In this episode of the Smart Resilience Podcast, we are joined by Sam Bower, Head of Sustainability for the Natural Environment at Balfour Beatty. With over 25 years’ experience in nature conservation and infrastructure delivery, Sam shares how ecology, biodiversity and nature-based solutions can be embedded into major construction projects — not as an afterthought, but as a core strategic driver.

From childhood experiences in the woods of Kent to working at the frontline of the construction industry, Sam reflects on his journey and explains why integrating nature into business strategy is essential for tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. The conversation explores biodiversity net gain, nature-based solutions for flood resilience, the challenges of quantifying natural systems in commercial decision-making, and why working with nature is key to long-term economic and societal resilience.

Whether you’re a sustainability professional, engineer, policymaker, or simply curious about how nature and infrastructure can coexist, this episode offers practical insights and a hopeful vision for a more nature-positive future.

SmartResilience’s innovative climate adaptation platform gives your organisation the information it needs to adapt to a more resilient future. From flooding and wildfire to tropical cycles and earthquakes, SmartResilience forecasts emerging climate change threats for robust regulatory reporting and informed strategic planning.We help your busiess comply against TCFD and other reporting standards and advance on your climate adaptation journey.Website: https://smartresilience.co.uk/

In this episode, we sit down with James Hubbard, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Greene King, to explore how one of the UK’s most recognized hospitality brands is tackling the challenges of climate resilience and decarbonisation.

James shares his career journey across consultancy, energy, automotive, and international development, and how those experiences inform his work today. He reflects on Greene King’s role at the heart of communities, and the practical realities of managing risks across 1,600 pubs, breweries, and supply chains.

We discuss:

• How business priorities around sustainability have shifted over the past decade.

• Why quantifying climate risk is essential to drive real action.

• The impact of extreme weather on both operations and customer behavior.

• Greene King’s progress in property decarbonisation, circular economy initiatives, and supplier collaboration.

• James’s advice for those starting a career in sustainability.

This conversation highlights the complexity of embedding sustainability across diverse operations, and why building resilience is as much about culture change as it is about technology or strategy.

SmartResilience’s innovative climate adaptation platform gives your organisation the information it needs to adapt to a more resilient future. From flooding and wildfire to tropical cycles and earthquakes, SmartResilience forecasts emerging climate change threats for robust regulatory reporting and informed strategic planning.We help your busiess comply against TCFD and other reporting standards and advance on your climate adaptation journey.

Website: https://www.smartresilience.com

In this episode of the SmartResilience Podcast, Harish speaks with Munish Datta, Director of Sustainability at Specsavers and former architect of M&S’s award-winning Plan A strategy. With roots in Kenya, India, and Europe, Munish brings a global lens to climate leadership, equity, and resilience.

We explore:

• His personal journey—from colonial railways in East Africa to driving ESG at major UK retailers

• How climate adaptation became core to business continuity and design at M&S

• What resilience means in Specsavers’ globally distributed, community-led model

• The emerging risks of heat stress in urban centres and global supply chains

• Why businesses must shift from virtue-signalling to value-driven sustainability in an age of geopolitical uncertainty

Plus, Munish shares a powerful story from Denmark that reminds us sustainability is ultimately about people.

🎙️ A must-listen for sustainability leaders, corporate strategists, and anyone navigating the evolving role of business in a warming world.