Message from the editor | Issue 15 | Dec 15

This month’s Straight Talk interview with Sadie Morgan was easily one of the highlights of the two years since we launched Infrastructure Intelligence. It is fair to say that the sector needs more people like Sadie to stand tall , says Antony Oliver as he steps down as II editor.

Antony Oliver, Editor, Infrastructure Intelligence

As her interview makes clear, she brings design passion and commitment and genuinely understands that infrastructure is conceived, delivered and operated by people and for people.

“A bit of disruption is definitely good,” says Morgan. “When everyone is patting themselves on the back that is when you absolutely have to poke them where it hurts.”

In particular her description of what constitutes good design and her plainly spoken explanation of the vital teamwork and collaboration that underpins success should resonate with all across the sector.

“A happy team produces work that is good and full of joy,” she says. “You do that by making their environment nice and by listening to them.”

Simple, but so often not understood. Having written many words over the years about the vital need for collaboration and team work across the silos of infrastructure, it is clear that breaking out of traditional roles is hard.

Hence the importance, for me, of a second critical point raised in the interview. “A bit of disruption is definitely good,” says Morgan. “When everyone is patting themselves on the back that is when you absolutely have to poke them where it hurts.”

"I hope that over the last two years we have successfully brought you happiness and some small joy each week, while at the same time added a bit of welcome disruption to the fast moving world of infrastructure communications. 

The UK infrastructure sector is extraordinarily talented and has led the world when it comes to creative and innovative ideas. The challenge is not only that the rest of the world is catching up, but also that, as technology increasingly plays a central role, the world is changing. Fast.

Without disruptive ideas to break out of the status quo, infrastructure professionals will inevitably be left behind.

So as I and the Infrastructure Intelligence launch team step down and hand over to the new editorial team, it is worth reflecting on these issues.

I hope that over the last two years we have successfully brought you happiness and some small joy each week, while at the same time added a bit of welcome disruption to the fast moving world of infrastructure communications. 2016 will be an exciting year for us all.

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.