Insights for what's next

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

475 items
Aerial View of Two Environmental engineers work at wastewater treatment plants
Big Questions

How can utilities build maintenance teams that deliver long-term value?

John Loucks-Powell brings an experienced hand to Operations Management and Facilities Services (OMFS) with a focus on the challenges our clients face every day: aging infrastructure, rising operational demands and the pressure to keep essential water and wastewater systems running without interruption. With 45 years in utility operations and maintenance, John brings the knowledge to help clients strengthen the reliability and performance of their critical water and wastewater infrastructure — the backbone of the communities they serve. A foundation in skilled trades John’s career began in the skilled trades, spending 20 years developing expertise in industrial maintenance, machinery installation and precision mechanical work. His experience shaped his commitment to safety, craftsmanship and operational integrity, which continues to influence how he strengthens essential infrastructure. Leading one of the nation’s most complex wastewater systems Before joining Jacobs, John spent more than a decade at one of California’s largest municipal utility agencies, managing a highly complex combined sewer system and leading a team of 135 across technical and operational disciplines. He oversaw the health and safety program, the maintenance budget and played a key role in major capital work — including a sewer system improvement program and biosolids digester facilities project — helping the team work more safely and manage resources more effectively. He also drove the early adoption of mobile and reliability-centered maintenance technologies to help operators identify issues earlier, respond faster and make more informed decisions about where to invest time and resources. Delivering excellence at Jacobs John joined Jacobs in

John Loucks-Powell
cyber security
Big Questions

How can organizations secure operational technology without disrupting operations?

Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity sits at the intersection of complex systems, evolving threats and zero tolerance for downtime. Many organizations, even those with mature IT security programs, struggle to understand what’s really happening inside their OT environments. That lack of visibility makes it difficult to manage risk, meet regulatory expectations and confidently modernize critical infrastructure. Jacobs’ Senior Director for OT Cybersecurity Solutions Steve Hiser works with clients to bring clarity to that uncertainty. His consultative approach starts with listening — understanding how facilities operate, what risks are acceptable and where production, safety and cybersecurity priorities intersect. From there, he helps clients build practical, phased strategies that strengthen security without putting operations at risk. A key challenge Steve sees across industries is visibility. Without a clear picture of assets, networks and interdependencies across IT and OT, organizations are effectively flying blind. Steve helps clients establish that foundational insight so they can make informed decisions, protect critical systems and plan for the future with confidence. What motivates Steve most is helping organizations navigate what he calls the ‘perfect storm’ of OT cybersecurity: operational continuity, regulatory pressure, occupational safety and infrastructure modernization. By bringing together cross-functional experts and trusted partners, he helps clients turn complexity into actionable progress — at any stage of cybersecurity maturity. Steve’s work is rooted in long-term relationships, not transactions. He believes the most effective solutions come from collaboration, curiosity and trust — both with clients and across our teams at Jacobs.

Steve Hiser
Electric substation at dusk
Big Questions

How can energy providers navigate complex regulations to strengthen the power grid?

Dan Laubenthal’s passion for meteorology, weather systems and environmental science led him to a career in permitting and siting. Today he uses his passion to benefit energy clients as he works across a wide variety of transmission, renewable energy and utility operations projects designed to bolster the future of the nation’s power grid. As Jacobs’ Transmission and Distribution Market Lead, Dan helps clients understand and plan for the complexities of siting facilities, permitting, and navigating regulatory and environmental compliance. Dan joined Jacobs after working for one of the country’s largest investor-owned utilities, which also owns the largest transmission grid in North America. His utility experience brings a deep understanding of the challenges our clients face — from regulatory uncertainty and environmental impacts to stakeholder engagement and cost management. He’s built a broad network across the transmission and distribution industry, and his background in siting and permitting helps him anticipate challenges early, align teams and demonstrate how Jacobs delivers resilient energy infrastructure. Dan’s collaborative, multidisciplinary approach — which integrates environmental, engineering and stakeholder groups — is crucial for the complex and critical nature of the projects he supports. Building energy infrastructure, like transmission lines, substations and distribution networks, can span years from concept to completion so integrating teams at the forefront helps reduce risk and increase efficiency. Dan knows that transmission and distribution are central to the future of energy and works to provide support for energy companies building vital infrastructure to help move and balance energy supply. His work ultimately

Dan Laubenthal
Water treatment facility with multiple tanks and filtration systems
Big Questions

How can municipalities address emerging contaminant concerns in biosolids?

With over three decades in environmental services and a singular focus on biosolids management, Drew has become a trusted leader in one of the most challenging areas of the wastewater industry. As a biosolids specialist for Jacobs’ wastewater operations portfolio, he combines technical know-how, strategic insight and practical solutions to guide an industry that continues to evolve and struggles with increasing disposal costs and emerging contaminant concerns. A career built on residuals and results Drew’s decades-long journey in the biosolids field includes leadership roles at some of the nation’s largest residual management firms specializing in biosolids and industrial sludge. This history and knowledge connect him to a unique group of people who have a specialized skill set for solving biosolids challenges. With this diverse experience — from dewatering and disposal to beneficial reuse and Class A marketing — Drew has established himself in every facet of the biosolids lifecycle. His philosophy is straightforward: apply best practices while driving efficiency. Whether it’s optimizing field surveys for pre-operational planning or developing creative reuse strategies for dredge materials, Drew’s approach is always rooted in measurable, real-world results. Business acumen meets environmental expertise With a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Delaware, Drew translates complex processes into strategic opportunities. His background enables him to clearly communicate the value of biosolids programs to various stakeholders — from municipal clients to consulting engineers. Combining practical field knowledge with strong analytical skills, he has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in residuals management operations

Drew Mearns
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
wastewater treatment plant
Big Questions

How can water and wastewater utilities achieve long-term sustainability?

Sustainability is no longer optional — it’s essential. Jacobs’ Lead Sustainability Specialist Dawn Lesley has dedicated over three decades to shaping how communities, industries and municipalities manage their most vital resource: water. Dawn’s experience combines technical expertise, visionary leadership and a values-driven approach to deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits across North America. A career rooted in sustainability Dawn earned a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Chicago and a master’s in bioresource engineering from Oregon State University, along with credentials as a professional environmental engineer. From the start, her focus has been clear: reduce waste, optimize processes and create ecologically responsible systems that minimize ratepayer costs. Pioneering energy initiatives Prior to joining Jacobs, Dawn initiated sustainability programs that pushed the boundaries of traditional engineering. She developed waste-to-energy initiatives, planned long-range infrastructure investments and identified opportunities for energy efficiency, renewable energy development and effluent reuse. The programs helped wastewater plants across the country achieve an average of 7% in annual energy savings, with one plant reaching 23%. Her influence spans more than 100 water and wastewater facilities, where she’s driven reductions in energy waste, improved effluent quality and fostered long-term operational resilience. Leading change at Jacobs As lead sustainability specialist for Jacobs’ Operations Management and Facilities Services practice, Dawn is driving innovation across water, wastewater, industrial and municipal facilities in North America. She trains operators, identifies efficiency opportunities, implements new technologies and fosters culture change to be sure sustainability is not just a technical upgrade, but a long-lasting mindset

Dawn Lesley
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

Driving Innovative, Trusted Water Solutions: Meet Stephanie Harrison

From engineering to sales and now a design-build practice leader, Stephanie Harrison is well-versed in the varied facets of project delivery and understanding client needs. Stephanie started her career in Jacobs’ water group in Phoenix, Arizona working on planning, environmental and conveyance projects. Her passion for hands-on design and construction led her back to her home state of Colorado, where she played a key role in large-scale conveyance and design-build initiatives — deepening her technical foundation while building strong client relationships. As her career evolved, Stephanie stepped into a geographic sales manager role, where she championed Jacobs’ full spectrum of services — from digital solutions to transportation and environmental projects. Now, with over 27 years of experience, she’s leading the charge as a practice lead for owner advisor services and design for design-build in the water design-build group, combining her engineering know-how with a deep understanding of client priorities to drive innovative, trusted solutions across the water sector. Tell us about your new role at Jacobs. What excites you most? We’re seeing a clear shift in the water sector — more and more clients are looking for support in owner advisory and design services tailored for design-build delivery. I’m working with clients to navigate complex delivery models with confidence, clarity and the right expertise at the right time. We’re taking lessons learned from transportation and other parts of our business where we regularly deliver design for design-build services and bring that knowledge and experience to our water clients. With design

Stephanie Harrison
Q&A

Streamlining and Collaborating for Smart, Sustainable Solutions: Meet Lynette Baker

Lynette Baker is a dynamic leader who seamlessly blends environmental experience with strategic business acumen. With over 30 years in the environmental industry — including 25 at Jacobs — Lynette has earned a reputation as a trusted leader, shaping policy and infrastructure, steering operations and driving strategic initiatives, all while championing our most valuable asset: our people. She prides herself on being known as a dedicated and inspiring leader who can bring the right teams together using limited resources and creating extraordinary results. Her influence extends far beyond technical excellence. Recognized seven times in the past eight years by Engineering Georgia as one of the “100 Influential Women to Know,” Lynette’s career reflects a rare combination of technical depth, visionary leadership and a passion for people. From the field to the frontlines Lynette’s journey began in the wilds of the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska in 1995, shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Colgate University. Starting as a fisheries biologist, she quickly transitioned into wetland science — a move that launched a career spanning continents and disciplines. Since joining Jacobs in 1999, Lynette has built a robust technical foundation — conducting wetland delineations, endangered species surveys and cultural resource investigations across the U.S. and Europe. Her career evolved from environmental compliance into operational leadership, where she managed performance units and oversaw profit and loss as the transportation infrastructure operations leader in Georgia. She later moved into strategic sales, securing millions of dollars in contracts

Lynette Baker
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.

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
Natural capital
Report

Toward a nature positive future for the water sector

This paper explores how a natural capital approach that − framing nature as a core business asset − helps water utilities make informed decisions, manage environmental risks and enhance sustainability. It shares lessons from the U.K.’s policy and practice landscape and offers specific recommendations for water utilities in ANZ.

  • 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. 

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    Future-Foundations