The Climate Resilience Podcast

In this episode, Professor Jack Gilbert - renowned microbial ecologist and Professor at UC San Diego - takes us beneath the surface to explore the hidden life of soil and why it matters more than we think. From the microscopic ecosystems that drive climate resilience to the profound connections between soil, culture, identity, and our sense of place, this conversation reveals why soil is far more than just a foundation - it’s a living system central to our future.We explore the links between soil health and public health, the importance of land stewardship, and the value of indigenous and local knowledge in restoring balance to our landscapes. The episode also spotlights Dr Gilbert's involvement with The Soil Stars - a group of world-class scientists and experts developing and deploying soil microbial strategies to combat climate change, and looks ahead to Oath Biome, where science is being translated into action to build a more resilient future from the ground up.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

Join host Phil Emonson as he sits down with Kate Guest, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Change at Historic England, to explore the powerful intersection of heritage and climate adaptation.How can the stories embedded in our historic places help people better understand climate risk? Kate shares how Historic England is using culture and community narratives to engage the public in the urgent challenges facing our built heritage - from coastal erosion to extreme weather.The conversation dives into the difficult idea of “losing well” when preservation is no longer possible and unpacks key adaptation concepts like adaptive release and adaptation pathways. With real-world examples, this episode highlights what it means to make thoughtful, forward-looking decisions about the future of historic assets.Whether you work in climate policy, heritage, infrastructure, or simply care about protecting the places that shape our identity, this episode offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on resilience in a changing world.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode, Phil sits down with David Porter, President of the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), to discuss some of the challenges we face in building a resilient nation. David has worked to address our changing climate in various ways throughout the course of his career. As Chief Executive for the Rivers Agency, Northern Ireland, he was involved in developing policies to communicate the impacts of climate change. More recently,  in his role as Director of Engineering, Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, he has been involved with climate change legislation for Northern Ireland, in particular, developing a sectoral plan for infrastructure. Tune in as Phil and David discuss:How do we communicate the value of infrastructure? In particular, the challenges we face in maintaining our existing assets.The ICE's 2026 State of the Nation report and the three key areas for improvement needed if the government is to deliver on its ambitious 10-year UK Infrastructure Strategy - supply chain and productivity, innovation and collaboration.Capability and capacity - what skills are needed for the future?Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

We’re on a mission to tackle the big climate resilience topics head-on. Over the last 23 episodes, Phil and our inspirational line-up of guests have explored the stories, strategies, and thought leaders driving real climate resilience - one episode at a time.In this special episode, relive some of our best bits from last year, including conversations with Guy Singh-Watson, Founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, Rob Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Rebalance Earth and Dr Emily Wallace, Met Office Fellow in Weather & Climate Extremes. Whether you’re new to the show or a long-time listener, this is a great way to catch up on key ideas and insights you might have missed — or simply to reflect on them in a new way.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

“Resilience is not a slogan — it’s practice.”In this episode, Phil talks with Lina Liakou, Co‑Founder and Global Director for City Engagement & Practice at the Resilient Cities Network, about the Resilient Cities Forum in December and two major outputs: the Solutions Map and the Call to Scale Urban Resilience. Together, they take stock of a decade of urban resilience practice, unpack what really works in cities (governance, finance, data and community), and tackle the hard questions of how to move from inspiring pilots — community resilience hubs, green schoolyards, integrated capital planning — to durable, citywide systems. Lina explains common barriers (siloed funding, lack of evaluation, political turnover) and why collective action, skills-building and institutional buy‑in are essential.An insightful conversation for city leaders, planners, funders, resilience practitioners and community organisers looking for practical routes to scale proven resilience solutions.Find out more and join the Call to Scale Urban Resilience here.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode, Phil sits down with John O’Brien MBE, founder of Anthropy, to explore how a cross-sector gathering at the Eden Project is shaping a more resilient, prosperous Britain. John explains why Anthropy — framed around people, place, prosperity and global perspective — is designed as a hands-on “gathering” (not a conference), why delegates are asked to “leave their ego and silo at the door,” and how mixing business leaders, artists, social entrepreneurs and young voices sparks new solutions.Listen for a lively conversation on the role of civic engagement, the power of business for good, and the importance of emerging leaders in building a resilient future. Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode, Phil is joined by Met Office fellow in Weather & Climate Extremes and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, Dr Emily Wallace. Together they explore how forecasting, climate projections, and cross-sector partnerships, including work with National Energy System Operator (NESO), are shaping UK resilience — with a particular focus on the energy transition, emerging hazards such as “wind drought,” and new modelling and supercomputing advances.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

When science meets storytelling, something magical happens.Climate science can often feel abstract, complex, or inaccessible. But when those same ideas are translated through stories and art, they become personal and relatable. From a picture book to a film, creative storytelling evokes emotion — a universal language that connects people of all ages and backgrounds.In this episode, Phil sits down with award-winning children’s author and poet Sophie Kirtley to discuss her recent collaboration with JBA and how creativity and the arts can be a powerful tool for engaging people with climate resilience.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

Innovation isn’t just about shiny new tech—it’s about people, culture, and those small, everyday changes that add up to big impact. In this episode of the Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil sits down with Nick Law, who leads the commercial side of JBA Labs, our in-house innovation accelerator programme, and Richard Beardsley from Affinity Water to unpack what innovation really means in the face of climate change.From building a culture that embraces failure to groundbreaking projects like JSat, JBA’s spectral analysis tool, and Resilient Studio, the trio explores how fresh ideas, bold experiments, and even small tweaks can transform how we adapt to a fast-changing world.Tune in for insights on risk-taking, creativity, and the future of resilient places, systems, and communities.*Please note: There are some minor audio issues in this episode. While they do not affect the overall clarity of the discussion, we appreciate your understanding and patience. Enjoy the episode!Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

The Climate Resilience Podcast turns one! To celebrate our birthday, host Phil Emonson is joined by three returning guests: Kat Cornfield (Environment Agency), Lucy Formoy (JBA Consulting), and Karl Astbury (Resilient Cities Network).Together, they revisit and build on two of our most impactful discussions so far: the role of social value in creating resilient communities (Episode 7) and the importance of a whole-society approach to climate resilience (Episode 9).In this episode, we explore:How to avoid “engagement fatigue” while ensuring communities’ voices are heardWhy local stories matter - lessons from cross-sector and international collaborations on resilienceThe challenges of navigating political cycles when building climate-ready placesA case study from JBA’s CoastWise project and what it teaches us about adaptationJoin us as we reflect on what we’ve learned over the past year and look ahead to how whole-society collaboration can drive meaningful, lasting climate resilience.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, in this episode of The Climate Resilience Podcast, we look back at JBA’s journey – from its beginnings three decades ago to the milestones and defining moments that have shaped who we are as an organisation today. Phil is joined by JBA’s Executive Chair and Founder, Jeremy Benn, and Richard Maltby, Director of Maltby Land Surveys Ltd – one of our first ever partners – as they reflect on the headlines, highlights, and lessons learned along the way, while exploring what it truly means for an organisation to be resilient. We also look ahead to the next 30 years: the challenges, opportunities, and the role resilience will play in navigating an uncertain future.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this powerful special episode of The Climate Resilience Podcast, host Phil Emonson is joined by Mannan Donoghoe, a Fellow at The Brookings Institution’s Centre for Community Uplift and co-author of the recently published New Orleans Index at Twenty report.Together, Phil and Mannan unpack the report, which is a comprehensive look at how the city has rebounded, reimagined, and rebuilt in the two decades since Hurricane Katrina. This conversation examines both the measurable progress and the ongoing challenges of building a city that can withstand the storms of the future. Mannan’s insights, grounded in rigorous social science and informed by global climate justice and environmental policy experience, shed light on how New Orleans has become a living laboratory for urban resilience.Whether you’re a policymaker, a resilience practitioner, or simply inspired by stories of recovery and transformation, this episode offers a rare blend of data, lived experience, and forward-thinking vision for building stronger, more equitable cities in the face of climate change.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode of the Climate Resilience Podcast, host Phil Emonson is joined by Steve Maslen (JBA Consulting) and Rob Gardner (CEO and Co-Founder of Rebalance Earth) for an inspiring conversation about the power and potential of nature-based solutions (NbS).Together, they explore how working with nature—not against it—can build climate resilience across landscapes, cities, and communities. From the role of healthy soils and peatlands to the innovative use of pension fund capital, the discussion highlights the urgent need to scale NbS and the financial tools that can help us get there. With real-world examples from Manchester to the Yorkshire Dales, this episode explores innovation, finance, and impact, proving that investing in nature is not just good for the planet, but essential for our future.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

What does climate resilience really mean when the land beneath you is being washed away?In this riveting episode of the Climate Resilience Podcast, host Phil Emonson is joined by one of the UK’s most influential voices in ethical agriculture — Guy Singh-Watson, founder and CEO of Riverford Organic Farmers. Sharing raw insights from the field - from soil loss and water stress to the power of collaboration and honest storytelling - Guy and Phil explore the realities of farming in a changing climate - and what true resilience looks like beyond the buzzwords.Tune in as we explore:The cost of climate unpredictability on real farmsHow cooperation — not competition — can drive true resilienceAnd the critical role of trust and transparency in the food systemA must-listen for anyone passionate about food, farming, and the future of our landscapes.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

On this episode of The Climate Resilience Podcast, host Phil Emonson asks a critical question: Who is responsible for resilience—and how can we better share the load?Phil is joined by two dynamic guests for this discussion: Steve Scott-Bottoms, a Professor of Contemporary Theatre and Performance at the University of Manchester, who has three decades of experience in using the arts to foster community dialogue on climate issues; and Jonathan Moxon, the Executive Manager for Flood and Climate Resilience at Leeds City Council, who shares insights from his two decades of experience in resilience planning.Together, they explore innovative ways to fund resilience, the role of local government, and how the arts can bridge the gap between policy and people.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this special bonus episode of The Climate Resilience Podcast,  host Phil Emonson sits down with Marc Pinnell, JBA’s Managing Director, to reflect on the standout moments and key insights from this year’s Flood and Coast conference. Together, they explore how events like Flood & Coast can catalyse real change, highlighting the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in achieving the UK’s growth and resilience goals. From rethinking how we value and fund resilience to unlock the full potential of FCRM to delivering sustainable solutions with strong policy support, this episode dives into what it takes to build future-ready communities across the country.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode, Phil is joined by Shelley Evans, Technical Director at JBA, as they look ahead to one of the industry's most important events — the annual Flood & Coast Conference, taking place in early June. Together, they explore JBA’s exciting programme of involvement across the three-day event, including key sessions and activities. The conversation highlights the central themes of partnership, collaboration, and alliance, and their vital role in building whole-society resilience to climate change. Shelley and Phil also discuss the importance of promoting and advancing the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) sector during the conference, including Shelley's role in the newly formed International Property Flood Resilience Association (IPFRA), the first trade body for PFR in the country - which officially launches on the evening of the first day of the conference. Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In this episode, focused on assets – the structures, schemes, and defences that keep us safe and protected - Phil is joined by Claire Francis, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, Solent and South Downs, along with JBA’s Richard Chubb, Associate Director, and Alec Dane, Chartered Civil Engineer. Together, they explore the shift towards greater shared responsibility and the role the ‘whole of society’ has to play in safeguarding people from the impacts of our changing climate. What are the current pressures to ensure people's safety by investing in and maintaining assets while also building societal resilience? The two go hand in hand, although sometimes that may not be the perception.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In Episode 9 of the Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil is joined by JBA's Emergency Planning Lead Toby Jones and Global Resilient Cities Network's Karl Astbury. Together, they dive into whole-society resilience, exploring how communities, businesses and governments can work together to build a more inclusive, people-centred approach to resilience.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In Episode 8 of the Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil is joined by JBA's Iain Armstrong, Principal Planning Consultant, and planning expert Bart Milburn. Together, they explore how planning and development can shape sustainable, resilient communities - places where people can live, work, and thrive. Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In episode 7 of the Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil is joined by Lucy Formoy, JBA's Social Value and Engagement Lead, and Kat Cornfield, Social Equity Senior Advisor at the Environment Agency. Together, they explore the critical role of social value in building whole-society resilience to climate change.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In episode 6 of the Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil is joined by Elizabeth Rapoport, Chair of London Surface Water Strategic Group for a conversation where they dive into her roles and the experiences that have shaped her work.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In Episode 5 of JBA's Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil welcomes Charles McAllister, JBA's Technical Director and Energy Lead, for a compelling discussion on the energy sector's role in addressing climate change.While earlier episodes have centered on climate hazards, this episode broadens the focus to examine the synergy between energy and climate resilience. Drawing on Charles' insights from JBA's Climate Resilience Week, 'Energy Sector and Climate Change: Resilience in a Low-Carbon Future', Phil and Charles explore the UK's ambitious journey towards achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

This episode stems from a slightly provocative post on X by Matt Hogan. he simply asked- 'In the context of emergency management, does recovery even exist?'Matt, Evie and Phil take a deep dive into this.Matt Hogan is the Deputy Head of Resilience at the Greater London Authority and his background is in Emergency Management in various health sector organisations. Matt's current role is to ensure that resilience partners across London can effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from incidents.Evie Whatling is an Analyst at JBA Consulting and has been in the consultancy field since 2019. Having completed her degree in Disaster Management and Emergency Planning.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

Today's episode has a celebratory feel to it as Phil is joined by special guests Hannah Burgess and Peter Rook, the new President and Junior President of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).Hannah Burgess is the new CIWEM President and Regional Delivery Director at Binnies. Peter Rook is the CIWEM Junior President and Chartered Senior Analyst at JBA.CIWEM is a community of 11,000 members in 81 countries with a common goal in looking after the planet in a sustainable way for future generations. This episode is focused around the CIWEM presidential themes of resilience and adaptation as Phil discusses these with Hannah and Peter and their plans for the year ahead. Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

In Episode 2, 'Embedding Resilience through effective Change Management', Phil is joined by JBA colleague, Neil Wiseman and special guest, Harjit Lota from NorthHighland. Harjit is a Client Director in the UK public sector team at North Highland. He has worked in the public sector for over 20 years with a systems thinking background. His experience includes working on rail and road infrastructure, developing decarbonisation and social value change.  Neil Wiseman is the team leader for JBA’s Climate and Sustainability team, based in Saltaire; the team covers a wide range of projects including climate change risk assessments and adaptation planning, natural capital and ecosystems services, and decarbonisation strategies and implementation plans as well as an assortment of policy, strategy, and research work. Neil has a background in public and not-for-profit sectors and completed an MBA that had a focus on tackling complex societal issues and included ethnographic approaches to research.The theme of this episode is change management - with our changing Climate what's worked in the past won't necessarily be our solution for tomorrow or tomorrow's tomorrow. Things need to change!Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn

Episode 1 is slightly different, Phil Emonson is joined by Steve Thompsett and Jenny Broomby.Jenny is JBA's Catchment and Resilience Lead  with a range of experience across various environmental disciplines. Steve Thompsett is our Head of Water Management. With over 25 years of experience in the flood, water and environmental sector and is a former president of CIWEM. We wanted to start at the beginning so the theme of this episode is 'What is resilience to climate change?'Phil, Jenny and Steve will take a deep dive into this and unpick how we have got to this point and what this all means for society going forward. 2b1c6aadab74b9dc3039990309b172dc49284defSend us Fan MailThank you for listening to this episode. For any comments, questions or insights please contact [email protected] our website jbaconsulting.comor follow us on LinkedIn JBA Consulting | LinkedIn