Talking Global Infrastructure – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we provide a comprehensive look at how AI is reshaping the infrastructure sector and where investors might find the most promising opportunities.

Delving into the impacts of AI on data centres, particularly in terms of energy consumption, regulatory hurdles, and the high costs involved, we explore the broader digital infrastructure essential for supporting AI's growth, emerging technologies and the trends that are likely to drive future investments in this field.

Guests Alexandre Villela from Digital Bridge and Brian Burns from PwC join host Nick, Elliott, GIIA's UK Policy & Public Affairs Manager, to provide an insight into the concept of AI as a new form of infrastructure, underscoring its increasing significance in the investment landscape.

In a unique episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA’s Senior Communications Manager Claire McWatt interviews Niall Mills, Managing Partner and Global Head of Igneo Infrastructure Partners. Igneo, a subsidiary of First Sentier Investors, manages over $18.8 billion in infrastructure assets across 200 clients.

Niall shares his journey from civil engineering to infrastructure investment, highlighting his extensive background and passion for the field. He values the significance of learning, mentorship, and long-term career planning in the infrastructure sector, emphasising how these elements contribute to a successful and fulfilling career.

Discussing Igneo's commitment to sustainability, Niall highlights the importance of creating long-term value for communities and the environment, delivering promised returns to investors, and underscoring the need for transparent communication with pension fund members, ensuring they understand the investments and their positive impacts.

He shares examples of successful projects, such as the world's largest battery-powered ferry and the reintroduction of Iberian wolves in Portugal and looks ahead to future investments in next-generation carbon production.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's Matt Dickinson joined by Ben Marshall, Research Director at polling company Ipsos, to discuss the findings of our new Infrastructure Index, in which 22,000 citizens in more than 30 countries were asked by Ipsos about their infrastructure priorities.   We delve into how people feel, the variations in sentiment between countries, how citizens think infrastructure should be funded, and the pressures that shape government priorities and the investor landscape.

In the latest episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's Head of Communications & Marketing Matt Dickinson sits down with Cy MacKinnon, Managing Director at Equitix, to discuss the fund's £125m battery storage deal with the UK Infrastructure Bank, what policy U-turns mean for investor sentiment, and the investability of emerging net zero technologies in different markets around the world. 

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we sit down with former Utah State Senator, Salt Lake County Mayor and Congressman Ben McAdams to discuss the importance of public-private partnerships in delivering sustainable infrastructure, a new initiative aimed at helping governments to better utilise their balance sheets, and the need for policymakers and investors to work together to tackle climate change. 

Ben is now spearheading the Government Finance Officers Association’s Putting Assets to Work initiative, designed to help local authorities to work with investors to develop and maintain underutilised assets.

Find out more about the initiative on the GFOA website.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's Director of Corporate Affairs Simon Montague is joined by David Henderson, Water UK's Chief Executive Officer, to discuss the changing landscape of the UK's water sector. 

David provides an insight into plans to rebuild public and investor confidence in the industry, a long-term commitment to invest £10 billion into the UK's water network and how regulatory reform can help unlock the levels of investment needed to ensure future resilience of the sector.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's CEO Jon Phillips is joined by Udit Gandhi, Partner in EY’s Transaction Advisory Services Practice and Mike Parker, EY’s Americas Infrastructure Leader to discuss the latest findings from our Global Asset Database, which serves as an annual snapshot of how the GIIA community is growing and investing. 

We delve into key trends within the infrastructure sector, assessing how growing appetite for renewables, clean tech and digital assets is shaping strategies alongside major legislation such as the US Inflation Reduction Act. 

In the latest episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we reflect on the findings from our new Q2 2023 Pulse survey.

Alvarez & Marsal's Director of Relationship Management Kate Netinho and Managing Directors Wayne Jephson, Jay Moody and Jason Clatworthy join GIIA's Head of Communication Matt Dickinson to discuss shifting portfolio priorities, growing clean tech investment and current tax considerations.

In the latest episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we look at what's next for US infrastructure investment ahead of the US Infrastructure Investment Forum taking place at Stanford University on 20 April. 

GIIA's Head of Communications Matt Dickinson is joined by Professor Qingbin Cui of the Build America Center, Michael Bennon of Stanford University and GIIA's David Quam to discuss progress on implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, permitting reform and the role of private investors in project delivery.     

In the latest episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's Research Lead Vlad Benn is joined by Kate McKeon, Head of Sustainability at InfraRed Capital Partners and Joe Robinson, ESG Manager at Equitix to discuss environmental, social and governance considerations (ESG) for infrastructure investors.

Tune in to hear why ESG is so crucial in evolving the infrastructure industry, how a focus on energy security is shaping considerations, what a new Global Biodiversity framework means in practice and avoiding the "greenwash" label.