Dale and Val are joined by Lisa Silander, Global Practice and UK Technical Lead for Project Controls at AtkinsRéalis.

With 30 years leading planning and project controls teams across aviation, rail, water, manufacturing, and nuclear, Lisa has shaped delivery on some of the UK's most demanding capital programmes including Heathrow Terminal 5, Heathrow Q6, the Heathrow Expansion Project, Thames Water AMP5, and Yorkshire Water AMP7.

In this episode we cover:

• Lisa's career journey into project controls
• What attracted her to the discipline and kept her there for three decades
• The initiative she's leading to build UK project controls capability at AtkinsRéalis
• Why humans will always be involved in projects, even as AI reshapes the work
• The daily habits that have shaped her career
• Grit, determination, and the human side of leading high-performing teams
• Perspective as a woman building and leading teams in a complex industry

A grounded, practical conversation with one of the most experienced voices in UK project controls.

Connect with Lisa Silander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-silander-fcasa-b078645/

Follow the Project Chatter Podcast:Website: https://www.projectchatter.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectchatterpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoudjc2m0ttmAkyvBnf8EnQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6m6J87LIOHVoY9FlaAXp53Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-project-chatter-podcast/id1869579042

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We recently hosted the Controls and Skills Authority Digital Community of Practice Fight Night in Birmingham. This lively panel debate explores the impact of AI on project delivery, jobs, and industry practices. Experts challenge the notion that AI is just a tool or a threat, examining cultural, technical, and structural factors shaping AI adoption in construction and beyond.

3 Fights

1. Culture is the No.1 Enabler for AI Adoption - Ronald Dyer vs Andrew Knight
2. AI is just a tool, it won't replace jobs - Lisa Silander vs Marco Frisenda
3. AI Does Not Improve Project Delivery - Sarah Crawley vs Kashan Ratyal

https://www.controlsandskills.co.uk/

In this episode, Isabela Parisio, a legal expert in AI regulation, shares insights on the challenges and opportunities of regulating artificial intelligence. Topics include regulatory sandboxes, definitions of AI, accountability, privacy, military applications, and the future of AI governance.

Key Topics

• Regulatory sandboxes for AI testing
• Definitions and scope of AI
• Accountability and liability in AI systems
• Privacy concerns and data protection
• Military applications and ethical considerations
• Legal fictions and AI as a legal entity
• Policy development and international cooperation

Chapters

03:59 Isabela's Background and Transition to AI

07:54 Intersection of Law and AI

11:07 Understanding Regulatory Sandboxes

14:44 Experimentation in AI Development

21:00 Privacy Concerns in AI

28:22 The Role of AI in Self-Regulation

34:39 The Human Element in Technological Advancement

39:30 AI in Military Applications: Accountability and Ethics

46:07 Navigating Accountability in AI Usage

56:40 Education and AI Literacy for Future Generations

01:01:41 The Legal Status of AI: A New Frontier

01:11:36 The Future of AI: Ethical Considerations and Governance

Resources

• Responsible AI UK - https://responsibleaiuk.org/
• European Union AI Act - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021PC0206
• Johns Hopkins University AI Policy - https://www.jhu.edu/
• King's College London AI Research - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/
• Bicentennial Man (Movie) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118571/
• UK Data Protection Laws - https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/
• California AI Legislation - https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
• AI Summit 2023 - https://aibusiness.com/events/ai-summit-2023/