Ep. 68 What do Engineers Get Wrong About Sustainability? CIBSE President Shares Her Secrets to Leadership

Send a textIn this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Fiona Cousins the global Chief Operating Officer for Total Design at Arup. Fiona shares her inspiring journey from being one of the few women in engineering during the 1980s to becoming the 2024/2025 president of CIBSE (The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers).Fiona discusses the challenges and opportunities for women in construction, the evolution of career paths in engineering, and the critical importance of situational leadership. She also advocates for sustainable and resilient building designs that not only ensure safety and comfort but also promote well-being, environmental responsibility, and the health of communities. As Fiona explains, engineering is about more than just technical expertise - it’s about understanding the broader context of the problems you're solving and staying curious and generous in your approach. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about the future of construction, the impact of building performance, and the power of leadership in shaping a better, more sustainable world.Key Topics in This Episode:Career journey in engineering and overcoming gender barriers in the 1980sLeadership insights: Situational leadership and empowering teamsThe role of engineers in sustainability and building performanceHow engineers can shape the future of the built environmentThe importance of lifelong learning and expanding your skillsetLinks:Fiona Cousin's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionacousins/CIBSE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cibse/CIBSE Website: https://www.cibse.org/Darren Evans Consultancy: https://darren-evans.co.uk/Darren: https://darrenevans.komi.io/Support the show