
WDBE UPDATES // WDBE Talks episode 25 released
Construction Tech Communication and WDBE with Aarni Heiskanen
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Vappu Id of KIRAHub interviews Aarni Heiskanen. They discuss communication, construction tech, and the World of Digital Built Environment WDBE Summit.
The discussion topics include:
- Aarni’s career path
- Why great construction stories often remain untold and how to fix it
- Examples of good communicators
- Memorable WDBE moments
- What WDBE is as an event, and is the WDBE community like
- The digital transformation of the industry
- Awarding industry trailblazers
- Expectations for WDBE 2023
Guest of this episode:
Aarni Heiskanen is a Construction Innovation Agent and the co-founder of AE Partners and AEC Business.
He has a master’s degree in architecture and worked as an architect and architectural R&D manager for over a decade. He was one of the pioneers in integrated computer-aided design in the Nordics. In mid-1990s, Aarni became an internet entrepreneur and, in the 2000s, a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) helping IT organizations in strategic planning and change programs.
At Thinking Portfolio, a company Aarni co-founded, he developed the first version of SaaS software for business portfolio management. It now has 400,000 users globally.
Today, Aarni specializes in AECO product commercialization and communication.
Aarni has authored business books and written articles for local and international magazines. He runs an award-winning blog and podcast at AEC-Business.com.
You can connect with Aarni on LinkedIn.
Get your ticket to the WDBE Summit 19-20 Sept 2023

Listen to the WDBE Talks podcast, episode 25!
(also on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and other platforms)
More Updates
Meet Dr. Pallavi Mohan, Senior Scientist and Solutions Architect at NVIDIA AI Technology Center
Pallavi is a senior scientist and solutions architect at NVIDIA. She collaborates with research
institutes and customers to solve exciting challenges in the digital twin research space using
NVIDIA Omniverse.
You can learn more about Pallavi’s thoughts on WDBE Talks, the podcast for the World of
Digital Built Environment. To hear her keynote and meet her in person, come to WBDE in
September 2023.
WDBE-talks: Digital Twins for a Sustainable Future with Dr. Pallavi Mohan of NVIDIA
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Aarni Heiskanen interviews Dr. Pallavi Mohan, a Senior Scientist and Solutions Architect at NVIDIA. They discuss Pallavi’s work in the XR and digital twins research space and the potential of digital twins and extended reality technologies for the built environment sector. Pallavi shares her journey into her current position at NVIDIA and how she leverages her expertise in virtual environments to create dynamic virtual experiences.
Meet Marzia Bolpagni, Head of BIM International at Mace
Marzia is a building engineer by background. She became interested in BIM, Building
Information Modeling, during her studies at the University of Brescia, in her hometown in
northern Italy.
You can learn more about Marzia’s thoughts on WDBE Talks, the podcast for the World of
Digital Built Environment. To hear her keynote and meet her in person, come to WBDE in
September 2023.
Meet Michelle Xuereb, the AEC Sustainability Innovator
Don’t miss Michelle Xuereb’s keynote speech at WDBE in September 2023.
The world faces a climate crisis, and the built environment is key to mitigating and adapting. Michelle Xuereb, the Director of Innovation at BDP Quadrangle, sees innovation as crucial to the transition to sustainable construction, and architects have a vital role in the process. She’s on a mission to build a culture of innovation within the BDP practice
and upskill designers to meet future requirements.
Simulation-Powered Planning for Sustainable Building Projects with Pyry Haahtela, COO Haahtela TVD
Simulation-Powered Planning for Sustainable Building Projects
with Pyry Haahtela
The sustainability of a construction project should not be an afterthought but a crucial
consideration from the start. Pyry Haahtela, the COO of Haahtela TVD, shared his views on
when and how clients and developers can best manage the carbon footprint of their
projects with simulation.
WDBE-talks: From Objects to Sustainable Experiences with Michelle Xuereb
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Michelle Xuereb, the Director of Innovation at BDP
Quadrangle shares her insights on sustainability, innovation, and new approaches to
creating built environments. As one of the keynote speakers at WDBE in September 2023,
Michelle is a prominent voice in the field.
