Explaining infrastructure value with David Porter

Jan 12, 2026

David Porter, 161st President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Northern Ireland infrastructure director, explains why infrastructure must be talked about as services that enable daily life. He discusses communicating disruptions, prioritizing maintenance over spectacle, rebuilding public sector capability, multidisciplinary skills including soft skills, and using AI responsibly to support decision-making.

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ADVICE

Tell People Exactly How Long Disruption Will Last

Communicate disruption early and precisely to reduce public frustration and give users control.
David Porter compares timely delay information to airport updates: telling users expected durations lowers agitation and enables adjustments.

INSIGHT

Environment Has Become A Design Priority

Public engineering has shifted from treating the environment as a constraint to actively leaving it better than found.
Porter notes this cultural change alongside larger-scale mega projects that alter procurement and delivery approaches.

ADVICE

Invest In Proper Maintenance Not Just Patches

Avoid short-term patching that saves money now but increases future costs; invest in larger maintenance when needed.
Porter explains constrained budgets push authorities to patch potholes, but deferred resurfacing creates greater long-term headaches.

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In today’s podcast we explore the power of investment in infrastructure to change and improve people’s lives - every day.

My guest is David Porter, the newly installed 161st President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a man who throughout his career, has had public service top of mind, top of his agenda and etched throughout everything he does.

As a career civil servant in Northern Ireland, he knows better than most how important it is to work with communities - - and of course how civil engineering and infrastructure shapes almost every aspect of daily life-from the water we drink and the energy that powers our homes, to the transport networks and flood defences that keep the country moving and safe.

And yet, despite its central role, and as David points out, the profession often struggles to explain its value, earn public trust, or influence the decisions that matter most.

But we need to meet that challenge. The UK faces ageing assets, a stretched public purse, ambitious net zero targets, rapid technological change and growing public scepticism about long-term investment.

At the same time, the civil engineering profession is grappling with skills shortages, questions of capability, and how best to deploy emerging tools like artificial intelligence responsibly.

In his inaugural address last November, David argued that civil engineers need to change how they talk about their work - moving away from technical language and towards a clearer focus on the services infrastructure provides and the societal outcomes it enables.

He has also challenged clients, institutions and engineers themselves to raise their game: to become better communicators, better decision-makers and better stewards of long-term public value.

So let’s deep deeper to find out how to ensure civil engineering and infrastructure truly serves society in the decades ahead.

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