Insights for what's next

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

142 items
James Hampson
Q&A

From setup to success: Lessons in leading complex infrastructure programs

With more than 33 years of infrastructure experience across ten sectors and six countries, James Hampson is a leader and problem solver who thrives on tackling complex challenges and managing hundreds of billions of dollars in major programs across a cross-industry European portfolio. In this Q&A, we connect with James, our global executive program director, to gain his insights into the innovation, collaboration and business leadership needed for the future of program delivery.

Megan Shi
Q&A

A view on Hong Kong’s infrastructure future: A Q&A with Megan Shi

With more than 15 years of experience, Megan Shi is helping drive Hong Kong’s infrastructure transformation. From major transport upgrades to ecological land development, she’s leading projects that tackle urbanization, climate change and workforce challenges—laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable future.

Jacobs Heath Infrastructure, Australia
Thought Leadership

Reimagining health infrastructure for a smarter, stronger future

With more than 17 years of experience in critical infrastructure, Jacobs' Chris Suttor shares insights on the pressures shaping modern health infrastructure—from rising costs and rapid tech shifts to the need for faster delivery and stronger social outcomes.

Bill Drake
Thought Leadership

Built to last: Reducing recurrent costs and extending facility life

Rising costs and aging infrastructure are pressing issues for hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Bill Drake, Jacobs global principal, health care engineering, shares how long-term master planning, adaptable design and smart maintenance technologies can extend the life of healthcare facilities and reduce ongoing costs.

Q&A

Building Cities That Endure, Evolve and Inspire: Meet Robert Marshall

Robert Marshall has followed urban planning and design opportunities around the world, living and working in cities across North America, Asia and the Middle East. What drew you to master planning as a career—and what keeps you inspired after more than 35 years in the field? My path started through history. I was doing research on urban form and architectural development for the Canadian Centre for Architecture and became fascinated with how cities grow and change. That curiosity, along with a trip to Venice, made me want to help shape places that endure, that evolve beautifully and that work for the people who live there. Later, when I worked on the original master plan for Dubai Marina, I experienced the energy and impact of creating something entirely new. That’s what keeps me inspired: every city and client brings different challenges, but the goal is the same—places that are livable, vibrant and thoughtfully made. With over two decades of global experience in master planning, how does your role today support Jacobs’ vision for delivering sustainable, people-focused cities—and how has your work in Toronto, Singapore and now the Middle East shaped that approach? One of the greatest advantages of my career has been the opportunity to work in so many contexts. Each place has taught me something about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to city-building. My approach has always been “think global, act local.” I bring with me the best of what I’ve learned in North America, Europe and

Robert Marshall
biomimicry paper document mockup
Report

From Sustainability to Regeneration

After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature already has solutions to our most pressing challenges. Discover how biomimicry — the innovation and design practice that learns from nature — can transform the built environment into a showcase for a regenerative world.

Modern office building
Big Questions

How do you decide what really matters when shaping places?

Steve Foran doesn’t just plan spaces, he helps people see what’s possible. As Jacobs’ market growth director for Cities & Places in the Americas East region, he leads with curiosity and collaboration, guiding clients through complex challenges and turning ideas into action. Based in Atlanta, Steve’s career spans architecture, real estate consulting, sustainability and business operations. He has worked with universities, hospitals, corporations and government agencies to rethink how their spaces work, and how they could work better. His sweet spot? The early stages of planning, where vision meets strategy and the future starts to take shape. He’s also a team builder at heart. Steve leads a group of business development and client engagement professionals, in collaboration with our operations teams, to create opportunities for rethinking people-centric places. Known for his ability to simplify complexity, build trust and keep teams moving forward, Steve keeps projects grounded in purpose and people. His thought leadership has taken him from Georgia Tech to Shenzhen, China, where he has spoken on sustainable infrastructure and smart cities. He’s contributed to national conversations on space management, resilience and urban planning, all through a lens of connection, clarity and humanity. Leading with vision, grounded in people Steve’s leadership is rooted in relationships. He’s built long-term collaborations with clients by listening deeply, thinking strategically and delivering meaningful results. He has grown Jacobs’ presence in the East region by aligning market strategy with real-world needs and by making sure the people behind the work feel supported and valued.

Steve Foran
Q&A

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: Meet Arisha Sucheran

Arisha Sucheran, a project manager at Jacobs, moved from South Africa to the Middle East in 2022 to project manage design delivery. Recognized for her outstanding performance, she is a role model for future engineers. Can you tell us about your role? I have toggled between roles of design manager on one of the region’s giga projects and project manager for Jacobs across the entire design scope. There are only a handful of design managers overseeing nearly 12,000 deliverables. My role is to coordinate with the client, contractors and our team to review design inputs and ensure alignment across all disciplines. I began with the marine contracts and have since transitioned into the landside buildings and infrastructure. Can you share your career journey up to this point? I began my career in government, working at the municipal level in South Africa, primarily project managing infrastructure projects for the city of Durban. In 2022, I joined Jacobs in the Middle East, my first seven months were spent on site in Saudi Arabia, where I focused on building relationships, understanding the people I would be working with and getting a feel for the scope. I started in a team of five which has grown to 70. What is your education background and what inspired you to pursue engineering? I studied civil engineering in my hometown of Durban, followed by a master’s degree with a focus on sustainable stormwater engineering. My mother is a professor and my father owns a construction company, so

Arisha Sucheran
aerial town center
Big Questions

How do you regenerate a town center?

"It starts with one simple question: What makes this place this place? Before I talk about new infrastructure or shiny assets, I want to understand the town’s identity: its history, people and pride. When places are struggling, it’s easy to forget they’ve been vibrant before. But there’s always something worth celebrating — local artists, a craft tradition, a regional industry, a story people can rally around. When those elements are embraced, the project gains warmth, meaning and character. Then I look at how we bring life back. Not just for a quick visit, but so people want to stay longer. You need activity on the street at different times of day: a daytime economy and a nighttime economy." "Providing upskilling opportunities for the community is a critical part of that, especially in towns that have gone through industrial change. In Hartlepool, England, we backed an engineering academy, provided training for carers and explored ideas like building a production village to offer vital pre- and post-production support for film and television media. It means students and local people can build careers without leaving town. Safety matters, too. Empty properties and silent streets invite anti-social behavior. Well-lit, well-maintained public spaces provide a space for activities, plus there are opportunities for temporary uses like popup events, clubs or festivals. You still need the basics: transport connections, active travel links and a digital backbone that encourages influence businesses to invest. Even something as simple as better wayfinding, like QR codes that help people discover

Priscila Mauro
High-tech abstract network
Big Questions

How do you match project goals with the right visualization technology?

Some established visualization platforms are fast to deploy but offer limited flexibility and customization potential. Other solutions offer nearly endless flexibility but take time and funding to develop. Many organizations are gravitating toward platforms originally designed for gaming, because they help teams visualize assets and processes in a high engaging and realistic way. Identifying the best visualization platform for a project depends on many factors, including scope and vision, targeted use cases, timeline, budget — and deciding which of those is most important. Jim Kessler supports clients as they navigate these decisions. He empowers them to think critically about the issues and pain points they’re experiencing, leading them through a collaborative dialogue to surface priorities, document their vision, map out key requirements and identify what technologies are available or being developed. This approach establishes a foundation to build an impactful visual media solution that meets their current needs, as well as future capabilities and opportunities. As a child in the 1980s, Jim was fascinated by video games, art and science, spending time programming graphics and games on a trusty Commodore 64 home computer. Later, as an intern architect, he honed his skills using 2D and 3D design software and used his graduate thesis to explore how electronic design methodologies could revolutionize architectural design and construction practices. After joining Jacobs as a graduate architect early in his career, Jim quickly discovered that his strength was in providing visual media solutions for clients. He founded our visual media group soon after. Today

Jim Kessler

  • 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
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