International engineering federation FIDIC to host third annual global leadership summit in Madrid.
In April this year, global infrastructure leaders from across the consultancy and engineering sector will meet in Madrid for two days of talks, debates and discussions with industry leaders and opinion formers on the key challenges and opportunities facing the engineering, construction and infrastructure sector at the third annual Global Leadership Forum (GLF) Summit.
The summit, which is organised by the international engineering federation FIDIC, will see some of the world’s most influential infrastructure leaders gathering to discuss solutions and actions to address key industry challenges from 10-11 April 2025 in the Spanish capital.
The invitation-only event for around 100 industry leaders will provide a meaningful forum for leaders in the global infrastructure sector to connect with their peers from around the world to share knowledge and to discuss solutions to the major issues facing them, their leadership teams and their organisations.
Those attending the Madrid summit will include CEOs and c-suite executives from the global infrastructure community, including those working in government, finance, consulting engineering, construction, professional services, supply chain, construction products manufacturers, merchants, academia, trade associations, asset owners and clients. FIDIC will also invite guests from other industries to offer different perspectives and to challenge those present.
Some of the key themes being considered at this year’s event include: –
- Sustainability – Is progress being made fast enough on sustainability goals and regulations, the skills shortage, digital transformation, cost management and efficiency? Is radical culture change needed to speed up and embed progress?
- Collaboration – How does the sector collaborate more effectively and work to a common framework for delivering decarbonisation of infrastructure?
- AI update – How does the sector collaborate more effectively and work to a common framework for embedding AI and using this to drive better outcomes for clients, programmes and the industry’s own organisations?
- Working better together – How does the industry close the gap between the designers, contractors and their supply chain of construction product manufacturers and merchants to ensure the right construction products are specified and delivered to enable the successful decarbonisation of infrastructure projects?
The soon-to-be-confirmed keynote speaker at the summit will explore how world events and multi-generational and increasing workplace equality, diversity and inclusion are radically changing the way the industry works and will work in the future – and also, what this means for leaders of global organisations.
Other issues to be addressed at the summit include Artificial Intelligence, the next chapter, an update on the GLF’s work on the role of AI in infrastructure and its potential to transform the sector by optimising processes, reducing costs and enhancing safety in infrastructure projects.
There will also be a presentation on the next phase of the work of the Global Leadership Forum’s Carbon Collaboration Initiative, which is being spearheaded by the CEOs from some of the world’s largest consulting engineering firms with the aim of developing a common, replicable and standardised process of calculation and disclosure of embodied and operational CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions related to infrastructure projects.
With further discussions taking place on how best to ensure greater collaboration between consultants, contractors and their supply chain, the Madrid summit in April is set to be a key event in the consultancy and engineering calendar for 2025. Advance registration is essential for what is an invite-only event and attendees are strongly encouraged to reserve places without delay.
