Search
Engineering has the power to shape lives, communities and futures. Every day, geotechnical and geoenvironmental professionals contribute to safer homes, resilient infrastructure, sustainable development and thriving communities.
Yet despite the critical role engineering plays in society, many young people still struggle to see themselves within the profession.
For those from underrepresented backgrounds, the challenge can be even greater.
If people cannot see themselves reflected in an industry, it can be difficult to imagine that they belong there.
At a time when the engineering and construction sectors continue to face skills shortages, an ageing workforce and increasing technical complexity, this is a challenge that affects all of us.
The future success of ground engineering depends not only on technical excellence, but on our ability to attract, retain and develop the widest possible talent pool.
Representation, visibility and belonging are therefore not simply Equality, Diversity and Inclusion issues.
They are industry issues.
Three voices. One shared purpose.
Chai & Chat Engineering was created from a shared belief that engineering should be visible, relatable and accessible to everyone.
The podcast is hosted by three engineers whose careers span geotechnical engineering, infrastructure delivery and major programme leadership. Although they work in different parts of the industry, they share a common experience: each has spent significant parts of their career as one of very few people who looked like them in the room.
Dipalee Jukes
Dipalee Jukes is a geologist, ground engineer and entrepreneur, and co-founder and CEO of Ground & Water, a geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering consultancy established in 2009. With more than two decades of experience in the industry, she is a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership, developing people alongside projects and creating businesses that deliver both technical excellence and social impact. Alongside her work in ground engineering, she is involved in mentoring, school governance and wider industry initiatives focused on gender equality and representation.
Era Shah
Era Shah is a Chartered Civil Engineer and programme management professional working across the infrastructure and built environment sector. Her experience spans complex infrastructure delivery, transformation programmes and strategic programme management. Beyond her professional role, she actively supports future generations through mentoring, STEM outreach and trustee work, championing both technical excellence and social responsibility.
Malika Kapasi
Malika Kapasi brings over two decades of experience in major infrastructure and transport programmes. As a planning director and commission lead, she works at the intersection of project delivery, governance and strategic leadership. Through Chai & Chat Engineering, she is passionate about sharing the often unwritten lessons of leadership and demonstrating that diverse voices belong at the highest levels of engineering decision-making.
Together, the three co-hosts represent different technical disciplines, sectors and career paths. What unites them is a shared desire to help create an industry where future generations see engineering as a place where they belong.
From a chance meeting to a global platform
The origins of Chai & Chat Engineering can be traced back to London Build Expo in 2021.
The three co-hosts met for the first time at the event and quickly discovered common experiences despite working in different parts of the industry. Conversations about careers, visibility, leadership and identity revealed striking similarities in their personal and professional journeys. Each had experienced periods where they felt like outliers in engineering spaces. Each had questioned whether they truly belonged. And each recognised how powerful visible role models could have been earlier in their careers.
From that conversation emerged a simple idea.
What if there was a platform where honest discussions about engineering, leadership and lived experience could take place?
What if the stories often missing from industry narratives could be brought to the forefront?
That idea became Chai & Chat Engineering, which launched in October 2022.
Today, the podcast reaches listeners in more than 37 countries and has become a growing platform for conversations about engineering careers, leadership, resilience, inclusion and the future of the profession.
Why conversation matters
The podcast takes its inspiration from the cultural tradition of sharing stories over a cup of chai.
At its heart is a simple belief: conversation has power.
Engineering is often presented through a technical lens. We discuss specifications, standards, designs, risk assessments, site investigations and project delivery. These are fundamental aspects of our profession. Yet engineering is just as much about people as it is about projects – creativity, teamwork, communication and the ability to turn ideas into impact.
And, behind every project is a human story.
For many young people, engineering remains an unknown career. They may have heard the term “engineer”, but have little understanding of what engineers actually do, how they entered the profession or what opportunities exist within it.
This is particularly true for specialist disciplines such as engineering geology, geotechnical engineering and geoenvironmental consultancy.
Stories bridge that gap.
When people hear authentic accounts of career journeys, setbacks, successes and lessons learned, engineering becomes more human and more accessible.
It becomes easier to imagine a place for themselves within it.
The support of the Institution of Civil Engineers
In 2026, the Institution of Civil Engineers recognised the impact of Chai & Chat Engineering through an article titled Three Voices, One Industry, A Shared Goal: Help Others See Themselves in Engineering. The article explored the podcast’s mission to widen participation and help individuals from underrepresented backgrounds see engineering as a profession where they belong.
The ICE highlighted the podcast’s focus on open and honest dialogue, describing how the three hosts had created a platform that challenges perceptions of who belongs within engineering and the built environment. It recognised the importance of creating welcoming spaces where conversations about careers, leadership and lived experience can take place openly.
The support received from the ICE has been significant.
It demonstrates that attracting future engineering talent is not solely about promoting technical careers. It is also about building connections, raising visibility and showcasing a broad range of voices and experiences.
The role of representation in tackling skills shortages
Ground engineering faces many challenges.
Climate change adaptation, sustainable development, renewable energy infrastructure, brownfield regeneration and increasingly complex geotechnical risks all require highly skilled professionals.
At the same time, the wider engineering sector continues to experience challenges around recruitment and retention.
The profession therefore needs to appeal to a broader audience than ever before.
Research consistently demonstrates that diverse teams bring benefits including stronger decision making, increased innovation and improved organisational performance. Diverse teams also better reflect the communities that engineering ultimately serves.
The challenge is not simply encouraging more people to enter the profession.
It is ensuring that once they arrive, they feel they belong.
Many of the guests featured on Chai & Chat Engineering have spoken candidly about imposter syndrome, confidence, leadership and career progression. These conversations reinforce an important truth: creating inclusive cultures is not solely about policies and programmes.
It is about people.
People who feel valued are more likely to stay.
People who feel visible are more likely to progress.
People who feel they belong are more likely to thrive.
Changing perceptions of who belongs
The podcast has welcomed guests from across engineering, infrastructure and the built environment, including former ICE President Professor Anusha Shah. Guests have included engineers, academics, project leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences.
Many discussions focus on topics rarely addressed in traditional technical forums.
How does someone build confidence early in their career?
What does leadership really look like?
How do people navigate challenges, setbacks and self-doubt?
What support mechanisms make the most difference?
These discussions matter because they reveal the human side of engineering.
Conversations also often go beyond professional milestones to explore the personal influences that have shaped their journeys, from their upbringing to their cultural backgrounds.
All in all, this helps to challenge outdated assumptions about who an engineer, leader or technical expert should look like.
What can AGS members do?
The good news is that meaningful change does not always require large budgets or complex programmes.
Often, it starts with simple actions.
AGS members can:
- Share their career journeys more openly.
- Support mentoring and sponsorship opportunities.
- Engage with schools, colleges and universities.
- Increase the visibility of diverse role models within their organisations.
- Encourage early career professionals to speak, publish and present.
- Create environments where people feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
- Listen to the experiences of others and seek to understand different perspectives.
Most importantly, everyone can play a role in helping people feel that they belong.
Looking to the future
The future of ground engineering will undoubtedly be shaped by emerging technologies, changing regulations, sustainability challenges and new technical solutions.
But it will also be shaped by people.
By the students who have yet to discover geology.
By the graduates who are just starting their careers.
By the future leaders who may currently be questioning whether they belong.
As an industry, geotechnical and geoenvironmental specialists spend much of their time thinking about foundations.
Perhaps one of the most important foundations we can build is a profession where every talented individual can see a place for themselves.
Because when more people can see themselves in engineering, the profession becomes stronger, more innovative and better equipped to tackle the challenges ahead.
And sometimes, that journey begins with something as simple as a conversation over a cup of chai.
How to get involved
The hosts welcome connections with geotechnical and geoenvironmental professionals who are passionate about inspiring future talent, sharing their stories and helping create a more representative profession for the next generation. For AGS members interested in listening, all episodes of Chai & Chat Engineering are available on Spotify and Amazon Music.
Listen to the podcast:
Contact us:
chaichatengineering@gmail.com
LinkedIn:
By Dipalee Jukes, Era Shah and Malika Kapasi, Co-hosts of the Chai & Chat Engineering Podcast