Latest news with #KarenRemo
Filipino Times
15-02-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Rise of green jobs opens new opportunities for Filipino professionals
As the Middle East continues to drive its green transition, Filipino engineers and architects are presented with unique opportunities to be part of a booming sector. With the rise of green jobs, there's a growing demand for professionals in renewable energy, environmental engineering, and sustainable urban development. But why are green jobs popular, and how can Filipinos, particularly engineers and architects, get involved? On a mission to address climate change According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the green energy and sustainability sectors are witnessing substantial growth in the global job market. In fact, the WEF's Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies climate-change mitigation as one of the most transformative trends, with 47% of employers expecting it to significantly impact their business in the next five years. The energy sector is undergoing a massive transformation as countries aim to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy sources. In fact, the demand for renewable energy engineers and environmental engineers is surging as part of the green jobs movement. According to the Top 15 Fastest-Growing Jobs of 2025, Environmental Engineers and Renewable Energy Engineers are two of the most in-demand green jobs by 2030. Filipino engineers and architects have a crucial role to play in this evolving market, especially as the green transition gains momentum in the region. During the panel discussion on 'Urban Sustainability: Redesigning Middle Eastern Cities for Walkability, Public Transport, and Green Spaces' at The Filipino Times Watchlist: Top Engineers and Architects in the Middle East Summit 2025, Srinivasan Samy, Sustainability Manager at KEO Sustainability + Environment, highlighted two major challenges to making our cities more sustainable in this region: climactic conditions and rapid urbanization. Panel moderator Dr. Karen Remo, Founder & CEO of the New Perspective Media Group, Publisher of The Filipino Times, asked: 'Sustainability investments are pretty expensive. How do you justify that in your projects. Did you actually see the benefits outweighing the costs?' 'If you are investing in sustainability, there should definitely be a return on investment. It's all about the duration. When we talk about the return on investment, what matters is how long the investor can wait to get their money back,' replied Samy. Green jobs on the rise Green jobs have seen a significant rise in recent years, growing from 13.7 million in 2022 to 16.2 million in 2023. This surge reflects the rapid expansion of renewable energy generation capacity and equipment manufacturing. The growth of green jobs is further driven by cities' ongoing push for sustainability, as they are responsible for consuming more than two-thirds of the world's energy. 'The major challenge we face, I believe not just big companies, but all companies focus on the CAPEX not on the OPEX,' Arsany Lourka, Senior Manager at Expo City Dubai, emphasized. 'It's really difficult to find a project having this exercise. The best project I've seen, they are putting it in the value engineering stage not as an initial stage.' 'The major challenge we face, I believe not just big companies, but all companies focus on the CAPEX not on the OPEX,' Arsany Lourka, Senior Manager at Expo City Dubai, emphasized. 'It's really difficult to find a project having this exercise. The best project I've seen, they are putting it in the value engineering stage not as an initial stage.' Moving to greener pastures With cities becoming more eco-conscious, engineers and architects are well-positioned to help design and implement the infrastructures of the future. Despite many job sectors facing disruptions, green energy jobs remain resilient and are expected to stay in high demand. These jobs offer stability and growth, making them an attractive career option for Filipinos in the UAE and beyond. Nida Malik, Senior Sustainability Consultant at AESG, advised on key skills, certifications, or specializations engineers and architects should pursue to stay relevant and competitive in the Middle East's evolving job market. 'If you look into sustainability ratings, you can always refer to the international ratings as inspiration, but the local ratings is what you want to see in the region, because they are tailored to the region and the climactic conditions over here,' Malik said. 'You don't have to have certification, but you have to be well aware. The good thing about sustainability is that now it has grown so much, from technical, just from being introduced as green buildings and construction, into CSRs and ESGs.' Whether in renewable energy or sustainable construction, the future of work is green, and the opportunities are boundless for Filipino engineers and architects who want to take part in shaping a more sustainable world. By staying informed and gaining the necessary skills and certifications, Filipino professionals can be at the forefront of the green jobs revolution.
Filipino Times
14-02-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Adapt with AI: Upskill, reskill in engineering and architecture
Many professionals worry that artificial intelligence (AI) is a looming threat, set to replace human jobs and reshape entire industries. But what if AI isn't the end of careers, but the beginning of new opportunities? With its rapid advancement, AI is not just automating tasks—it's creating a wave of innovation that could lead to millions of new jobs, transforming the way we work and redefining the future of employment, even in the fields of engineering and architecture. AI: A job killer or a career builder? The reality of the job market may surprise those who fear AI. Rather than eliminating careers, it has the potential to create even greater opportunities, especially for engineers and architects in the Middle East. According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, the top 3 fastest growing skills by 2030 are AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy—all of which have something to do with AI. Moreover, these technological advancements will lead to the creation of 170 million new jobs by 2030, while displacing 92 million, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs. The WEF, therefore, encourages everyone to upskill and reskill if they want to get on top of these changes in the workforce. Many companies nowadays look for professionals who know how to use AI-powered tools, such as Autodesk and Rhino AI, which are commonly used in engineering and architecture. Moreover, AI and machine learning specialists are among the fastest-growing professions, driving a major shift in the job market. However, this rapid evolution also underscores the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling initiatives to equip professionals with the expertise required to stay competitive in an AI-driven landscape. Learn and adapt During the panel discussion, Dr. Karen Remo, Founder & CEO of the New Perspective Media Group and publisher of The Filipino Times, posed a critical question: How can engineers and architects in the Middle East upskill and reskill while integrating AI into their professions? Dr. Karen Remo, Founder & CEO of the New Perspective Media Group and publisher of The Filipino Times Engr. William Nabua, Senior Engineer, Reliability (I-C) of ADNOC Onshore, said 'AI going to change the way we live.' 'It's actually meant to augment human capabilities. It's going to replace manual tasks,' he added. Engr. William Nabua, Senior Engineer, Reliability (I-C) of ADNOC Onshore Engr. Nabua expressed his appreciation for ADNOC, highlighting the company's commitment to employee growth in the field of AI. 'ADNOC, our company, is very proactive. They're trying to give you the tools and training,' he said. Recognizing the challenges of continuous learning, Nabua emphasized the importance of upskilling. 'Upskilling is always challenging, even without AI. You have to constantly learn and adapt. You need to look at it in a positive way,' he said. He acknowledged that while change is never easy, it often leads to progress—and with AI playing a major role, adapting to these transformations is more crucial than ever. Learn AI: Take courses Meanwhile, Engr. Rafael Lontoc, Regional Support Manager and Project Manager of Cyviz AS, emphasized the connection between AI and data. 'When we talk about AI, we talk about data. With that, we need to do basic coding,' he said. Engr. Rafael Lontoc, Regional Support Manager and Project Manager of Cyviz AS He highlighted the importance of coding as a valuable skill in the evolving landscape of architecture and engineering. To stay competitive, Engr. Lontoc encouraged professionals to invest in continuous learning through certifications and training programs to enhance their expertise in AI-driven technologies. Don't sweat it However, Nader Torki, an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Strategy Consultant, shared a different perspective on AI learning. Nader Torki, an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Strategy Consultant 'Don't worry about the certificates, things that are not related to your job,' Torki said, explaining that some AI courses designed for certifications may not even be relevant. He advised against spending months on AI courses that might not directly benefit one's role. 'You don't need to worry too much about the adoption of AI. It's overwhelming. You cannot catch up. How many tools are available? This is a lot,' he said, acknowledging the rapid evolution of AI technologies. Torki also challenged the common belief that learning to code is a necessity. 'You don't need to know how to code. You don't need to be a data scientist,' he said. 'You will adapt, but when needed.' Instead of overloading oneself with AI theories and courses, he offered a practical approach: Ask the AI how to prompt it, and it will tell you how to use it better. Conclusion At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Dr. Remo presented awards to the panelists for their valuable insights. The experts emphasized a key message: We must not fear AI's impact. Instead, they agreed that AI is a tool designed to enhance human potential, not replace it. As AI continues to reshape the fields of engineering and architecture, professionals must embrace its potential, commit to upskilling, and remain adaptable. The future belongs to those who learn, innovate, and evolve alongside technology.
