Insights for what's next

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

132 items
Raffles Marina Lighthouse
Big Questions

How can island nations build resilient water futures?

Climate change is reshaping how water moves, putting pressure on Singapore’s coasts, reservoirs and stormwater systems. Working at the intersection of water and environment, Michael designs climate resilient solutions that strengthen coastal and water infrastructure.

Michael Gillen
Coast
Big Questions

How can coastal cities strengthen marine infrastructure while adapting to rising seas?

Technical Director for Ports and Maritime Alan Cowley works with clients to optimize port and terminal operations by planning and designing infrastructure that improves safety, efficiency and reliability. As climate risks intensify, he works with clients to strengthen resilience while safeguarding trade, productivity and long-term asset value.

Alan Cowley
water droplet
Thought Leadership

Redefining risk for a more complex water future

Australia’s water industry faces rising cost pressures and climate uncertainty as well as aging infrastructure. As complexity grows, utilities must rethink how risk is assessed, governed and shared to support more adaptive and resilient outcomes. Jacobs Director of Operations, Water, Australia and New Zealand, Kate Simmonds outlines why evolving governance frameworks will be critical to improving performance and decision-making.

Kate Simmonds
water treatment plant
Big Questions

How can community-rooted leadership shape the future of water reliability?

Since 2023, Jacobs has provided operations and maintenance services to Jackson, Mississippi’s O.B. Curtis and J.H. Fewell water treatment plants (WTPs) with one clear mission — deliver safe, clean and reliable drinking water to a community that has endured years of chronic failures. By improving operations and automation and employing skilled talent, Project Manager Amy McLeod and her team enabled the WTPs to achieve full compliance for the first time in a decade. For Amy, her work is more than just a job; it’s a responsibility and commitment to her operators and the community she has come to call home. Answering Jackson’s call Originally from Kentucky, Amy planted her roots in Mississippi more than 20 years ago. After earning her degree in geological engineering from the University of Mississippi, she spent nearly two decades with the Mississippi State Department of Health, overseeing 100 water systems across the central region. While Amy was with the Department of Health, an emergency was declared in Jackson, and she immediately stepped in to help stabilize operations at the WTPs. What she saw during that response — the dedication of the operators and the need for long-term support — made a lasting impact. In 2023, she joined Jacobs to focus her efforts fully on Jackson, first as an assistant project manager, and later as project manager. A team built from the community it serves For Amy and her team, their work at the WTP is personal. Several team members were born and raised in Jackson

Amy McLeod
in the know banner
Webinar

Water reuse: A shared solution for utilities and industry

Water reuse is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of resilient water management. Driven by evolving regulations and growing industrial demand, communities are rethinking how treated wastewater can support both public needs and economic growth. This webinar explores the state of water reuse from both municipal and industrial perspectives. We’ll cover key trends shaping the market, including direct potable reuse, and examine the role of reuse in supporting high-growth sectors including data centers and semiconductors. A featured case study from Stafford County, Virginia, will highlight how one utility is leveraging water reuse partnerships to meet both community and industrial water needs. Join us to gain practical insights into how collaboration can accelerate water reuse implementation. Moderator Joseph Danyluk, OneWater Director – Jacobs Presenters Melanie Holmer, Global Reuse Principal – Jacobs Brian Lowes, Industrial Water Global Principal – Jacobs Jon Brindle – Stafford County, Virginia

pipes
Q&A

A view on the future of conveyance and storage: A Q&A with Dr. Adel Aboujaoude

From aging water infrastructure, regulatory requirements and climate change, our clients face unprecedented challenges. Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Conveyance and Storage Dr. Adel Aboujaoude and his team are shaping how we deliver safe and reliable water to communities worldwide. Through adopting available technology and creating new technologies, he ensures we’re providing tailored solutions to our clients. In this Q&A, Adel discusses the imortance of water conveyance, particularly in locations where access to clean and potable water is a challenge and highlights the importance of having the right people and technology to tackle the problem of water scarcity in a changing world.

Adel AbouJaoude
water aerial
Q&A

World water day: How is water shaping our future?

World Water Day is a moment to consider water’s importance to life, the environment and thriving communities. It’s also a call to action. As climate impacts intensify and water challenges grow more complex, the need for integrated, forward-looking solutions has never been greater. At Jacobs, that responsibility sits at the heart of our global water team. Leading our team of 9,000 water professionals is Senior Vice President Susan Moisio. From advancing watershed-scale strategies to championing digital innovation and mentoring the next generation of leaders, Susan understands that water connects everything — from energy and food systems to equity and economic resilience. In this World Water Day Q&A, she explains how the industry is evolving, her role championing women leaders and what it means to know water. World Water Day is an opportunity to reflect. You’ve been leading our water team for five years — how has the industry changed in that time? The pace of change has accelerated dramatically. Climate impacts are more visible and more urgent. Extreme events — whether flooding, drought or water quality crises — are happening more frequently. Each one reinforces the need to look at systems holistically. We often say water challenges fall into three categories: too much water, too little water or poor water quality. But the real shift has been in how we address them. We’re thinking regionally and adaptively. Instead of solving a single asset issue, we’re asking: how does this fit within the broader water system? What does this mean over

reflection
Thought Leadership

Digital twins: Why the real challenge is change, not technology

As organizations look to digital transformation to unlock efficiencies, reduce costs, optimize asset operations and enhance business performance, many are discovering the biggest hurdle isn’t the technology — it’s the people. Nowhere is this more evident than in the implementation of digital twins, which are often misunderstood as purely technical upgrades rather than the far-reaching organizational change projects they truly are. A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual replica of a physical asset, system or process. It uses historic and real-time data to simulate, monitor and optimize performance. In the building and infrastructure sector, digital twins hold the key to unlocking greater value across the asset lifecycle. While the technology is impressive, its success hinges on how well an organization can adapt its culture, workflows and mindset to maximize the benefit. The global digital twin market is growing rapidly and is expected to reach $149.81 billion USD by 2030, with the transport, infrastructure, healthcare and energy and power sectors leading the way. According to McKinsey, 70% of technology leaders in major corporations are actively investing in digital twin initiatives. Yet, many struggle to realize their full potential because implementing a digital twin is not just a technology rollout. It represents a fundamental shift in how an asset is designed, operated and maintained, how teams collaborate, and how strategic decisions are made. For example, operational teams must learn to trust data and predictive analytics over gut instinct. Maintenance crews need to adapt to condition-based servicing rather than scheduled routines. Executives must

Q&A

Growing globally: Olivia Millard’s Jacobsgo! experience

Olivia Millard, a Melbourne, Australia-based process engineer, shares her experience as part of our 2025 JacobsGo! cohort – living and working in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Why did you decide to apply for the program? Throughout my life, I’ve found that immersing myself in different places, contexts and cultures through long-term travel has been a launchpad for my personal and professional growth. JacobsGo! presented such a unique opportunity that I couldn’t pass it up! I am very grateful to be a part of the program. What were you most excited about? Going into this experience, I was excited to learn from technical specialists in Oregon and develop my design skills. On the personal side, I looked forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest outdoors – trail running, skiing, hiking and camping.  What kind of work did you do in your JacobsGo! role? Like my role at home, my workload spanned a range of diverse projects. They involved concept level designs of treatment plants to support capital planning, detailed design of treatment systems, quality control management and development of an interactive facility map dashboard as part of program management efforts.  One project that was a key focus during my time in the region was early works for a water treatment plant. The project centers on the design of fish intake screens and raw water pump replacements which will help the city maintain reliable operations through upcoming major upgrades at the plant.  What was the best part of your JacobsGo! experience? There were so

water treatment plant
Big Questions

Scaling water reuse through collaboration

Rick Warner discusses a project with The Water Research Foundation that’s fostering collaborative strategies and unlocking the full potential of water reuse

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