The Founder Playbook: Ian Stuart on Risk, Resilience and the Reality of Critical Environments
In the latest episode of “The Founder’s Playbook” podcast, Asanti’s Emma Lauchlan sits down with Ian Stuart, the former Chief Engineer at NatWest Group and now Director of Technical & Compliance at M&E specialists, Livingston.
With over 16 years in one of the UK's most scrutinised financial institutions - 11 of them leading critical engineering efforts - Ian brings deep insight into the complex world of risk management, infrastructure resilience and operational continuity. Now, at Livingston, he’s on a mission to change how contractors support clients in critical environments.
In this thought-provoking episode, Ian shares:
Why "competency today" isn’t good enough for tomorrow’s infrastructure demands
- How regulated environments shaped his approach to de-risking operations
- Why true resilience is more than just redundancy - and often misunderstood
- The critical importance of continuous professional development in high-stakes roles
- Why collaboration and honesty are the foundations of trust in client-contractor relationships.
This episode is packed with insight for leaders who can’t afford to fail. Listen now to hear Ian’s perspective on evolving skills, contractor accountability and why every day should be a school day.