Engineers Ireland Amplified

Achieving Ireland's ambitious decarbonisation goals and meeting climate action targets requires massive investment and innovative engineering solutions across the energy sector. This is compounded by the increasing digitisation of our infrastructure and the need to deliver reliable power to a growing economy.

This conversation explores the strategic response to the climate and energy crisis, examining the future makeup of the Irish power system, the explosive growth of solar power, and how data and artificial intelligence are revolutionising asset management. We also look at the evolving role of engineers, the importance of complementary commercial skills, and how to advance your career in the sector.

Joining the discussion is Siobhán McHugh, Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, and the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland. Her experience spans regulation, grid operation, and strategic consulting.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Career progression diverse energy roles
AI data transforming asset management
Solar generation exceeded cost projections
Infrastructure delivery policy advocacy
Human skills complement technical expertise

GUEST DETAILS

Siobhán McHugh is a Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, where she advises clients in the electricity, water, and gas sectors on large-scale digital and energy transformation projects. Her expertise draws heavily on her deep operational background from EirGrid and a regulatory background from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), giving her a rare whole-system view of the industry. She also serves as the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland.

Connect with Siobhán:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS
www.pwc.ie/industries/energy-and-renewables/team.html
Social Media:
www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanmchugh/?originalSubdomain=ie

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

So I'd say a lot of the challenges probably have a hidden positive in them, in that it's an advancement in technology, but it's just about figuring it out. - Siobhán McHugh
You're always working with people, and so that is the piece of experience. I think you need to help build your younger colleagues. - Siobhán McHugh
If I think of solar energy when we would have been modelling it, it was completely different cost basis, solar was quite expensive. That cost has come down now. - Siobhán McHugh

KEYWORDS

#EnergyTransition #IrishGrid #EngineeringCareers #DataAndAI #ClimateAction

Engineering faces housing crisis, climate change crisis and biodiversity crisis simultaneously requiring everyone onboard with diversity of thought for new solutions.

Danny Pio Murphy shares how sustainable swords strategy engaged 800 school children and hundreds of adults through covid restrictions, why plumburroughs greenfield site allowed testing protected cycle infrastructure before design manuals existed, how DBFI Consulting Engineers achieved gold accreditation investors for diversity with 85% inclusivity score, and why half LGBT engineers remain closeted through fear despite marriage equality referendum changing Irish society fundamentally.

The chartered transportation engineer, associate director at DBFL Consulting Engineers and former chair of engineers Ireland inclusion diversity society discusses mentoring graduates through four year development programmes, intelligent mobility hubs coming online Cork Docklands, and why people skills matter as much as technical expertise when moving from engineer to leadership.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Kids want safer routes school cycling tracks greening
• Greenfield sites test new infrastructure before manuals exist
• Half LGBT engineers closeted through fear workplace safety
• Gold diversity accreditation 85% inclusivity score achieved
• Intelligent mobility hubs drone technology electric charging future

GUEST DETAILS

Danny Pio Murphy is chartered transportation engineer and associate director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, leading sustainable Swords strategy transforming town into 100,000 person city and plumburroughs strategic development zone creating 23,000 residents with 25,000 jobs. 

A former LGBT activist for nine years giving wellbeing lectures across Ireland and UK, he chaired Engineers Ireland inclusion diversity society and helped DBFL achieve gold accreditation investors for diversity held by only 28 organisations nationally. 

His achievements include pioneering protected cycle infrastructure before Irish design manuals existed, increasing company female representation from low base to quarter over five years, and mentoring graduates through four year chartership development programmes whilst supporting diversity networks across 30 nationalities.

Connect with Danny:

• PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS
   Website:  www.dbfl.ie
• Social Media:
   www.linkedin.com/in/dannypiomurphy/?originalSubdomain=ie 

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? 

Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• "We're facing a great challenge here in engineering, because we're facing a housing crisis, a climate change crisis, biodiversity crisis. We need everyone on board to help us with that, and we need different points of views and a diversity of thought for new solutions. - Danny Pio Murphy
• The kids were saying that they want safer routes to school, cycle tracks. They wanted more public transport and actually more greening around our town as well. They were very environmentally conscious. They wanted more seating areas and greening. It was really good to hear that. They're always so positive. - Danny Pio Murphy
• There's a lot of things that we as engineers can see on paper and we're following standards, but the local knowledge is indispensable at times, and you can include that in your designs. - Danny Pio Murphy
• We got gold accreditation in investors for diversity by Irish Centre for diversity. It's only held by 28 organisations in the country. - Danny Pio Murphy
• "My first job interview, I had LGBT on my CV. The person doing the interview didn't read my CV, and when they got there, they stopped for 10 seconds in silence, and they were very uncomfortable seeing that I was an LGBT activist and I didn't get the job. - Danny Pio Murphy

KEYWORDS

#SustainableTransport #DiversityInEngineering #LGBTEngineers #IntelligentMobility #CycleInfrastructure

Construction sector faces urgent decarbonisation challenge whilst Ireland maintains only 11% women in engineering unchanged since 2011 despite ambitious housing and infrastructure targets requiring diverse workforce expansion.

Susan McGarry, Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem pioneering low carbon concrete company, explains journey from Greenpeace member receiving Rainbow Warrior dolphin pictures to becoming youngest MD at 30 years old, how ACT advanced cement technology reduces clinker from 85% to under 30% achieving 600 kilos CO2 savings per tonne, why Irish regulatory system lacks assessment route for new low carbon materials despite ambitious National Development Plan targets, and how cancer diagnosis at 34 prompted reflection on policy passion over operational leadership.

With expertise spanning technical concrete troubleshooting through European policy advocacy and member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, Susan shares practical advice on visibility without egotism, why nice girls who don't ask get nothing, and how senior management diversity influences maternity leave, IVF cover and bereavement policies attracting retaining women throughout career pipeline.

 THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Low carbon cement ACT reduces clinker eighty five percent
• Irish regulatory system lacks assessment route new materials
• Women engineering eleven percent unchanged since two thousand eleven
• Visibility senior management influences hiring maternity IVF policies
• Cancer diagnosis thirty four prompted policy passion reflection

GUEST DETAILS

Susan McGarry is Managing Director for Ireland at Ecocem, pioneering company developing low carbon concrete, expertly handling concrete procurement rules and public affairs guiding construction industry toward ambitious climate targets whilst scaling sustainable building solutions across Ireland. Passionate advocate for diversity as prominent woman in structures and construction sector historically low on female engineers, she uses platform driving inclusion highlighting systemic barriers women face from cultural challenges to logistical issues like accessible female bathrooms on construction sites. 

Member of Engineers Ireland Women in Engineering Group, she joined Ecocem as environmental services intern in 2011 becoming youngest MD at 30 years old in 2020, now serving as Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability for Ecocem Global after cancer diagnosis prompted career reflection focusing on policy passion over operational leadership spanning European officials and global partnerships.

Connect with Susan McGarry:

• Website: https://www.ecocemglobal.com/en-ie/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mcgarry-73582542/?originalSubdomain=ie
• Ecocem Global

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• There's still not enough women to see it on mass as a career choice. I think visually, it still looks quite male dominated, and that is off putting. My personal kind of goal would have always been to like help increase the visibility at senior management level for women in engineering, women in construction.  - Susan McGarry
• The state is the biggest consumer of concrete in this country. We do have procurement rules now where 30% clinker substitution is required. That's not super ambitious but we've gone from nothing to something.  - Susan McGarry
• I had a decision to be a generalist or specialist at about 26. The Chairman of Ecocem said I did this course in UCD in industrial engineering in 1965, it turned engineers into CEOs. You should have a look at that.  - Susan McGarry
• You get nothing if you don't ask, and if you don't have confidence, you kind of fake it. By being an open person to opportunities and being a helpful person that you'll take on workload.  - Susan McGarry
• When I graduated as an engineer in 2011, 11% of the engineering population was made up of women. In 2025 it's still only 11%. It has not changed. That's a very small percentage. When you want a network, you do need a network. You need somebody that you can pick up a phone to that's kind of like minded. Women in Engineering Group created that network.

KEYWORDS

LowCarbonCement #WomenInEngineering #SustainableConstruction #PolicyAdvocacy #CareerProgression

Successfully transitioning from university to a professional engineering career is a critical moment for any graduate, and the application process requires strategic preparation beyond just academic competence.

Many students struggle to understand what employers truly seek in a new engineer and how to showcase their potential effectively.

This episode unlocks the secrets to a standout graduate application, sharing direct insights on core soft skills like communication and teamwork, the role of mentorship, and the career growth trajectory within leading firms.

Learn about the value of different-sized companies, from large-scale multi-office execution to a hands-on, personal approach, and the importance of professional development and diversity initiatives. Host Dusty Rhodes is joined by two exceptional industry leaders: Michelle O'Hagan, Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, and Bill Bates, Director at DBFL.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Why graduate programs are essential
Big vs small company advantages
Soft skills employers demand now
Successful career progression examples
How to make your application stand out

GUEST DETAILS

Michelle O’Hagan is the Group Graduate Recruitment Manager at PM Group, a leading global project management and engineering company known for delivering complex capital projects worldwide. She manages the full graduate recruitment lifecycle across PM Group’s international offices, ensuring the company attracts top emerging talent. Michelle's extensive experience, including prior roles at Deloitte UK and Citi Bank, makes her an expert in understanding what drives success in early engineering careers.

Bill Bates is a Director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, one of Ireland's leading civil, structural, and transportation consultancies. Bill is responsible for overseeing the Civil Engineering team and has extensive experience in the design and delivery of major infrastructure and development projects across the country. As a Director, Bill is deeply involved in DBFL's Graduate Development Programme and the career progression of their staff, making him a key resource for understanding the pathways to Chartered Engineer status and professional success within the Irish engineering sector.

Connect with AMPLIFIED

Website: engineersireland.ie
Search podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

Confidence, talking about themselves, talking about their other aspects, their engineering career is only at the start, so they have very little to talk about in that. But I want to know what they've done to date. Tell me about themselves. - Bill Bates

The actual programme itself is a two year programme, but it runs in parallel with your job. So you're permanent from day one, you don't have to re-interview for a role on completion of the programme, which a lot of graduate programmes in our industry does. - Michelle O'Hagan 

Be confident in your own ability, but be able to show humility and be able to listen to all others perspectives. - Bill Bates

Communication going into project management, being a strong and effective communicator is essential. Being clear, concise and well structured  - Ena O'Driscoll

KEYWORDS

#EngineeringGraduates #GraduateProgramme #CareerDevelopment #SoftSkills #StandoutCV

Leaving Certificate students have an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse realities of an engineering career and discover practical strategies for success as they fill out their upcoming CAO forms.

Ena O'Driscoll, Mechanical Engineering student at MTU Cork and Student Ambassador at PM Group, alongside Sean Ryan, Automation Engineering student at SETU and Student Engineer at Jabil, share their university experiences with host Dusty Rhodes. Early STEM encouragement, fostered through school programs and family ties, significantly influences career choices. 

The discussion highlights the importance of paid internships for developing real-world problem-solving skills and building an invaluable CV. Finally, it offers practical advice for creating standout applications by emphasizing leadership roles, volunteering, and project work, while also stressing the need to balance academic demands with societal involvement through networking and mentorship via groups like the Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Engineering career choice STEM encouragement
Paid internships practical experience benefits
CV building leadership & volunteering standout
Time management balancing studies & activities
CAO strategy Level 7 & Level 8 options

GUEST DETAILS

Ena O'Driscoll is a Mechanical Engineering Student at Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork. Ena is an excellent example of maximising university studies by actively engaging with industry. She gained valuable professional experience through an internship and placement with PM Group, a leading international project delivery firm. Following her successful placement, Ena has continued her association with the company and the wider engineering community by serving as a Student Ambassador at PM Group, demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting engineering and bridging the gap between academia and professional life.

Sean Ryan is an Automation Engineering Student at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford. Sean is currently applying his technical expertise as a Student Engineer at Jabil, a global manufacturing services company. He possesses a strong academic background complemented by valuable practical experience, including previous work as a controls engineer at Integer. Sean is highly engaged within his university community, having served as a peer-to-peer mentor and senior mentor to support first-year engineering students. Sean is also Chairperson of the Young engineer society south east. Hailing from a farming background, Sean brings a unique perspective to problem-solving and engineering challenges. Outside of his studies and work, Sean is an active rugby player for both his college team and a local club.  

Connect with AMPLIFIED

Website: engineersireland.ie
Search podcast player: "AMPLIFIED" or "Engineers Ireland"
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? 
Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

My secondary school was actually really good in terms of promoting STEM. Every couple of weeks we'd have different people come in and talk about different areas - Ena O'Driscoll

I'm on currently working as a controls and automation engineer student for Jabil healthcare, which is ideal because it's only two minutes walk from my college and I'm able to go in there part time and the hours are flexible which is amazing  - Sean Ryan

We were given real work to work on from day one.  It started with helping other engineers, carried out a study. We were able to find that quadrant that was the problem and implement that change.- Sean Ryan

I've always enjoyed Maths, Physics, anything problem solving wise. I've always wanted to be an engineer since probably around 14. I interviewed one of my dad's best friends who's a civil engineer. I got into the mechanical side because of my godfather.  - Ena O'Driscoll

KEYWORDS

Engineering studies, STEM promotion, student engineers, automation engineering, mechanical engineering, industry experience, internships

Two recent engineering graduates, Jennifer Smith (Manufacturing Operations Engineer) and Denis Hardi (Graduate Commissioning Engineer), share essential advice for students considering engineering. 

They emphasise that internships are vital for discovering career preferences across diverse fields like pharma and civil engineering, making the flexibility of the degree its greatest asset. 

Their key message is that curiosity and resilience matter more than loving mathematics, as engineering fundamentally relies on problem-solving. 

They also stress that networking through groups like the Young Engineers Society provides crucial leadership opportunities and connections.

The graduates provided practical insights on career growth, highlighting rotational programmes as the best way to gain broad experience (quality, global roles) and understand facility operations. They advised students on navigating early career decisions and underlined the necessity of establishing work-life balance by setting boundaries. 

Overall, the discussion offers an encouraging view of the modern engineering profession, stressing that the career path is highly adaptable to individual interests and goals.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Internships shape careers through pharmaceutical supply, precision engineering, civil engineering, material science hands-on experience discovering preferences.

Engineering degree flexibility enables pharmaceutical, automotive, medical device aerospace careers with curious minds shaping any industry choice. 

Networking through Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society provides leadership opportunities professional connections across counties and internationally. 

STEM subjects are important but curiosity and resilience matter more than loving mathematics with problem-solving training and multiple solution approaches.

Graduate rotational programmes offer quality global roles and multiple facilities whilst a work-life balance requires setting boundaries with compensation.

GUEST DETAILS

Jennifer Smith (AbbVie): Manufacturing Operations Engineer and University of Galway graduate with a distinguished academic record. Her career shows the flexibility of an engineering degree, covering pharmaceutical manufacturing, materials, and civil engineering.

Denis Hardi (H&MV): Graduate Commissioning Engineer and TUS graduate, who has held significant leadership roles including Founder of the South East Young Engineers Society and Senior Vice President of Internal Relations for Young European Engineers. His work includes international commissioning projects in Norway and Finland.

CONNECT WITH AMPLIFIED:

Website: engineersireland.ie
Search podcast player: AMPLIFIED Engineers Ireland
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever you get podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? 
Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

Opportunities are truly limitless with an engineering degree. If you have a curious mind, you can shape your career to be any sort of industry you want. – Jennifer Smith. 

I'm actually based in Finland now on site working on a substation project. I was in Norway before this. I never expected to be travelling around the world, it is a rich experience. – Denis Hardi. 

Internships will really shape the way you take your career. I did internships across pharmaceutical, precision, civil, and material science. Getting internships is a great way to have a better idea of what you want to do once you finish college. – Jennifer Smith. 

Internships give you rich experience showing what you study might or might not be applicable. I worked on combined heat and power, microchips, photonics research, and technical sales, giving me an idea of how it is to work on site and in the lab. – Denis Hardi.

KEYWORDS

Engineering degree, career transition, internships, problem-solving, work-life balance, networking,
professional growth,

Managing billion-euro construction projects across multiple continents requires more than technical expertise—it demands strategic planning that can unite diverse teams around complex, evolving designs. 

From Formula One theme parks in Dubai's desert heat to Sweden's groundbreaking European Spallation Source research facility, construction planning specialist Enda Grimes has spent two decades mastering the art of breaking massive projects into manageable pieces. 

Now leading his own consultancy Strata, he reveals how digital rehearsals, AI-powered data analytics, and one often-overlooked foundational skill are transforming how Europe's largest construction projects come to life

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How breaking mega construction projects into smaller, team-owned pieces enables successful delivery.
• Why engineering principles provide the strongest foundation for strategic time planning.
• How using digital rehearsals BIM models can safely plan logistics before physical execution on site
• How AI and data management are transforming construction planning
• Why communication skills and practical site experience matter for career advancement 
• The value of international experience and cultural adaptability in engineering career progression

GUEST DETAILS

Enda Grimes is Director and Owner of Strata, a construction planning consultancy he founded in 2016 that manages projects valued up to €2 billion. His career spans some of Europe's most complex construction projects, including serving as Head Planner for Skanska on the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden—the world's largest research facility of its kind—where he developed contract programs for this state-of-the-art super-microscope facility. Previously, Enda spent over five years as Planning and Bid Manager with John Paul Construction/Absal Paul in Dublin, leading strategic technical submissions and commercial strategies. 

His international experience includes planning the $600M Formula One Theme Park in Dubai and the €145M Criminal Courts Complex PPP in Dublin with PJ Hegarty & Sons. Enda specializes in translating complex construction requirements into executable plans using cutting-edge planning, modeling, and visualization technology.

Connect with Enda:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS
Website:  https://stratadigital.io/

Social Media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/enda-grimes-86539a25/?originalSubdomain=ie

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• Engineering is a really good base for time planning, and if you can understand the technical challenges and relate that to time, you know, you get a lot of respect. - Enda Grimes
• It's made up of multiple project teams. If you're able to isolate each component piece to the individual project teams and let them deal with them on a project by project basis, it's a lot easier. – Enda Grimes
• What is a digital rehearsal? It's about building something digitally and rehearsing it and then putting it in practice in real life... the whole purpose is to plan out those works in a safe manner, to make sure that it works.  - Enda Grimes
• I learned that sometimes to be Irish is a good thing in international projects because we're good at talking. We're probably have a good way about us with people, and you're able to bring different cultures together. - Enda Grimes
• I think practical experience is really important actually. There is a shortcoming in our education process at the moment. It's too theoretical, and that connection to industry is lost. - Enda Grimes

KEYWORDS
#Engineering principles #strategicplanning #constructionprojects #FormulaOnethemepark #Europeanspallationsource #projectexecution #timemanagement #digital tools #BIM #digitalrehearsal #communicationskills #career progression #internationalexperience #practicalexperience #leadership 

When Rana Plaza collapsed in Bangladesh killing over 1,200 garment workers in April 2013, two Irish engineers found themselves at the centre of literally redefining global worker safety standards. 

Aidan Madden from Arup and Colm Quinn, now Head of Operations for the International Accord, reveal how they developed "optimal ignorance" methodology assessing 2,500+ factories at unprecedented scale, why poor concrete quality and overdevelopment caused the tragedy, and how training local engineers to think about existing buildings (not blank-sheet designs) represents a universal engineering challenge. 

From paper-based inspections to iPad workflows managing 140,000 safety findings, discover the technical rigour behind transparent remediation programmes that fundamentally changed how engineers approach ethical practice in global supply chains.

 THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How Rana Plaza's catastrophic collapse in April 2013 killed over 1,200 people from overdevelopment. 
• Why Arup developed "optimal ignorance" methodology focusing exclusively on critical life-safety elements 
• How the International Accord inspected over 2,000 Bangladesh factories identifying 140,000 individual health and safety findings, with 115,000 subsequently corrected 
• Why training local engineers to assess existing buildings represents a universal engineering problem requiring mindset shifts beyond Asia-specific contexts
• How digital workflows transformed paper-based inspections into scalable remediation programmes 

GUEST DETAILS

Aidan Madden is a Chartered Civil/Structural Engineer with over twenty years' experience at global firm Arup, leading complex, impactful projects worldwide. Following the catastrophic Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Aidan became a pivotal member of Arup's leadership team developing and implementing structural safety assessment methodology for the original Bangladesh Accord. 

This monumental effort required creating standardised yet highly rigorous technical frameworks to rapidly assess structural integrity of over 2,500 garment factories—demanding first-principles engineering judgement at unprecedented speed and scale. 

His work proved instrumental in identifying and remediating high-risk structural, electrical and fire hazards, effectively codifying ethical engineering practice for an entire global industry. For his extraordinary contribution to safety and social responsibility through engineering, Aidan received the prestigious Engineers Ireland International Engineer of the Year Award.

Colm Quinn is Head of Operations for the International Accord, a legally binding agreement focused on securing safe and healthy garment and textile industries worldwide. Leading implementation and operational rollout of Accord programmes across multiple countries including Pakistan expansion, Colm manages technical capacity-building initiatives training local engineers—structural, fire and electrical specialists—on rigorous safety standards necessary for factory inspections and remediation. 

Bringing strong high-level engineering foundations from previous work as Associate at global engineering firm Arup, Colm's career trajectory represents the crucial shift from developing pioneering safety frameworks to successfully scaling and sustaining them across global industries. His operational leadership ensures that technical rigour developed in Bangladesh translates effectively to new markets whilst empowering local engineering teams.

Connect with the guests:

• Aidan Madden LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aidan-madden-91ab3a23
• Colm Quinn LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colm-g-quinn
• International Accord: internationalaccord.org
• Arup: arup.com

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• The fundamental problem was that a building which was designed to be a five story building, and by the time it collapsed in April of 2013 it was a nine storey building. So it had been overdeveloped. They had put on additional floors beyond what it had been designed for. You have a building which is heavier than it's supposed to be, and with concrete which is weaker than it should have been. - Aidan Madden
• There's kind of a bit of an art and a bit of science to this. We need to spend the time that we need to do the assessment, but we have to be able to do it at scale. A colleague of mine had a great phrase which we reused today: optimal ignorance. It's like, what do you really, really need to know to allow you to define the actions, to define the meaningful things that will happen after your visit to make those buildings safer. - Aidan Madden
• The programme is quite unique in that it's dealing with existing buildings. There's no code that I know where existing buildings are front and foremost. This is a problem not just in Asia. Engineers need to be retrained or refocused to deal with existing buildings. It's not a Bangladesh problem. It's not a Pakistan problem, it's an engineering problem - Colm Quinn
• The Accord, combined with the RSC in Bangladesh, inspected over 2,000 factories and have identified over 140,000 individual health and safety findings, and of those, over 115,000 have been corrected. - Colm Quinn

KEYWORDS

#RanaPlaza #workersafety #InternationalAccord #structuralengineering #ethicalengineering

Brendan Kearns is a former chartered engineer at eircom who shares remarkable stories from our connected world in his new book Evolution of Telecommunications. 

From Bell's accidental discovery of the telephone while trying to improve telegraph systems to Ireland's transformation from 50% manual exchanges in 1979 to today's fiber networks, Brendan reveals the engineering breakthroughs that built modern communications. His comprehensive guide traces the path from Morse code to AI and quantum computing, sharing tales of underwater cable failures that led to heat equation breakthroughs, why an undertaker invented automatic switching, and the cybersecurity challenges facing today's networks. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How the telephone was accidentally invented
• Why Ireland's telephone infrastructure was decades behind in 1979
• The engineering challenges of laying the first transatlantic cables
• How automatic telephone switches were invented by an undertaker
• Why successful engineering leadership requires small collaborative teams
• The cybersecurity threats facing modern telecom networks

Connect with Brendan:

Book: "Evolution of Telecommunications" available on Amazon.ie
https://www.amazon.ie/EVOLUTION-TELECOMMUNICATIONS-Brendan-Michael-Kearns/dp/1068201509

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• We engineers, we're very inquisitive people. We do like to break things from time to time. That's necessary, but then you have to fix them afterwards. - Brendan Kearns
• Sometimes practice can come before theory. You can't wait for the theory to be written first. You gotta do things to make things happen. - Brendan Kearns
• The telephone was invented by Bell in 1876, but he wasn't trying to invent the phone - he was trying to improve the telegraph. - Brendan Kearns
• Engineering is the art of giving something flesh, in my opinion. - Brendan Kearns
• I always like to work on small teams, no more than four or five people, where everybody is completely engaged and where everybody is honest with what they know and don't know. - Brendan Kearns

KEYWORDS
#telecommunications, #engineering, #innovation, #cybersecurity, #career-transition  

In this episode of Amplified, Dusty Rhodes is joined by Eamon Daly, Director at Egis Engineering Ireland, to explore the realities of delivering Ireland’s most vital infrastructure. 

From motorways and tunnels to Luas extensions and the future of MetroLink, Eamon shares stories from over 27 years in engineering. He explains the challenges of balancing deadlines, budgets, sustainability, and resources — while also highlighting the career opportunities for the next generation of engineers. 

Packed with insights on leadership, mentorship, and the future of transport in Ireland, this conversation offers a rare inside look at how critical national projects are brought to life.

 THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

•  How major road and transport projects in Ireland are planned, designed, and delivered
•  Lessons from major infrastructure builds — Dublin Tunnel, Jack Lynch Tunnel, Luas, and MetroLink.
•  Overcoming geotechnical challenges: peat, karst, and precision bridge engineering.
•  Balancing deadlines, budgets, and sustainability on mega-projects.
•  Resource challenges — why Ireland needs more engineers and international expertise.
•  The value of mentorship, varied experience, and networking for career growth.
•  Future-proofing skills: opportunities in transport, rail, and sustainable infrastructure.

GUEST DETAILS
 

Eamon Daly is a Director at Egis in Ireland and Barry Transportation - now Egis. Eamon has over 25 years' experience, specialising in Transportation and Traffic Engineering. 

Notable projects he has completed work on include Luas Finglas, N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom and N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

• Sustainability needs to come into all projects – it’s business as usual now - Eamon Daly.
• Good mentorship is vital. You’re going to make mistakes, but there’s always a solution and it’s never as bad as you think - Eamon Daly
• Ireland has great projects and mega projects ahead – it’s a fantastic time to be a young engineer - Eamon Daly.
• Networking outside your organisation is always useful – we’re constantly talking to consultants, contractors and clients to see what’s coming next - Eamon Daly.
• I’ve always stayed involved in design because it’s something I really enjoy – even while leading and managing teams - Eamon Daly

KEYWORDS

#Engineering #Infrastructure #Ireland #Transport #Sustainability #CivilEngineering #MetroLink #Luas #Motorways #Tunnels #Egis #EngineersIreland #CareerInEngineering #FutureOfTransport