In this episode of The Modern Facilities Management Podcast, Griffin Hamilton is joined by Micah Jacob, a Melbourne-based Facilities Manager with over a decade of global FM experience across Australia, Europe, and large multinational portfolios.

Micah’s journey into facilities management is anything but traditional. Originally trained in computer science, his career path took an unexpected turn—from a mailroom role to managing complex FM contracts across energy, banking, retail, and commercial real estate. Along the way, he’s worked with some of the largest global FM providers, gaining a rare, cross-functional perspective on how facilities management has evolved over the last 12 years.

Together, Griffin and Micah explore:

• How a technical and systems-thinking background can shape better FM decision-making

• The expanding role of facilities teams post-COVID, from operations to strategy

• Why emotional intelligence and stakeholder psychology are now critical FM skills

• Global differences in FM best practices across Australia, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East

• The promise—and challenges—of IoT, data, and predictive maintenance in facilities

• Why adaptability beats “cause and effect” thinking in complex FM environments

Micah also shares insights into mentorship, continuous learning, and his upcoming book project focused on complex systems thinking—bridging human psychology, infrastructure, and long-term outcomes in facilities and beyond.

Enjoy!

In this episode of the Modern Facilities Management Podcast, Griffin welcomes back Lonnie Pilgrim, Director of Operations & Maintenance for the Fort McMurray Public School Division in Alberta. Previously featured in Episode 101 for his crisis management expertise, Lonnie returns to discuss best practices in capital project management.

Lonnie breaks down capturing daily maintenance data to annual lifecycle reporting, FCA cycles, emerging issues, and the metrics that ultimately built the case for the project approval.

The conversation dives deep into best practices for capital project planning, including:

• How to demonstrate need using real maintenance and cost data

• Mistakes to avoid in early project design

• Ensuring operational efficiency post-construction

• Standardizing equipment to streamline future maintenance

• Building strong relationships with architects, GCs, and stakeholders to ensure a smooth turnover

Enjoy!

In this episode of The Modern Facilities Management Podcast, Griffin Hamilton sits down with Nick Queensland, a a healthcare facilities leader with more than 25 years of experience at Mayo Clinic, Luminis Health, and Johns Hopkins.

Griffin and Nick dig into the realities of change management in hospital facilities—why buy-in matters, how to communicate effectively with stakeholders, and why reinforcing change is just as important as implementing it.

Nick also reflects on the evolving expectations in healthcare facilities and the importance of engaging teams at every level.

If you’re looking to grow your career or lead change in facilities management, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons.

Key Topics Covered

• Navigating a 25+ year career in hospital facilities

• The importance of understanding your role in healthcare

• Leadership philosophies and developing future FM talent

• Change management: buy-in, communication, and reinforcement

• Engaging stakeholders across clinical and non-clinical teams

• How expectations in hospital facilities have evolved

• Building team culture during times of change

Enjoy!