In this episode of Amplified, we wrap up our special mini-series on sustainability with an episode discussing the importance of mindset shifts in achieving Ireland's 2030 renewable energy targets.

Henry Boucher and Terry Wilkinson, experts in renewable and civil engineering respectively, emphasise the impact of small changes in sustainability.

Terry highlights cost-effective measures like wildlife ladders for amphibians, while Henry focuses on early integration of biodiversity considerations in projects. Both stress the importance of community engagement, effective communication, and practical steps like reducing material use and measuring embodied carbon.

They advocate continuous improvement and collaboration to achieve broader sustainability goals.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• The need to move beyond technical fixes to sustainability mindset shifts
• How biodiversity can be enhanced through subtle project design changes
• The need to move beyond technical fixes to sustainability mindset shifts
• Designing infrastructure to cope with extreme weather
• Challenges in balancing safety, cost, and environmental benefit

GUEST DETAILS

Henry Boucher is a Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESB.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-bouchier-271b6b18/#

Terry Wilkinson is a Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water Management. As a Civil Engineer for ACO, Terry has focused his career predominantly on the highways industry, both in his 11 years at ACO and prior to this working as a client, consultant and contractor for Local Authority highways. He is a member of the CIHT and is working towards his chartered engineer status with CPD at the heart of this journey. His professional interests are focused on wildlife mitigation solutions and highway surface water management; however, he also has a broader understanding of applications for other areas such as rail, housing, commercial and distribution developments. Biodiversity and wildlife are things he is also passionate about personally and he is actively involved in initiatives such as local toad patrols.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-wilkinson-beng-mciht/

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 never get to net zero unless we have a wide variety of renewable energy sources, and then we have some backup

— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESB

Often with sustainability, people have these massive identity, massive cost ideas... but often some of the smaller measures can really have positive impacts

— Terry Wilkinson, Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water Management

It's a mindset shift that has technical solutions. We just have to think a little bit differently how we do things

— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESB

Everything in nature and wildlife is linked. If you have a decline of a certain species, it will have a knock-on effect to something else

— Terry Wilkinson, Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water Management

Do one thing right, and then you can go back and improve something else. Just improve one thing is probably the way to do it

— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESB

KEYWORDS
#SustainableEngineering #RenewableEnergy #BiodiversityInfrastructure #ClimateInnovation

In this second episode of our Amplified sustainability series, host Dusty Rhodes dives deep into the future of sustainable transport in Ireland.

With the 2030 emissions deadline fast approaching, the focus turns to engineering, political will, and social change needed to revolutionise Ireland’s transportation system.

Joining Dusty are Professor Brian Caulfield, a leading transportation researcher from Trinity College Dublin, and Robert Sizer, Director of Engineering for UK at IESA, renowned for his expertise in major infrastructure projects like rail stations and tunnels.

Together, they unravel the real challenges behind meeting climate targets, from public acceptance to the transformative power of multimodal transport networks.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• The urgent 2030 transport emissions targets and what it will really take to meet them
• Why Ireland’s main transportation challenges are political and social, not technical
• Engineering solutions for decarbonising public transport: electric, hydrogen, and biofuels
• Real-world examples: Reimagining city spaces in Dublin, Madrid, London, and Barcelona
• The impact of major projects (metros, tunnels, and light rail) on urban life

GUEST DETAILS

Prof. Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin

Brian Caulfield is a Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin. Since joining the Department Prof Caulfield has embarked on an intensive research program addressing global issues such as the environmental impacts of transport and methods to reduce the carbon impacts of transport and in 2017 he addressed the Irish Citizens Assembly on this topic. He recently provided advice to the Climate Change Advisory Council on pathways to decreasing transport emissions by 2030. Prof Caulfield is currently a member of the Steering Group for the review and update of the GDA Transport Strategy with the National Transport Authority.

Prof Caulfield has published over 200 papers in these areas and is also a member of a number of National and International research groups and is the former Chair of the Irish Transportation Research Network.

Rob Sizer, Director of Engineering for UK at AYESA

Rob is a Chartered Civil Engineer who is an experienced project manager in delivering large complex multi-disciplinary design projects. Rob is particularly experienced in managing and developing relationships with key clients and stakeholder. Such as London Underground, Overground and Thames Water and Crossrail. Rob has a strong technical background with over 15 years working across the civil engineering industry, and is highly experienced in the design delivery, process, standards and requirements for rail infrastructure, such as stations and tunnels.

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 real transportation challenge isn’t EVs—it’s humans. Social and political will, not engineering, are the hardest parts.” - Prof Brian Caulfield

"If engineers had the money, we’d be building metros and light rails right now. The solutions exist—the bottleneck is delivering them.” - Prof Brian Caulfield

"Sustainability isn’t just about the infrastructure; it’s about minimizing disruption for people and reusing space for public life.” - Robert Sizer

"Give more space back to people, and you change how cities work and how we live in them."

- Prof Brian Caulfield

"We need sustainability to be a contract KPI, not just a talking point. That’s how you get real change."

- Robert Sizer

In this episode of Amplified, host Dusty Rhodes kicks off a special mini-series on sustainability with a powerful conversation about engineering’s critical role in achieving Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He’s joined by Niamh Breslin of IDA Ireland and Richard Manton from the University of Galway.

Together, they explore the reality of decarbonisation, grid resilience, and the transformative influence engineers have—from infrastructure to leadership. With insights into green economy investment, education, and collaboration across sectors, this episode is both a wake-up call and a blueprint for a more sustainable Ireland.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• The central role engineers play in achieving Ireland’s climate targets
• IDA Ireland and their support of transformative investments in clean energy
• How University of Galway is driving change and embedding sustainability in education
• The importance of lifelong learning for engineers to adapt to a changing world
• The need for engineers to work with other scientific professionals, social scientists, and business leaders to solve sustainability challenges.

GUEST DETAILS

Niamh Breslin is Sustainability Manager at IDA Ireland. Niamh manages the development and implementation of IDA Ireland’s foreign direct investment Sustainability strategy, with a focus on decarbonisation of the FDI industry, and delivery of IDA Ireland’s commitments to the National Climate Action Plan.

Niamh has significant international experience and has successfully led teams in Dublin, London, Paris and Frankfurt. Niamh has a degree in Computational Linguistics from Dublin City University and a diploma in Business Management from University of Galway.

Dr Richard Manton is the Director of Sustainability at University of Galway, Ireland's leading university for sustainability and a National SDG Ambassador. He was previously the Registrar at Engineers Ireland and a Non-Executive Director at Bus Éireann.

Richard is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland with a BE in civil engineering, MA in financial management and a PhD in sustainable transportation. He is the current Chairperson of the Engineers Ireland West Region.

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.

Further information is also available at RESEARCH.UNIVERSITYOFGALWAY.IE

QUOTES

There are companies in Ireland today that will see their Scope 1 carbon emissions reduced by 100%. This is real. It’s happening

— Niamh Breslin, IDA Ireland

Graduates are choosing employers based on sustainability. If your climate action plan isn’t strong, you’ll lose talent

— Niamh Breslin, IDA Ireland

Even with all of these ambitious plans, we’re only on track to hit about 23% emissions reduction by 2030. We need to be more radical

— Richard Manton, University of Galway

Electrification and public transport are the key. It’s not just about EVs—it’s about moving people, en masse, sustainably

— Richard Manton, University of Galway

We need engineers who can speak finance—who can sit with CFOs and show where the savings are. That’s how we get buy-in

— Niamh Breslin, IDA Ireland

KEYWORDS

#SustainableDevelopmentGoals #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #GridResilience #OffshoreWind