What Were the Key Insights from Day Two of Data Centre LIVE?

Across both stages on the second day of Data Centre LIVE, our speakers tackled every hot topic, from AI-driven energy demand and wireless cybersecurity threats to sustainability scrutiny and workforce transformation.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway was this: the data centre industry is being forced to evolve in every direction at once.

But beneath all the technical conversations sat an overarching question: can the industry scale quickly enough, without losing public trust, talent or control of its own infrastructure?

The data centre talent conversation is shifting

One of the liveliest discussions of the day came from the Women in Data Centres panel, where speakers argued the industry’s workforce challenge is no more about recruitment than it is about visibility, flexibility and culture.

Several panellists described entering the industry accidentally, highlighting how little awareness still exists around digital infrastructure careers.

Lizzy McDowell, Director of Marketing at Kao Data, emphasised: "I didn't know this industry existed. I would have chosen it in a heartbeat if I did."

That lack of visibility became a recurring theme throughout the discussion, with speakers stressing that the sector can no longer afford to overlook huge portions of the talent pool during a period of explosive growth.

“It’s pure maths at this point,” said Catriona Shearer, Global Head of Data Centre Consulting at JLL Data Centre Solutions. “You don’t have enough people.”

The panel also explored how AI infrastructure is changing operational models inside facilities themselves.

Rebecca Weekly, VP of Infrastructure Engineering at GEICO, argued that increasingly automated data centres are opening the door to more flexible working environments.

“If every person has to be hands-on a box to fix something, you’re doing it wrong,” she said.

Rather than framing diversity as a box-ticking exercise, speakers described inclusion as a business necessity for a sector facing major skills shortages.

Rather than framing diversity as a box-ticking exercise, speakers described inclusion as a business necessity for a sector facing major skills shortages.

Sustainability can no longer sit in a silo

Sustainability discussions on the Think Tank Stage revealed an industry increasingly aware that environmental strategy can no longer sit separately from operational strategy.

The Sustainable Data Centres panel explored the growing tension between AI expansion and sustainability goals, with speakers discussing biodiversity, circular economy strategies and resource consumption.

One revealing moment came when moderator, Sustainability Magazine's Charlie King, asked how many audience members worked directly in sustainability.

Very few hands went up.

That only reinforced the panel’s wider point: sustainability still risks being treated as a specialist function rather than an industry-wide responsibility.

The discussion also moved beyond traditional Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metrics and towards what many speakers called the “sustainability triangle”: power, water and carbon.

As AI workloads intensify, operators are being pressured to balance all three simultaneously.

That was echoed during the Water Management Strategies panel, where John Bychkowski, Global Applications Manager at Chem-Aqua, acknowledged the growing scrutiny surrounding the sector.

“The public narrative is definitely not in our favour right now,” he said.

Speakers stressed that smarter cooling systems, efficient water management and stronger community engagement are becoming essential not only for operational resilience, but for maintaining public trust.

AI infrastructure is moving faster than the grid can handle

Energy remained one of the dominant themes throughout the day, particularly during a fireside chat between Data Centre Magazine's Ben Craske and Dr. Ben Krikler, Head of Energised Futures at Centrica.

Dr. Krikler described AI as both “a hungry beast” and a potential solution to grid optimisation.

“It’s projected to go up four times over the next 10 years in terms of energy demand,” he said.

He explained that the number of data centres requesting grid connections has surged dramatically, placing enormous pressure on utilities and operators alike.

But while AI is increasing demand, he argued it could also improve forecasting, optimise grid performance and better manage renewable generation.

One of the most eye-catching ideas discussed was the rise of DC-connected microgrids, which could improve efficiency by 15-20%.

But while AI is increasing demand, he argued it could also improve forecasting, optimise grid performance and better manage renewable generation.

One of the most eye-catching ideas discussed was the rise of DC-connected microgrids, which could improve efficiency by 15-20%.

Ben also warned that innovation, infrastructure and regulation are evolving at completely different speeds.

“The challenge is not the technology,” he added. “It’s building the ecosystem so that all the players align.”

Wireless security is becoming the industry’s blind spot

Another standout fireside session focused on the growing cybersecurity risks surrounding AI infrastructure.

Ivan O’Sullivan, Chief Revenue Officer at Bastille, warned that wireless threats are rapidly becoming one of the biggest vulnerabilities facing modern data centres.

“Perimeter security is no longer good enough,” he said.

According to Ivan, AI data centres are particularly attractive targets because AI model weights are relatively small and can now be exfiltrated wirelessly in minutes.

“A hundred gigabytes on Wi-Fi 7 can leave the building in, like, two to seven minutes,” he explained.

The session repeatedly returned to how accessible hacking technology has become.

“Software defined radios used to cost US$10m and take up half this room,” he said. “Now I’ve got one in my pocket. It cost US$100.”

For many attendees, the discussion highlighted a growing reality across the sector: AI infrastructure is being deployed so quickly that security is struggling to keep pace.

“First we build, then we manage, then we secure,” Ivan said.

And across Day 2 as a whole, that tension felt impossible to ignore.

The industry may be racing to build the infrastructure powering the AI era, but it is now equally racing to make that infrastructure sustainable, secure and publicly accepted.

Register Your Interest

If you enjoyed this year's Data Centre LIVE event, or missed out and would love to be involved next year, make sure to register your interest in the LIVE World Tour.

Attendees from sustainability, procurement, supply chain, data centre and AI sectors can gain insights from other experts in the field, with the opportunity to network.

Register your interest here.