Talking Global Infrastructure

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, Claire McWatt from the Global Infrastructure Investor Association is joined by Dan Moulton, Partner at Crestview Strategy, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of infrastructure in Canada following the recent federal election. They unpack the political landscape and what the results mean for private capital, including insights on the emerging roles of key Ministers, and the potential influence of Mark Carney's first foray to Canadian public office. With a focus on national priorities, Claire and Dan explore sector-specific developments across airports, ports, digital infrastructure, and energy transmission, and assess how shifting federal attitudes might affect the pipeline of P3 projects. Tune in for practical insights on navigating provincial dynamics, evolving federal policies, and the delicate balance Canada must strike between attracting foreign capital and protecting critical infrastructure. This is the first in a two-part series on major elections in Canada and Australia, featuring insights from on the ground with GIIA members, Crestview Strategy. Look out for Part 2 in June.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, Simon Montague, Director of Corporate Affairs at GIIA, is joined by colleagues Jon Phillips, Chief Executive, and David Quam, Senior US Advisor, to explore how private investment can help bridge America's infrastructure funding gap. They set the scene for a GIIA Symposium that's open to infrastructure investors and public stakeholders, to be held in Washington D.C. on May 14, during Infrastructure Week.  Please register here. They also discuss prospects for reauthorising the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and what the recent Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers says about the condition of infrastructure across the country. Tune in for expert analysis on leveraging Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, streamlining permitting reforms, and mobilising public–private partnerships to modernise airports, roads, bridges, and energy networks.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we explore the multifaceted world of sustainability and ESG. Vlad Benn, GIIA's Policy and Research Manager, is joined by Natalie Sinha, Head of Sustainability for UBS Asset Management's Infrastructure Investments platform. Together, they discuss the current state of ESG, opportunities for investors, its integration into asset management, and the challenges posed by greenwashing, regulatory complexity, and political pushback. Whether you're an infrastructure investor, policy advocate, or sustainability enthusiast, this discussion provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG and examines how it's shaping sustainable investment and influencing the future of global infrastructure.

Political shifts, market challenges, and sector opportunities—what do investors think about the future of global infrastructure? In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we discuss the findings from our Q4 2024 Pulse Survey, reflecting on the key trends that have shaped infrastructure investment throughout 2024 and exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for investors in 2025. GIIA's Simon Montague is joined by experts from Alvarez & Marsal: Wayne Jephson, based in London, Jay Moody based in the U.S., and Craig Forrest, lead for Europe to delve into the survey's key insights. They highlight post-election optimism in the U.S., driven by reduced regulation and energy dominance, alongside challenges for renewable energy; Europe's political uncertainty, which weighs on investor sentiment, despite resilience in sustainable energy and data centres; and the UK's lagging investor confidence, where unattractive regulation in the water and fiber sectors remains a barrier, even as the new Labour government prioritises private investment.

In Episode 26, GIIA's chief executive, Jon Phillips, explores the promising investment landscape in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, driven by a US $1.7 trillion annual infrastructure gap. Recorded following GIIA's member conference in Singapore, this episode features insights from Deepali Bahl, Managing Director at Augment Infrastructure; Gerald Licnachan, a Partner at CMS based in Singapore; and Kristy Duane, Co-Head of Infrastructure at CMS. The conversation covers APAC's rapid urbanisation, a growing middle class, and favourable policies for foreign investment, positioning the region for substantial infrastructure expansion. Key growth areas highlighted include digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and mid-market investments, with local expertise essential for navigating regulatory diversity and seizing market opportunities.

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.

How can the U.S. sustain for the long term what has been a massive increase in infrastructure investment since 2021, following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act? That has been the question at the heart of this year's Infrastructure Week in Washington D.C., where the ASCE published its appropriately titled report ‘Bridging the Gap', warning that the Federal Government must maintain the same baseline of funding after these two giant infrastructure bills expire in 2026. And that all levels of government must collaborate with the private sector to further support the country's vital needs. Jon Phillips, chief executive of GIIA, met up with Marsia Geldert-Murphey, president of the ASCE,  in Washington D.C. to talk about progress so far, and what needs to happen next.

In recent years, the infrastructure landscape has undergone a significant transformation. As the global economy grapples with the aftermath of a pandemic, and ambitious targets to reach net zero across the world, the need for robust and resilient infrastructure has never been more pressing. With high competition for private capital, governments across the world are working to ensure they put in place the right environment to attract investment. In this episode, we discuss the latest trends in infrastructure investment, following the recently published results of our latest Infrastructure Pulse Survey. Economic uncertainties and political shifts across Europe and the US are shaping investment trends in critical sectors such as data centres, renewable energy, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Regulatory environments and policy changes are key drivers influencing where and how investments are made. We delve into insights into these dynamics, helping listeners to navigate the complexities of the global infrastructure market. Joining Harvey Chandler, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at GIIA, are industry experts from Alvarez & Marsal: Wayne Jephson, Jay Moody, and Michael Farkas.

In this episode, hosts Simon Montague, Director of Corporate Affairs, and David Quam, Senior US Advisor to GIIA, provide insights from Washington DC during Infrastructure Week and discuss the significance of its role in advocating for increased investment in American infrastructure. They also delve into highlights of the recently launched report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which emphasises the importance of forward-looking policies and public-private collaboration, to enable the US to remain as the top destination for global infrastructure investment. The episode also features an interview with Giancarlo Peressutti from IFM Investors, who reflects on the tangible progress made during this year's Infrastructure Week, as well as Sia Kusha from Plenary Americas, discussing the effectiveness of the bipartisan infrastructure bills and the crucial decisions Congress faces as they approach expiration.

In the transition towards a greener future, substantial investments are imperative for renewable energy projects and sustainable infrastructure developments. But where does the funding come from, and how is it being deployed to tackle the immense challenges posed by climate change?   GIIA's Policy and Research Manager Vlad Benn is joined by CMS's Ana Radnev, a Partner specialising in International Finance and Sustainability based in Bucharest and Francis Beechinor-Collins, an Associate in the Energy and Infrastructure team based in London, to delve into the intricate landscape of climate finance. Together they explore the strategies, successes, and stumbling blocks the infrastructure sector faces and provide an insight as to how private investors are reshaping their portfolios to align with environmental objectives, driving innovation, and catalysing positive change.

In this special episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, we celebrate GIIA passing the 100 members milestone from Berlin, where our Membership Officer Sophia Taylor was on the ground to catch up with some of our members about the growth of the industry, and what's next for infrastructure investors globally.  We're joined by GIIA's Chief Executive Jon Phillips to reflect on the growth of the association and how we will continue to work for our members in years to come, as well as Gautam Bhandari, Chief Investment Officer at I Squared, who delves into the developing opportunities for the private sector in the United States; Viktor Kats, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Augment Infrastructure, to explore the momentum for sustainable infrastructure in growth markets; and Mark Hector, Head of Infrastructure at Aware Super, to reflect on the growth of the sector from its early origins in Australia to a globally established feature of pension fund portfolios.

In this episode, we explore the scale of investment by UK pension funds in the country's infrastructure and the potential for growth, drawing on lessons from around the world. GIIA's Director of Corporate Affairs, Simon Montague, is joined by guests Ted Frith, Chief Operating Officer at GLIL Infrastructure, and Surinder Toor, founder of Arjun Infrastructure Partners, who delve into the need for citizens to better understand how pension funds investing their retirement savings in infrastructure both underpins society and grows their income in later life.

For our first episode of this year, GIIA's Director of Corporate Affairs, Simon Montague, is joined by Deloitte's Patricia Buckley, Managing Director of Economics in the US and Ian Stewart, who is a partner and chief economist in the UK, to discuss global macroeconomics and the outlook for the year ahead.   Together they delve into interest rates, inflation trends and upcoming elections in the US and Europe, and how these will shape the economic environment for infrastructure investment.

In our latest podcast episode, we round up the intriguing and complex dynamics of COP28, held this month in the United Arab Emirates. GIIA's Policy and Research Manager Vlad Benn is joined by Andrew McHardy, partner and decarbnoisation hub leader at KPMG, to understand the risks that investors will need to navigate in a rapidly changing climate landscape, the role of climate finance, the contentious issue of fossil fuel phase-out and the social impacts of COP 28's proposals.

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.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, Acting CEO Jon Phillips is joined by Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPGI).  Delving into the current infrastructure climate in the UK, Andrew provides an insight into Conservative Party manifesto development, the Electricity Generator Levy and how we can collectively ensure society gets the infrastructure it needs.

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, Acting CEO Jon Phillips is joined by Patricia Buckley, Deloitte's Director of Economic Policy and Analysis in the US and Ian Stewart, Chief Economist and Partner at Deloitte UK to discuss how worldwide infrastructure policy shifts are shaping the year ahead for investors, ongoing supply chain challenges following the pandemic and how the global economy is changing to pave the way for sustainable growth. 

In this episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's EU policy lead Harvey Chandler is joined by Stephen Jackson, Chief Technology and Market Officer at Hydrogen Europe, to discuss how the hydrogen industry is moving beyond the hype to make it a staple zero carbon fuel of the future. The pair delve into latest developments in hydrogen technology, the funding required to meet Fitfor55 targets and measures needed to crowd in private finance for project delivery.  

In the fifth instalment of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA CEO Lawrence Slade talks industrial strategies, nationalisation and Sunderland FC with the UK Labour Party's Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP. Unpacking Labour's vision for infrastructure, Jonathan provides an insight into party plans for improving investor confidence in the UK, an industrial strategy for catalysing investment and working closely with the business community to achieve Net Zero.

In the fourth episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's CEO Lawrence Slade discusses the current opportunities and headwinds facing global infrastructure investors,  including; inflationary pressures, increased ESG considerations and rising government debt levels with with Plenary Group's CIO Paul Crowe. 

In the third instalment of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA's CEO Lawrence Slade and guests David Quam, GIIA's Washington Representative and Tom Curtin, Program Director for Infrastructure at National Governors Association, dissect the present situation in the United States infrastructure landscape. Lawrence, David and Tom discuss how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will have an impact long term and how to deliver more and better infrastructure, at a faster rate, through partnership between States and Cities and private investors.

In the second episode of GIIA's new podcast: Talking Global Infrastructure, Deputy CEO & Director of Corporate Affairs, Jon Phillips discusses the Regulating for Investment Report produced in partnership with Flint Global, alongside Mark Caines, who is a Partner in Flint Global's regulation and competition practice.   The net-zero vision of the UK with affordable, high-quality and resilient infrastructure that is capable of meeting society's expectations in the 21st century is one we all share. But we will not get there without a programme of urgent policy and regulatory reform. In the report, GIIA makes recommendations for an overhaul of the policy and regulatory framework in order to meet societal and climate challenges and incentivise investment in a way that is efficient and affordable over the long-term.

In this first episode of Talking Global Infrastructure, GIIA CEO Lawrence Slade discusses the highlights of the GIIA Global Asset Database in partnership with EY, recent and future trends in infrastructure investment and the positive social and economic impacts GIIA member investments deliver across 6 continents and 70 countries. Guests this episode are Udit Gandhi, a Partner in EY's Transaction Advisory Services Practice and Mike Parker, EY's Americas Infrastructure Leader.