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Your Hosts

The Faces for Radio

A South African and an Australian starting a podcast sounds like a bad joke, right? Well, that's exactly how this began...

Dale Foong

Dale Foong

🇿🇦 The South African

Co-Founder & Co-Host

Most people build podcasts to showcase their expertise. Dale built one to steal everyone else's. 🎙️

Starting out in project controls, Dale got lucky - great mentors, solid opportunities, and a front-row seat to how the industry really works. But here's the thing: he knew most people didn't get that same lucky break. So instead of gatekeeping what he learned, he grabbed a microphone and started asking the best in the business to share their secrets for free.

200+ episodes later, Dale's turned casual conversations into a global knowledge-sharing movement. Oh, and co-founded Project Connect Group along the way - because apparently running a podcast wasn't ambitious enough.

#PayItForward 🚀

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Val Matthews

Val Matthews

🇦🇺 The Australian

Co-Founder & Co-Host

Val's superpower? Spotting BS from a mile away and calling it out with a smile. Perfect skill for a podcaster, really. 💼

After watching too many talented people hit invisible barriers just because they didn't have the "right connections," Val decided the system was broken. The fix? Build a platform where the best minds in the industry actually want to share what they know - freely, openly, and without ego. Cutting through the BS is exactly why Val loves what he does.

200+ episodes later, Val's helped turn a podcast into a genuine community. Co-founding Project Connect Group was the natural next step - taking conversations off the mic and into rooms where access actually means something.

#PayItForward 🌏

Support the podcast and keep the knowledge flowing

Why We Started This Thing

Back when we worked together, we realised we were always the youngest in the room - and not by a little. We'd look around the boardroom and think, "How did we get here? And why doesn't everyone have access to these opportunities?"

We had great mentors, amazing opportunities, and - let's be honest - perfect faces for radio. So we started this podcast to make expert insights freely available to anyone who wants to learn, grow, and level up their project careers. No paywalls. No gatekeeping. Just raw, real conversations.

That #PayItForward mindset led us to co-found Project Connect Group - free community events in the UK and Australia where people can connect, find mentors, and keep the cycle going.

Trusted by Project Professionals Globally

200+ industry leaders share their unfiltered insights - from Fortune 500 executives to startup founders

220+
Episodes Published
Since 2018
200+
Expert Guests
Across 30+ countries
10
Seasons
Of insights
6+
Years Running
#1 in Project Controls

Past Guests Include Leaders From:

🏢 Fortune 500 Companies
🏗️ Major Infrastructure Projects
🎓 Leading Universities
🚀 Tech Startups

Latest Episodes

Fresh insights from project experts worldwide

S10E220

S10E220: Is Project Controls Behind on AI? | Yash Desai, Movar Reply

Most data scientists have never touched a project. Yash Desai looked at the project controls world through the data first, and what he found says a lot about why this industry lags behind others on AI. In Episode 220, Dale is joined by returning co-host Martin and first-time guest Yash Desai, Head of Data and AI at Movar Reply, for a practical conversation on where data, AI and robotics actually fit in project delivery. We cover why project controls sits behind other industries, what an orchestration layer really is, how to future-proof your role, the data scientist vs project controller debate, hiring for drive over a skills list, robotics on site today vs the hype, and the Fable situation. No buzzwords, just useful insight. Chapters:00:00 Welcome back01:38 Who is Yash Desai?04:09 Why project controls lags on AI09:44 What is an orchestration layer?14:23 Future-proofing your role22:48 Data scientist vs project controller33:26 Grads and the assurance layer36:17 Why robotics is getting interesting46:21 Robotics in one to two years52:10 Should governments regulate robotics?57:23 The Fable situation and 'Pragmatic'01:01:01 Final thoughts Connect with Yash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yash-desai-00847216b/Subscribe to Pragmatic: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/pragmaitic-7347631768201535488/ A free-access podcast. Pay it forward and share it on. www.projectchatter.com

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S10E219

S10E219: Why 88% of Schedules Fail, and What AI Still Can't Fix with Michael Pink

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.

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S10E218

S10E218: Breaking into the job market in the age of AI, with Nick Chizuka

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 Listen, subscribe and follow Project Chatter wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this one, pay it forward and share the link. Stay safe, be disruptive, and have fun doing it.

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S10E217

S10E217: Lisa Silander on 30 Years in UK Project Controls

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. Keep listening, keep liking, and keep paying it forward.

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S10E216

S10E216: CaSA Digital Community of Practice Fight Night

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

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S10E215

S10E215: AI Regulation - Navigating the Future of Responsible Innovation with Isabela Parisio

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/

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