In this episode of the DDI podcast, Mark Yeeles speaks with Matt Quirk, Director HPE WW Channel and Partner Ecosystem at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, about the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its implications for businesses.
They discuss the challenges of AI adoption, the importance of sustainability in technology, and the critical role of partnerships in driving innovation.
Matt shares his personal journey in the tech industry and highlights the collaborative efforts between HPE and NVIDIA to simplify AI solutions for enterprises. The conversation emphasises the need for transparency and actionable sustainability goals in the tech sector.
In this episode of the DDI podcast, Mark Eales speaks with Dan Scarbrough, Chief of Staff at Stelia (Chief Commercial Officer at the time of recording), about the evolving landscape of AI and data mobility.
They discuss the challenges faced by the data centre industry in adapting to the demands of AI, the importance of interconnectivity, and the role of sustainability in the future of technology.
Dan shares insights from his extensive experience in the data centre sector and emphasizes the need for a more interconnected and efficient data infrastructure to support the growing volume of data generated by AI applications.
In this episode of the DDI podcast, Mark Yeeles speaks with Garry Connolly, founder of Digital Infrastructure Ireland, about the evolution of digital infrastructure, the importance of data, and the role of communication in technology.
They discuss real-world applications of data, the challenges and opportunities facing Ireland in the digital race, and the need for a collaborative approach to sustainability and decarbonisation in the industry.
Their conversation emphasises the importance of storytelling and understanding in driving the industry forward.
In this episode of the DDI podcast, Mark Yeeles speaks with Tim Loake, VP Infrastructure Solutions Group UK at Dell Technologies, about the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and energy sustainability.
They discuss Tim's career journey, the challenges of AI adoption, the importance of skills in the tech industry, and the future of data centres.
Tim explains how he sees AI as a "plumbing problem", emphasising the need for liquid cooling in high-performance data centres and the potential for regional energy pricing to drive investment in AI growth zones.
The conversation highlights the transformative impact of AI on productivity and the necessity for a skilled workforce to navigate the evolving tech landscape.
Kicking off the latest season of the DDI podcast, Mark Yeeles speaks with David Hogan, NVIDIA's Vice President of Enterprise in EMEA, about the transformative impact of AI across various sectors, particularly healthcare.
They discuss Hogan's journey to NVIDIA, the evolution of AI, and the importance of data sovereignty for governments. The conversation also touches on the collaboration needed across industries to harness AI's potential, the balance between AI's energy consumption and sustainability, and the future of automated data centres.
Finally, they emphasise the need for training the next generation of AI professionals and the importance of being open to new market opportunities.
In this bonus episode of the DDI Podcast, hear one of the many interesting panels that took place at Data Centre World 2024, at ExCel London.
Hosted by Schneider Electric's Digital Services Business Director, Nathan Ghundoo, with a panel of industry guests including Matthieu Lecapitaine, Partner Manager at AVEVA (a Schneider Electric company); Andy McKenzie, Commercial Consultancy Leader at Schneider Electric consultancy for the UK&I; and Paul Almond, Director of Data Centre UK.
Hear the panel share interesting and stimulating insights into the data centre industry, and how they are adapting to decarbonise and become more optimised in their operations.
In the final episode of Season 3, Mark welcomes David Watkins, Solutions Director at VIRTUS Data Centres, to discuss David’s career, how to attract new talent to the sector, and what the future holds for the industry.
David shares his thoughts on the impact the increased demand for AI is having on data centres, and how those data centres could benefit local communities through shared infrastructure, such as local heat networks. The pair discuss the importance of collaboration between digital infrastructure businesses and government, and how any legislation coming in needs to be a collective, informed decision.
David also tells Mark about VIRTUS’s mentality when it comes to retaining staff, as well as how best to highlight the benefits of working in the sector to the next generation of workers.
For the latest instalment of the DDI Podcast, Mark welcomes Abhishek Dhingra, Global Director of Strategic Partnerships, Shell Energy Renewables and Industry Decarbonisation. The pair discuss Abhishek’s 15-year career with Shell Energy, the need for digital transformation and energy transition to solve some of the world’s energy challenges, and how collaboration is allowing renewable energy sources and data centres to be built much quicker.
Abhishek shares how Shell Energy are helping tech companies across numerous industries decarbonise their operations and supply chain, as well as producing liquid cooling solutions to keep up with the heat produced by GPUs.
Mark and Abhishek take a look to the next generation, with Abhishek offering his advice to those wanting to pursue a career in the digital infrastructure sector, as well as contemplating what the future of the industry itself may look like.
In this episode of the DDI Podcast, Mark welcomes Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres group. The pair discuss Dawn’s journey to date, how collaboration is key, and the “wicked problem” the industry is currently facing.
Dawn shares her thoughts on the current skills shortage, emphasising the importance of explaining the industry better to the public, and how you don’t need specialist training to work within the sector.
In the latest episode of the DDI Podcast, Mark is joined by Osama Bakhet, Vice President of Global Utilities at Yondr Group – a global provider of hyperscale data centres – to discuss the future of the digital infrastructure industry, and best practices to encourage future talent to choose the sector for a career.
Mark and Osama speak about the power of the ecosystem and collaboration within the industry, and how it can lead to growth and a happier consumer.
Osama shares his thoughts on how early education, and an understanding of what the next generation already knows about the industry, can inspire innovation.
In the latest episode of the DDI Podcast, Middlesex University student Madison Clements discusses why she’s chosen the data centre industry for her future career, where she believes the industry is failing when it comes to recruitment, and what steps can be taken to attract new talent from an early age.
Madison shares her perspective of the data centre industry as an outsider; both as someone looking to get a job in the sector, and from a Gen Z point of view, before giving her honest (and frank) review of how Schneider Electric looks to the next generation of digital infrastructure professionals.
Kicking off Season three of the DDI podcast, Mark Yeeles discusses with Mark Bjornsgaard, CEO and founder of Deep Green Technologies, how heat can be recaptured from distributed edge micro data centres for social good, for free.
He outlines Deep Green’s growing deployment of data furnace technology into sites which require hot water, such as swimming pools, building vital compute infrastructure whilst providing significant additional, quantifiable ESG benefits.
Mark explains how Octopus Energy’s £200m stake in the firm will further the adoption of Deep Green’s recaptured heat technology across the UK.
In the final episode of this series of the DDI Podcast, Mark Yeeles, Vice President for Schneider Electric’s Secure Power Division in the UK and Ireland steps away from the usual format to bring you a compelling panel discussion from Data Centre World 2024 in London.
Featuring prominent industry experts, they delve into reshaping the narrative, transforming the perception from 'Toxic Dumps' to 'Essential Players in the Fight Against Climate Change', and spearheading discussions on Environmental, Social, and Governance focal points.
Hear why this transformation is vital in addressing skills shortages and shaping the sector into an appealing and sustainable career path for existing & future talent.
Mark Yeeles is joined by leading industry voice, IDC analyst Penny Madsen as they explore the tangible benefits of cloud computing for businesses, highlighting the shift towards operational efficiency and the move from capital expenses to operational ones. They discuss how cloud services are evolving, particularly through dedicated cloud ecosystems that offer a range of digital services, including industry-specific and AI applications, which are driving innovation and transformation.
During the episode they also examine the role of hyperscalers in providing access to the latest technologies and the cost savings they offer, especially with the increasing adoption of generative AI. The conversation also touches on overcoming the challenges of cloud complexity and security, the impact of network and performance issues, and the critical role of skilled professionals in managing cloud infrastructure.
In this episode, Mark Yeeles and Serverfarm’s Arun Shenoy explore the importance of sustainability in the tech industry; focusing on the lifecycle of IT hardware and the critical role data centres play in our digital infrastructure. They discuss the necessity of repurposing and extending the life of tech equipment, emphasising how large hyperscalers can offer their outdated hardware to those with less demanding performance needs.
Reflecting on career advice for young tech professionals, they talk about the broad range of opportunities within technology, from hardware engineering to software, and stress the importance of portraying the data centre industry as integral to every aspect of daily life, comparable to essential services like housing and healthcare.
Looking to the future, they consider the tech industry's larger contribution to society as the 'fourth utility,' alongside water, gas and electricity and ponder what disruptive forces might emerge in 2024.
In this episode Mark Yeeles welcomes David Hall from Atlas Edge to discuss the evolving landscape of data centres and the critical role they play in the next generation of internet applications. They explore the idea of data centres as good corporate citizens and the pursuit of a sustainable internet, touching on the concept of ‘dancing on the edge’ in relation to embracing the exciting changes and challenges in digital infrastructure.
David shares his personal journey from studying machine learning to becoming a pivotal figure in the data centre industry, highlighting the shift to edge computing and the importance of building data centres closer to users for enhanced sustainability and performance. Their conversation finally turns to the transformative impact of machine learning platforms and the potential of edge data centres to integrate with district heating systems to contribute to local communities.
In this episode Mark and Custodian Data Centres Board Director, Amy Young, tackle the pressing issue of women's underrepresentation in the tech industry, highlighting the challenges, the progress and the setbacks.
They explore the importance of creating a truly inclusive work culture that attracts diverse talent, and the value and perspectives that women from other industries can offer digital infrastructure.
They also touch on the significance of networking and mentorship, using social media platforms like LinkedIn to build professional relationships, and the complementary roles of apprenticeships and graduate programs in fostering a more gender-balanced workforce.
Finally, they share their own personal advice for women and young people starting their careers, stressing the power of building skills and knowledge through various resources and the strength found in cultivating a robust professional network.
Is the UK poised to become an AI powerhouse or are we teetering on the brink of a digital infrastructure crisis? Spencer Lamb, Chief Commercial Officer at Kao Data joins the DDI Podcast to unpack the seismic shifts in the data centre landscape, crucial for the AI revolution.
We traverse the intricate tapestry of government ambitions, the energy demands of artificial intelligence, and the evolution of data centres, engineered for GPU-powered workloads and designed to meet the insatiable appetite of cloud services and Gnerative AI technologies. In this episode, Spencer brings his insider perspective to the table, illuminating the path the UK must tread to secure its place on the global AI stage, balancing the act between soaring aspirations and the stark realities of the digital infrastructure that underpins them.
The quest for a greener future takes centre stage as we scrutinise the data centre industry's environmental impact and the pressing need to project a new, dynamic image to the world. Revealing the behind-the-scenes strides towards sustainability, we discuss the vital role of transparent communication in reshaping public perception and drawing in the next generation of tech visionaries. This is not just about the nuts and bolts of AI, it's a celebration of the investments and strategies enriching the AI landscape, nurturing diversity, and championing skill development. Join us for a compelling exploration with Spencer, where every byte of conversation pushes the boundaries of today's technological capabilities.
In this episode, Mark joins Lauren Ryder, Customer Experience Officer (CEO), Leading Edge Data Centres, for an in-depth discussion on the tech sector gender gap, the power of female leadership, and how Leading Edge is harnessing the power of sustainable digital infrastructure to transform Regional Australia and bridge the digital divide.
In our latest episode, Mark joins data centre industry influencer and host of the Inside Data Centre Podcast, Andy Davis, for a discussion on the data centre PR problem and the misunderstanding of the sectors role in society, the talent crisis, and how by addressing the media narrative, our industry can build bridges between consumers and industry to attract a new generation of professionals.