Transform – Tomorrow’s thinking, today

In this episode of Transform, Asem Zabin (Executive Advisor – Data & Insights, GHD) is joined by Jessica Talisman (Knowledge Graph and Ontology Specialist) to discuss the challenge of turning infrastructure data into trusted, actionable intelligence.

As organisations invest in AI, many expect larger volumes of data to deliver better outcomes. We discuss why that expectation often falls short and examine how the quality, context and relationships within information shape the performance of AI systems.

Drawing on Jessica's experience in ontologies, knowledge management and knowledge graphs, we explore practical ways organisations can strengthen the information foundations that support AI. The conversation covers information discoverability, governance, digital twins and the value of a shared vocabulary across complex organisations. We also discuss why building organisational capability remains critical alongside technology investment. 

The discussion examines how infrastructure owners can build confidence in the information that supports operational decisions. It offers a practical perspective on creating connected knowledge, improving insight and gaining greater value from existing data assets.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here: https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

Theresa Wells (NZ Transport Agency Relationship Manager, GHD) and Asem Zabin (Executive Advisor, GHD) join Juan Martinez (Digital Engineering Lead, Tauranga City Council) to explore the growing pressure on infrastructure asset owners to do more with less while managing ageing networks and rising community expectations.

Drawing on our work with Tauranga City Council, we look at what it takes to move beyond fragmented data and build the capability to act on it. We unpack the shift from simply collecting information to strengthening the governance, culture and data literacy needed to treat asset data as a critical operational advantage.

This conversation highlights how stronger organisational capability unlocks better visibility, improves collaboration across teams and supports more resilient decision-making. We also look ahead to what this means for asset owners, and where affordability, scale and integrated thinking will shape the future of infrastructure management.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here: https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

What does it take to move mine closure from a compliance exercise to a genuine opportunity for long-term community value?

In the second part of this Transform conversation, GHD’s Dave Clark and Mary Kelly go deeper, exploring how organisations can better integrate social considerations into closure planning and what it really means to create lasting benefits beyond mining.

They discuss:

• Why social closure should be treated as a core design input from day one
• The role of transparency, open data and shared decision-making in building trust
• How community expectations are evolving from participation to ownership and equity
• Practical approaches to repurposing infrastructure and shaping post-mining land use

The episode highlights how the success of mine closure will be shaped by the relationships, decisions and conversations built over time.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here: https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

Mine closure has long been seen as the final chapter but what if it’s the storyline that should shape decisions from the very beginning?

In this episode of Transform, GHD’s Dave Clark and Mary Kelly explore the evolving expectations around mine closure and site transitions. From the importance of starting earlier to the growing role of communities in shaping outcomes, they discuss why legacy is becoming just as important as production.

Together, they explore:

• Why closure needs to be embedded across the full mining lifecycle
• How trust, transparency and continuity influence long-term outcomes
• The shift towards meaningful community involvement and co-decision making
• Why social data and engagement are as critical as technical planning

The conversation demonstrates that mine closure today is about co-creating a future that communities can stand behind.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here: https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

Keeping data in the heart of AI adoption  

AI is reshaping how organisations generate insights from their data, changing both processes and expectations. But how do leaders make the business case for AI while managing risk in safety-critical environments?  

GHD’s Tom Bedeman (Data Insights Business Group Leader) and Jon Jarritt (Data & Insights Market Leader) return in the final part of this three-part series to discuss how to navigate this AI shift.  

Some organisations are already investing in multiple AI tools intended to accelerate performance. But done too quickly, this can introduce new risks across their systems and decision-making. There is a clear momentum for organisations to join this AI journey and progress does not need to come at the expense of safety.  

By putting data first — clarifying meaning and strengthening data — organisations can position themselves to adopt AI in a way that suits their operations and risk profile. 

Listen to the final episode of our three-part series on putting data at the heart of the AI revolution.  

Find out more about Transform by GHD here:

https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

Modernising legacy systems: Is AI the answer?

We rely on applications to turn data into insight. Over time, organisations have invested in new platforms to modernise these applications. While this approach has delivered benefits, especially when it comes to legacy applications, it’s also introduced new challenges.

In this episode of Transform, we explore how the industry tackles these shifts. GHD’s Tom Bedeman (Data Insights Business Group Leader) and Jon Jarritt (Data & Insights Market Leader) unpack why technology alone rarely fixes data challenges. From platforms layered over legacy systems to automation powered by AI, they explore why insight still breaks down when data lacks clarity and shared meaning.

AI is reducing the cost and time needed to build systems and platforms, making it easier to automate data aggregation and system interoperability. But this pace of progress raises an important question: are we moving too quickly without fixing the foundations? Because with or without AI, insight is only as strong as the data behind it.

Listen to part two of our three-part series on data and tune in to understand the evolution of data insights.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here:

https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

The cost of clarity: Shared challenges in infrastructure data   

The importance of data systems is clear to both public and private sectors. The challenge is turning data into workable insights.  

In this episode of Transform, GHD’s Tom Bedeman (Data Insights Business Group Leader) and Jon Jarritt (Data & Insights Market Leader) explore the common challenges in data infrastructure, drawing on their work across the UK and a recent trip across Australia, where they spoke with 27 infrastructure clients across multiple asset sectors. 

This episode tackles a fundamental question: when everyone is investing in similar technology, why do results still vary so widely? 

Some of these gaps are foundational. When systems use different or unclear definitions for the same data, results become harder to trust. Another gap is treating data investment as a one-off capital expense rather than the ongoing operational capability it needs to be.  

Part one of a three‑part series on data foundations, this conversation explores why technology alone isn’t the answer and why leadership and shared meaning matter more than ever. 

Find out more about Transform by GHD here: https://www.ghd.com/en/campaigns/transform---tomorrows-thinking-today

Designing safer roads must include an understanding of how people drive on them.

In this episode GHD’s Frank Penry (Senior Traffic Project Manager) and Sarah Dods (Technical Director – Advanced Analytics) explore how driver behaviour data is changing the way we identify risk and improve road safety.

Drawing on observations from Australia and the United States, they unpack how drivers in both countries respond differently to speed limits, congestion and emerging hazards, and why approaches that work in one country can fall short in another.

The conversation encourages listeners to look beyond crash data alone, using near‑misses and braking events to help reveal patterns of risk earlier and test whether safety interventions are actually working.

Listen for a practical perspective on how driver behaviour insights can support safer transport decisions.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here.

With water increasingly sitting at the intersection of economic, environmental and social outcomes, collaboration and long-term thinking are becoming essential capabilities for water leaders.

In this episode, we explore how water planning is evolving, from taking a more holistic view of water’s role across industry and community, to the growing importance of adaptability and partnership. Drawing on insights from the Connected by Water conference and examples across Western Australia, the conversation examines how organisations can avoid locking into the wrong solutions too early, including how tools like adaptive pathways planning can help decision makers keep options open as conditions change.

GHD’s Sophie Barton is joined by Petja Albrecht (Industrial Water Leader, GHD) and Daniel Visser (Technical Director – Water Treatment & Desalination, GHD) to reflect on what these shifts mean for industrial water planning in Western Australia and around the world.

Find out more about Transform by GHD here

We’re asking whether collaboration and real-time data can truly transform our transport networks and what it takes to deliver smarter, safer and more inclusive mobility for all.

In this episode of Transform, GHD’s Divya Sarin sits down with Darren Henderson, Technical Director, GHD, and Declan Lucas. Vice President of Business Development, Transmax, to explore the urgent challenges facing global transport systems. The conversation covers how digital technology and bold leadership are reshaping the way we plan, move and connect. 

They also dive into the power of partnership, the role of AI and real-time data in optimising networks and why equity and community engagement must be at the heart of transport innovation.

Listen now for insights on future-proofing transportation infrastructure.

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