88% of project schedules don't follow best practice. So why are we so keen to feed that data into AI and trust the output?

In this episode, Dale and Val are joined by Michael Pink, Founder of SmartPM, for a sharp conversation on the forensic side of delay and the state of AI in project controls.

Mike has analysed hundreds of thousands of schedules and built a career on working out who delayed what, and why nobody could ever agree. His core message: clean data is not the same as honest data. A technically tidy schedule can tell you a story that never happened, and if you point AI at it, you don't get insight, you get a confident wrong answer at scale.

What we cover:

• Mike's route into construction, from a study-abroad debt to KPMG's construction consulting group
• 25 years of change in the people and process side of scheduling
• The shift from reactive forensic work to proactive project controls
• Data honesty vs data quality, and why integrity is the combination of both (framing credited to Isaac Dyer and Carlos Sanchez)
• The 88% problem: missing logic, inflated float and moving dates
• The compression factor, and the exact point a schedule becomes infeasible
• Why a weekly update beats a monthly one, for almost no extra time
• P6 vs Microsoft Project, and grading schedule quality across 35 metrics
• Where LLMs genuinely help, and why quantitative AI is still the long game
• The future of the scheduler: less building and cleaning, more strategy

A genuinely optimistic look at where the profession is heading, and why this might be the best time yet to be in project controls.

This episode is proudly sponsored by nPlan.nPlan Summer AI Day 2026: Construction Superintelligence takes place in London on Thursday 25 June 2026, with a fireside featuring Peter Hancock, Project Director at National Grid, and Dima Pogorelsky, MD and Partner at BCG. February's event sold out with standing room only. Register here:https://www.nplan.io/events/nplan-summer-ai-day-2026-construction-superintelligence

Connect with Michael Pink at https://www.smartpm.com or on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode, help us pay it forward and share it. Stay safe, be disruptive, and have fun doing it.

Top of his MBA class at the University of Bath, technically sharp, and still firing out 20 to 30 applications a day with little to show for it. Nick Chizuka joins Dale and Val for an honest conversation about what it takes to land a role in project controls and consulting right now, and why the rise of AI has made the graduate market tougher than it was even a year ago.

It is a candid look at the gap between what universities teach and what employers actually want, the false choice between technical and soft skills, and where the real jobs of the next decade might come from.

In this episode:

• Why a top MBA no longer guarantees a job, and what changed
• Technical skills vs soft skills, and why you need both
• The graduates' verdict on data, analytics and machine learning
• Robotics and physical AI as the next frontier
• The energy and infrastructure bottleneck nobody talks about
• Using the big firms as a springboard, not a destination
• Grit, discipline, and hiring for attitude over CV
• Nick's hard-won advice: don't get discouraged, get help, and network relentlessly

A reminder that people are not their behaviours. Set the environment for success and the right person will fly.

This episode is sponsored by nPlan.

nPlan AI Day, Summer 2026: Construction SuperintelligenceThursday 25 June 2026, from 3:00pmKachette, 347 Old St, London EC1V 9LP, and online

nPlan's twice-yearly showcase returns with its biggest product moment of the year, including the launch of the nPlan Decision Intelligence Platform. The fireside brings together Peter Hancock, Project Director at National Grid on the Didcot substation, and Dima Pogorelsky, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, for a candid take on delivering the infrastructure behind the AI era. February sold out with standing room only, so book early.

Register: https://www.nplan.io/events/nplan-summer-ai-day-2026-construction-superintelligence

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Stay safe, be disruptive, and have fun doing it.

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

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share with someone in your network.

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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/

In this episode of the Project Chatter podcast, Val and Dale welcome Atif Ansar, co-founder of Foresight, to discuss the rapidly evolving world of data centers. Atif shares insights on the explosive growth and increasing complexity of data centers, highlighting the challenges related to energy supply, skilled labor, and technology redundancy. The conversation explores the role of AI in enhancing data center design and construction, the impact of edge computing, and the skills needed for future project professionals in this dynamic field. Atif also touches on innovative concepts like space-based data centers, emphasizing the exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. In this conversation, the speakers explore the intersection of creativity and AI, discussing how technology influences project management and the future of jobs. They emphasize the importance of human essence in a technology-driven world and the evolving nature of data centers amidst global competition. The discussion also touches on the necessity of adapting to technological advancements and the potential for superintelligence in the future.

Takeaways

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Data centers are experiencing explosive growth, with construction volume increasing significantly.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The complexity of data centers has evolved, making them more akin to industrial assets than simple warehouses.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Data centers require substantial energy, land, and skilled labor, creating challenges in construction.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The lifespan of data centers is long, but technology within them evolves rapidly, leading to potential obsolescence.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ AI can significantly enhance the design and construction processes of data centers.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Edge computing complements data centers, creating a fractal-like relationship between different computing structures.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Project professionals should focus on becoming subject matter experts while also being adaptable and open to using AI.🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The energy supply for data centers is a critical constraint, but innovation in self-supply and renewable energy is emerging.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Understanding the components and costs associated with data centers is essential for project professionals.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The future of data centers may include innovative concepts like space-based facilities. Creativity enhances the effectiveness of project management.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ AI allows generalists to be more valuable than specialists.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Human jobs will evolve rather than disappear due to AI.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The demand for human-specific jobs will be based on human preferences.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Technological advancements can improve quality of life and efficiency.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The luxuries of one generation become necessities for the next.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ We are transitioning from an analog to a digital world.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Data centers are crucial in the global tech race.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ The construction of data centers will continue to grow exponentially.

🏗️👷🏼‍♀️ Continuous learning is essential in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:58 The Growth and Complexity of Data Centers

05:23 Key Components of Data Centers

08:01 The Future of Data Centers in Space

11:24 Energy Supply Challenges for Data Centers

15:30 Technology Redundancy and Lifespan of Data Centers

20:43 Edge Computing and Its Impact

23:58 AI's Role in Data Center Design and Construction

27:29 Skills for Future Project Professionals in Data Centers

30:44 The Intersection of Creativity and AI

33:46 The Future of Jobs in an AI World

36:18 Human Essence in the Age of Technology

39:39 The Evolution of Technology and Human Experience

43:42 Data Center Dynamics and Global Competition

52:11 The Future of Project Management and Technology

#ProjectManagement #PMO #ProjectControls #Leadership #Culture #ProjectCertifications

In this episode, project delivery expert Dave Lockley shares insights on transforming complex change portfolios into measurable business value, the pitfalls of watermelon projects, and how technology can improve project transparency and decision-making.

Key Topics

• Watermelon projects and transparency
• The role of technology and AI in project management
• Leadership and decision-making in projects

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions

03:51 Dave Lockley's Journey into Project Management

06:30 Understanding the Motivation Behind Projects

08:14 The Concept of Watermelon Projects

11:45 The Role of Technology in Project Management

15:32 Decision-Making in Project Management

20:51 The Need for a Chief Projects Officer

22:37 The Impact of Technology on Decision-Making

26:54 Understanding Decision-Making in Project Management

28:19 Identifying Project Risks and Metrics

30:06 The Importance of Transparency in Reporting

31:15 Leadership and Accountability in Projects

33:22 The Need for Qualified Decision-Makers

36:11 Exploring Governance and Control in Projects

38:56 The Role of Human Behavior in Project Management

40:37 Final Thoughts and Reflections on Project Management

In this episode of the Project Chatter podcast, Dale engages with Rod Whiting, a seasoned expert in project controls, who shares his extensive journey in the field since 1983. Rod discusses the evolution of project controls, emphasizing the importance of a project control-friendly culture within organizations. He highlights how understanding and valuing project controls can significantly impact project success, illustrating his points with anecdotes from his career. Rod also addresses the challenges of demonstrating the value of project controls to stakeholders, offering practical strategies to communicate its importance effectively.

As the conversation progresses, Rod delves into the human aspects of project management, including stakeholder management and team dynamics. He shares insights on building relationships within teams, the significance of effective communication, and the role of technology in enhancing project controls. The discussion culminates in reflections on the highs and lows of Rod's career, emphasizing the importance of kindness and compassion in the workplace, and the need for a supportive culture that fosters collaboration and success in project delivery.

Takeaways

• Project controls is about understanding and valuing the process.
• A project control-friendly culture is essential for success.
• Demonstrating the value of project controls requires effective communication.
• Building relationships within teams is crucial for project success.
• Kindness and compassion in the workplace lead to better outcomes.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Project Chatter Podcast

00:49 Rod Whiting's Journey in Project Controls

03:39 Understanding Project Control-Friendly Culture

06:52 Demonstrating the Value of Project Controls

11:12 Building Strong Team Relationships

19:43 Navigating the Post-COVID Work Landscape

30:37 The Future of Work and Automation

32:12 Creating a Project Controls-Friendly Culture

35:29 Leadership and Compassion in Tough Times

39:00 Common Mistakes in Project Management

42:25 Capturing Knowledge and Experience

45:19 The Role of Technology in Project Controls

49:54 Highs and Lows of a Project Management Career

55:34 Final Thoughts on Kindness and Purpose