our bloodstreams. We’re still uncovering the full impact of these chemicals on the health of humans and our environment, but here’s what is clear: it’s a complex challenge at scale to remediate these so-called “forever” chemicals. Our guests are defining the solutions for clients and the industry: Sharon Minchak, former Global Solutions Director for Remediation and Regeneration at Jacobs, and Dr. Russell Ford, Global Director for Drinking Water & Reuse Solutions at Jacobs.

Aerial view of Water Treatment tank
Big Questions

How can water utilities navigate infrastructure funding in the face of uncertainty?

For water utilities across the U.S., the funding landscape continues to evolve. Traditional funding sources can change or become less reliable, creating uncertainty for water utilities working to deliver critical infrastructure improvements. For Tahne Corcutt, navigating that complexity is about more than securing funding — it’s enabling utilities to build more efficient and sustainable financial systems for capital improvements. As the leader of Jacobs’ Water Infrastructure Funding and Grants consulting practice, Tahne is a nationally recognized subject matter expert on the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFIA) programs. Over the past 18 years, she has supported water projects in all 50 states, serving as a prime contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water and advising clients across federal, state and local government. Her work has helped secure more than $1 billion in funding for critical water infrastructure — enabling communities to advance essential projects with confidence. Reimagining how water projects are financed Tahne is known for thinking beyond conventional financing models. With a background in policy and law, she interprets statutes and regulations in unique ways that unlock opportunity. She has led innovative water infrastructure financing pilots in 15 states, advancing watershed-based strategies and community-based public-private partnerships. These approaches include: Programmatic financing Conduit lending Sponsorship lending Green banking Credit enhancements Linked deposit programs These models have helped address water quality and public health challenges while aligning the needs of utilities and funding agencies. Her work includes the conceptualization of a comprehensive, multi-year funding

Tahne Corcutt
aerial of coastline
Big Questions

How can nations protect their coastlines and water systems as climate risks intensify?

Rising sea levels, climate change and growing urban density are increasing pressure on Singapore’s coastal and water infrastructure. Without long-term planning, this pressure will only intensify. The challenge is multifaceted: strengthen coastal and flood resilience and secure the nation’s water future, all while contending with limited land availability, dense urban development and the need to keep communities and industries functioning with minimal disruption. This is where Jacobs’ Senior Project Manager, Reve Chin Jen Yee, steps in. Working at the forefront of Singapore’s most ambitious coastal, stormwater and water infrastructure programs, Reve supports clients to tackle escalating risks head‑on. He advances Singapore’s climate resilience through coastal protection planning, designing waterways that withstand tidal and stormwater pressures and driving system upgrades that safeguard the country’s water infrastructure for decades to come. Backed by over 20 years of geotechnical, civil and structural engineering experience, Reve brings deep technical expertise, strong regulatory knowledge and a future-ready mindset to Singapore’s nation-shaping projects. What drives Reve is a profound commitment to protecting people, communities and the places they call home. As climate pressures intensify, he sees engineering not just as a technical discipline, but as a responsibility to ensure future generations inherit a safer and more secure environment.

Reve Chin Jen Yee
2026-01-Cyber-Podcast
Podcast

Resilience by design: Safeguarding water utilities from cyber threats

According to Check Point Research and Reuters, cyberattacks on U.S. utilities in 2024 increased nearly 70% compared to the year before, leading to an average of 69 attacks every week. In 2025, the trend continued, in the U.S and globally. What can water utilities do to protect themselves from these digital threats? The OT environment at Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) is a success story as it protects one of the largest regional water and wastewater utilities in the U.S., servicing more than 20 counties and cities and 1.5 million people. Thanks to its signature program of embedded visibility, governance and consequence-driven planning, it can serve as a blueprint for water utilities globally.

coastline port
Big Questions

How can integrated adaptive planning shape coastlines and ports of tomorrow?

Climate change is reshaping coastlines faster than traditional ports and shoreline defenses can keep up. To stay ahead, nations need integrated adaptive planning — a smarter, system‑wide approach that blends coastal science, engineering and long-term risk-modeling. It layers solutions across scales, from regional coastal systems to local catchments and individual assets, creating strategies that adapt to changing conditions. This is where Jacobs Project Manager Jia Hann makes a real difference — bringing extensive experience at the intersection of coastal science, maritime engineering and climate adaptation. With integrated adaptive planning at the core of his approach, Jia Hann leads multidisciplinary teams to tackle some of the Asia Pacific region’s most urgent coastal challenges. such as flooding, wave overtopping, coastline erosion, port downtime and climate driven operational risks. Across national coastal protection studies in Singapore, coastal masterplans and major port developments globally, he supports organizations in making high impact decisions on tidal gates, pumping systems, shoreline protection strategies and critical marine infrastructure. Whether he’s designing coastal protection measures for vulnerable shorelines, advising on inland drainage measures for coastal developments or planning ports for future environmental conditions, Jia Hann brings deep insight into how water, infrastructure and the environment interact, and how to adapt them for tomorrow’s conditions. Jia Hann brings over 12 years of coastal engineering, port consulting and climate resilience experience with expertise in breakwater design, port layout planning, berthing and mooring analysis, navigational design and nautical studies. His professional foundation is built on technical training and active industry leadership. He

Jia Hann Tan
Water for life cover
Report

Water for Life

Water for Life: Why valuing water in all its forms is key to thriving and resilient communities explores why the water system must consider water in all its forms – and the economic, social and environmental systems that depend on it – to better navigate the increased pressures of climate change and rapid urbanization and enhance resilience in our communities.

Aerial view of Sungei Buloh mangrove nature reserve in Singapore
Big Questions

How can an integrated approach across water systems build a more climate-resilient Singapore?

Protecting a low‑lying, highly urbanized island nation like Singapore requires more than traditional engineering — it requires an integrated, system-wide approach that understands how coastal defenses, drainage networks, stormwater systems and water supply intersect. That’s where Jacobs’ Senior Environmental Engineer Chow Shu Yi plays a pivotal role. With more than 14 years of experience across coastal resilience, stormwater management, drainage improvement and major water infrastructure projects, Shu Yi brings a unique cross‑disciplinary perspective to some of Singapore’s most urgent climate challenges. She bridges coastal science, water engineering and urban resilience to shape climate‑ready solutions that protect communities and adapt to tomorrow’s uncertainty. She has taken on key roles in national‑level coastal protection and flood mitigation projects, contributing to feasibility assessments, long‑term adaptation planning and detailed hydraulic and hydrological modeling. Her work spans coastal barrier systems, coastal reservoir studies and large-scale drainage upgrades. She played a key role in delivering Singapore's Active Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters enhancement projects that blend engineering with ecology to create greener, more resilient waterways. Along with coastal resilience and stormwater management, Shu Yi has been instrumental in designing several of Singapore’s mega wastewater infrastructure projects, including PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency’s New Kranji Water Reclamation Plant Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Changi Water Reclamation Plants, specializing in early stages of wastewater treatment. Today, as Singapore advances major coastal protection initiatives, Shu Yi’s integrated approach continues to shape the next generation of water and climate‑resilient infrastructure.

Chow Shu Yi
Meet Jerwin Gutierrez
Q&A

Q&A: Talking with Jerwin Gutierrez, Senior Civil Engineering Professional

For this feature, we caught up with Senior Civil Engineering Professional Jerwin Gutierrez to talk about his role as lead tunnel engineer on New Zealand’s largest ever wastewater project, the Central Interceptor, what it’s like delivering such an iconic project and what he enjoys most about being part of #OurJacobs.

Meet Caroline Porteous
Q&A

Q&A: Talking with Caroline Porteous, Graduate Engineer

For this feature, we caught up with Graduate Engineer, Caroline Porteous to talk about her role as site engineer on New Zealand’s largest ever wastewater project, the Central Interceptor, what it’s like delivering such an iconic project and what he enjoys most about being part of #OurJacobs.

  • Future Foundations

    Co-creating the world to come

    From developing climate resilience and transitioning to a low-carbon future, to modernizing and transforming infrastructure, governments and businesses face critical challenges. How they respond will define our future.

    As our clients navigate these challenges, we help them think differently – working together to pioneer tomorrow's infrastructure solutions and build the foundations for a prosperous, secure future. 

    Visit Future Foundations
    Future-Foundations