According to Check Point Research and Reuters, cyberattacks on U.S. utilities in 2024 increased nearly 70% compared to the year before, leading to an average of 69 attacks every week. In 2025, the trend continued, in the U.S and globally. What can water utilities do to protect themselves from these digital threats? The answer is a nuanced one, as the challenges extend beyond outdated software and ageing infrastructure. Most water utilities globally are undergoing rapid digital transformation to respond to higher demands from communities, councils and authorities. This has opened more opportunities for cyberthreats, driving more challenges for cybersecurity in Operational Technology (OT) environments. Unlike conventional Information Technology (IT) systems, OT systems directly control pumps, valves, and treatment processes. An attack on OT can have immediate, real-world consequences for water quality, safety and public health. The OT environment at Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) is a success story as it protects one of the largest regional water and wastewater utilities in the U.S., servicing more than 20 counties and cities and 1.5 million people. Thanks to its signature program of embedded visibility, governance and consequence-driven planning, it can serve as a blueprint for water utilities globally. Today we’ll talk about how to apply this cybersecurity blueprint with Ben Stirling, Director, Cybersecurity & OT at Jacobs, and Roger Caslow, Chief Information Security Officer, Hampton Roads Sanitation District.

Driving more social value for people, communities and investors is not a corporate tick box exercise. It’s a vital element for organizations that must increasingly demonstrate their purpose beyond profit, generating greater value for stakeholders and shareholders. Creating meaningful social value requires integrating a tailored social value strategy and an iterative mindset. To do this, you need the right mix of leadership, data-driven solutions and cross-sector expertise. When organizations make informed, responsible choices, they can drive growth, improve efficiency and enhance their reputation, all while creating long-term value for society and the environment. The two guests on this episode are celebrated for getting this mix right globally: Dr Mary-Kathryn Adams (known as MK), Chief Executive Officer of Simetrica-Jacobs, and Toyin Ogunfolaju, Director Social Value Americas at Jacobs.

For companies with workers and job sites all over the world, how do you take care of every employee? Emerging technologies and digital tools are a critical part of the solution, but it all must be integrated into a sound, resilient strategy that relies on track record and local experience. This strategy needs to span time zones - and clients/partners - to ensure the health, safety and security of every colleague is paramount, no matter if they’re a hybrid employee, based in an office or working on a job site. To ensure this strategy works on the ground, you also need the right partners. Our guests for this episode are Joe Olivarez, Executive Vice President and Leader of Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Enterprise Quality at Jacobs, Dr. Myles Druckman, Global Medical Director and SVP at International SOS and Polly Willis, Strategic Account Manager and Market Lead at International SOS.

Leaders of global, multi-sector companies are tackling bigger, more complex challenges in our fast-evolving, highly connected world. During times of greater change and shifts, employees are looking to the C-Suite for even more direction and inspiration. Research by Harvard Business Review reveals that for leaders to be successful now, they need to be versatile, resilient and empathetic to thrive in the relentless pace of global corporate organizations. For this If/When podcast, we speak to two inspiring CEOs who embody these qualities and offer some of their experiences as leaders and collaborators. We explore the importance of key partnerships,* shared values, employee engagement and family support and learn how it's all helped shape them in their pivotal roles. My name is Arthur Jones, and the guests for this episode are Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs since January of 2023 and appointed Chair of Jacobs Board of Directors the following September and Christian Norris, who became CEO at PA Consulting, a global innovation and transformation consultancy, in August 2023. *Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently.

Transportation is still the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and one of the greatest carbon contributors globally. Governments and local authorities are continually researching ways to drive positive change through legislation and policy, and a large part of this will come down to urban mobility and transportation planning. To make the right decisions in these fields, we need the right data and measurement tools. Case in point: the Transportation Climate Impact Index by StreetLight Data. Their report uncovers how metros in the U.S. rank across eight key factors and reveals the major mobility trends impacting climate. In this episode, we discuss urban mobility and its role in climate change. We explore how to build a climate-resilient transportation system — one that offers social, environmental and commercial value. Our celebrated guests explain why urban mobility is one of the most critical areas of climate response, and more importantly, how we can better design our cities for greener futures with cleaner air and less traffic.   Today, we’re speaking to Dr. Laura Schewel, CEO of StreetLight Data and VP of Transportation Software at Jacobs and Jenny Jones, Head of Transport Planning for Europe at Jacobs.

How can we modernize airports to be better for passengers, communities, balance sheets and our environment? It’s a complex challenge that can’t be solved by talent or policy alone — it also requires the right application of digital tools and technologies. These transport hubs play a vital role in our communities and economies, and to empower a better, more sustainable future for all, we need an elevation in industry-wide innovation and collaboration. Our guests for this episode are leaders in this field: Ersin Inankul, Head of Aviation Digital at Jacobs, and David Miranda, Digital Expert at PA Consulting.* *Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently.

How are PFAS affecting your work and our world? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large class of long-lasting, synthetic chemicals used extensively in industrial and household products. Many PFAS don’t degrade readily on their own, and some are highly mobile in the environment. They can be found worldwide in water, soil, air, plants, animals and even our bloodstreams. We’re still uncovering the full impact of these chemicals on the health of humans and our environment, but here’s what is clear: it’s a complex challenge at scale to remediate these so-called “forever” chemicals. Add fast-changing regulations in different geographies and regional differences to the scale and response to the PFAS challenge, and it all compounds the difficulty. The way forward requires a greater understanding of the risks and challenges of PFAS, but it’s just the start. We’ll need cross-sector collaboration and innovation to tackle these issues and apply the right measurement tools and technology.  Our guests for this episode are defining the solutions for clients and the industry at large: Sharon Minchak, Global Solutions Director for Remediation and Regeneration at Jacobs, and Dr. Russell Ford, Global Director for Drinking Water & Reuse Solutions at Jacobs.

Transformation has become an over-used buzzword for companies and consultants in the last five years, but the market-proven truth is that companies, and by extension, employees, are now required to be more agile and resilient — and willing to upskill. So, how do large companies manage significant, lasting changes across their operating model during times of transition with organizational performance, innovation and collaboration as priorities? Success is driven by engaged and empowered employees, but it requires the right leadership, corporate culture and silo-busting collaboration. There’s one golden thread that runs through all three: the power of collective purpose. Our guests for this episode: Shelie Gustafson, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Jacobs, and education and leadership development coach Michael Chavez, who is Founder & Managing Director at Broad Vista Partners.

How can water companies deliver the best value for customers by turning sector challenges into opportunities for people and places? Like most markets and industries globally, the water sector is facing greater and more complex challenges due to climate change, population growth, rising costs and a shortage of incoming talent. In this episode, we unpack innovation, core values and close collaboration between Jacobs and Northumbrian Water, which supplies 2.7 million people with water and wastewater services in North East England, and 1.8 million people with water only in Essex and Suffolk. The inspiring leaders on this podcast are Northumbrian Water Group CEO Heidi Mottram, CBE, and Jacobs Senior Vice President and General Manager for Buildings & Infrastructure Europe Kate Kenny.

How do you build resilient healthcare that benefits patients, health carers and communities? It’s a complex challenge that requires a new approach, one that builds on lessons from the pandemic and introduces evidence-based design, tech-led innovation, cross-sector collaboration and hybrid skill sets. For this episode, host Arthur Jones interviews pioneers in these fields: Matthew Holmes, Global Director of Health Infrastructure at Jacobs, and Dr. Diana Anderson, Dochitect and healthcare principal at Jacobs.