The Route to Networking

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In this episode of The Route to Networking, Jack Rafferty is joined by Gary Cudmore, Senior Vice President at Rowan Digital Infrastructure. With over four decades of experience, Gary shares his journey through the evolution of data centres, from early mainframe computer rooms to today’s hyperscale, AI-driven infrastructure.
They explore how the industry has transformed over time, including the challenges of early builds, the importance of designing systems with operators in mind, and the moment that shaped Gary’s approach to infrastructure delivery. Gary also breaks down the realities of scaling modern data centres, from power constraints and long-lead equipment to the growing impact of AI on energy demand.
Along the way, Gary discusses the return of nuclear energy in the conversation, the rise of “digital cities,” and why community engagement is becoming critical to successful projects. He also highlights the growing talent gap across the industry and the opportunities this creates for the next generation entering the space.
🔗 Connect with Gary on LinkedIn here.
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In this episode of The Route to Networking, George Copley is joined by Nathaniel Harman, Co-Founder and CEO of Ocean Bit. Nathaniel shares his journey from oceanography research to building offshore energy infrastructure designed to power the next generation of high-performance computing and AI data centres.
They discuss the fundamentals of ocean thermal energy, how early experiments with machine learning and Bitcoin mining led to a new way of thinking about energy and compute, and why pairing infrastructure with energy sources could reshape the future of digital infrastructure. Nathaniel also explains the limitations of traditional energy systems, the role of offshore data centres, and how natural ocean cooling could unlock more efficient computing at scale.
Along the way, Nathaniel reflects on the commercial challenges of ocean energy, the growing pressure AI is placing on global power systems, and why island nations could benefit most from this technology. He also shares his long-term vision for the ocean as a hub for energy, connectivity, and compute.
🔗 Connect with Nathaniel on LinkedIn here.
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In this episode of The Route to Networking, Jack Rafferty is joined by Bill Severn, President and CEO of 1623 Farnam. Bill shares how he went from commission-only door-to-door sales to leading one of the most strategically connected carrier-neutral interconnection hubs in the United States.
They discuss the evolution of telecom from the analog era to today’s AI-driven infrastructure landscape, the concept of data gravity, and why interconnection is becoming one of the most important layers of the digital infrastructure stack. Bill also explains why networks may be at risk of being underbuilt as demand accelerates and how facilities like 1623 Farnam are positioning for the next phase of AI and edge connectivity.
Along the way, Bill reflects on lessons from his career, including resilience, learning the full system from the ground up, and why playing the long game is still one of the most valuable strategies in networking.
🔗 Connect with Bill on LinkedIn here.
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This week on The Route to Networking podcast, Jamie Maher is joined by Tony Vrushaj, Data Centre Team Leader at IBM, to explore how data centres have shifted from background infrastructure to strategic assets powering AI, cloud, and national ambition.
Tony shares his non-linear journey into the industry, from fixing tractors as a child to building data centres in the UK during a period of rapid expansion. His path was shaped by curiosity, certifications such as CCNA and CompTIA, and a willingness to focus intensely on long-term goals rather than short-term comfort. As his career progressed, technical depth became only part of the equation. Mindset, communication, and leadership proved just as critical.
The conversation dives into how AI has transformed the data centre landscape. Higher-density racks, GPU-driven environments, and increased revenue per square metre have changed both the financial stakes and the operational risk. What was once a low-cost mistake can now carry seven-figure consequences. Teams are becoming smaller and more cross-functional, with greater emphasis on engineers who can move between hardware, customers, and executive conversations.
Energy emerges as the hidden constraint behind AI growth. Tony explains why power availability, cooling, and grid capacity are now strategic considerations, influencing where facilities are built and how governments think about AI sovereignty. This is no longer just a software race. It is an infrastructure and energy race.
Looking ahead, Tony offers a bold prediction for the future of data centres: space. With rising energy demands and cooling challenges on Earth, orbital infrastructure may move from theory to experimentation faster than many expect.
The episode closes with a quick-fire round covering underrated skills, the difference between certifications and degrees, and the trait that defines great engineers - comfort with uncertainty.
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This week on The Route to Networking podcast, our CEO George is joined by Joe Limardo, an AI and Cloud Architect Evangelist whose career has evolved from enterprise contact centre technology into hands-on AI implementation across OpenAI, AWS and Google.
As AI dominates headlines, this episode cuts through the noise. Joe shares what the shift actually means for engineers, reflecting on how quickly once “hot” skills can become legacy and why continuous learning is no longer optional.
The conversation explores the real breakthrough behind modern AI - access to reasoning, not just information. Large Language Models are changing how engineers build, solve problems, and accelerate their own learning, while businesses use AI to remove repetitive work and unlock higher-value thinking.
They also discuss the growing infrastructure demands behind AI, the move from pure coding to architecture, and the three skills Joe believes future-proof careers: APIs, Python, and storytelling.
The episode closes with a quick-fire round covering model preferences, common misconceptions, and the one advantage AI still cannot replace - human judgement under uncertainty.
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