Speakers

Adam is a director at A-squared Studio Engineers and a chartered geologist with over 15 years consultancy experience in ground engineering. Adam is a member of the new cross-industry Digital Transformation of Ground Data group that’s goal is to foster a collaborative, interoperable, and digitally mature ecosystem that empowers all stakeholders with timely, reliable, and context-rich subsurface data and information.

Alastair is Geotechnical Manager for the Balfour Beatty VINCI JV delivering Contracts N1/N2 of HS2 in the Midlands. In this role he has oversight of ground related design, assurance and construction activities along a 65km length of the high-speed route. Prior to this, Alastair led the Geotechnical Team within a main contractor providing temporary and permanent works designs for complex building and civils projects across the UK.

Alastair is currently Chief Engineer Tunnelling for Jacobs in Europe and a civil engineer with more than 34 years of tunnel engineering experience. His experience covers all aspects of tunnel design, tunnel assessments, permitting, risk management as well as managing projects from conception to design and through to construction supervision. He has worked on numerous tunnelling projects both in the UK and overseas and provided expert advice on many tunnel projects. Alastair’s broad experience includes large tunnel design and construction, pipe jacking and micro-tunnel design and construction; segmental lining design, risk management for tunnel projects, settlement and building damage assessments, design and 3rd party permitting for tunnelled and micro-tunnelled schemes, rail tunnel inspections and refurbishments, tunnel maintenance and repairs. Alastair actively contributes to the wider tunnel industry and is currently Vice Chair of The British Tunnelling Society Committee.

Since graduating from the University of Southampton with a degree in Civil Engineering, Alice has gained a wide breadth of experience, both in the UK and in the Middle East. Based in the design office she has made key contributions to large scale multi-disciplinary projects such as the Olympic Stadium Transformation, Battersea Power Station Phase 3 and the Coop Live Arena. She also has construction experience, acting as the resident engineer on the Southend-on-Sea Cliff Remediation Works and during foundation works for Msheireb Downtown, Doha. She has led the delivery of the geotechnical design of large scale basements requiring a variety of retaining solutions, slope stability solutions and both piled and shallow foundations. Her specific areas of interest and expertise are foundation reuse and repurposing and instrumentation and monitoring to facilitate efficient design. Alice completed her MSc at Imperial College in 2015, undertaking her dissertation on state of the art monitoring of tunnel linings which built upon her previous work at Southend-on-Sea where she worked closely with Cambridge University to install the latest technology to monitor ground movements. She is Vice Chair for the Register of Ground Engineering Professionals (RoGEP) and a committee member of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) Working Group on Instrumentation and Monitoring.

Andrew is a Principal Engineer with United Utilities working within the ground engineering team and reservoir safety team managing ground risk and reservoir safety risk. He has over 20 years’ experience working within the UK on major infrastructure projects with a particular focus on risk assessment and remedial works for embankment dams. Andrew is a Reservoir Supervising Engineer within UU, a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Geological Society and a Chartered Geologist.

Angus is a registered Ground Engineering Adviser and Chartered Geologist with 35 years’ experience in asset management, design, reporting and assurance on a wide range of geotechnical and multidisciplinary projects. His experience also includes landslide and slope management, investigation, stability assessment and remedial works design of rail and highway assets. Angus also has experience of retaining wall and reinforced slope design, piled foundations, earthworks and ground improvement design. His knowledge extends to investigation, reporting and design for highways, rail, ports, land reclamation, private development, flood alleviation, bridges and water pipelines projects in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Angus’s particular current interest is asset management of earthworks assets, their deterioration with time and climate and how to design to minimise this deterioration. Angus is a Chartered Geologist Assessor for the Geological Society and is also a Panel member on the Register of Ground Engineer Professionals.

My work is focused on increasing the resilience and managing the risk from natural hazards to large-scale infrastructure and site developments. Strong motivation towards working within Planetary Boundaries and applying the SDGs at all scales drives my professional choices. I have varied international experience in Africa, Hong Kong, UK and Middle East and I am used to flexing between clients in developed and emerging economies. I enjoy the complex and challenging problem-solving approach required to provide specialist advice on diagnosing, quantifying and mitigating natural hazards and risk for a wide range of projects and scales from regional scale, down to bespoke engineering designs for site-scale works. I lead projects providing technical advice to development banks, central governments, city councils, energy majors, UN agencies, NGOs or private sector. My technical background is ground engineering and I have a strong academic and applied background. I am a Chartered Geologist. Outside of work I like to be out-of-doors and enjoy hobbies that keep me fit(ish!) like running and biking.

Ben Gilson is an Associate at Arup with over 15 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, specialising in geotechnical design and data management. Ben has led geotechnical teams on major infrastructure projects, including the Sydney Metro West Airport Station, DLR Thamesmead Extension, HS2 Euston, Crossrail 2, DLR Extension, Bakerloo Line Extension and the Euston Conventional Station redevelopment, alongside buildings and energy projects. As the Arup Ground Engineering Global Digital Leader, Ben is responsible for the data and digital technology development across the Ground Engineering Skills Network.

Dr Brian Sheil studied Civil Engineering for his undergraduate degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). He studied the behaviour of deep foundation systems for his PhD (also at NUIG), which involved a period as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2014, Brian joined the University of Oxford as a postdoctoral researcher in experimental geotechnics focused on industry-funded research projects and was subsequently promoted to departmental lecturer in geotechnical engineering in January 2017. In 2018, he was awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at Oxford and a Junior Research Fellowship at St Catherine’s College (Oxford). In January 2021, Brian was appointed to the position of Honorary Research Senior Lecturer at NUIG and in 2022, he was awarded the title of Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. He took up his current position as the Laing O'Rourke Associate Professor in Construction Engineering in September 2022. He recently received the ‘Young Researcher Award 2022’ from the Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland. His research involves the development of new science and technology to optimise the efficiency, safety and sustainability of underground construction, and he teaches construction engineering in the Engineering department.

Yuli is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) with nearly 30 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering, and in particular with geosynthetics. Yuli has worked as a Geotechnical Engineer for 10 years in Hong Kong and since her return in the UK some 18 years ago, she has been working for Tensar International overseeing projects’ designs in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Russia and Asia Pacific. Yuli has served as a past Chair of the UK Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and the ICE NW Region and she is currently the Vice Chair of the British Geotechnical Association (BGA) and an Appointed Board Member of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE).

Chris is a chartered ICE Fellow with 35 years’ experience in civil & geotechnical engineering. A graduate from Sheffield Polytechnic and postgraduate of Harriot Watt University. Chris joined Bachy Soletanche, a UK geotechnical contractor which is part of the global Soletanche Bachy Group, as a section engineer. He has for half of his career held senior positions, managing, leading and directing major infrastructure projects in which Bachy Soletanche have been in joint venture, such as Jubilee Line Extension, St Pancras Station redevelopment, Thames Tideway and more recently HS2.

He is a firm believer in developing strong multi-disciplinary teams who work collaboratively with a ‘best-for-project’ approach, through communication and strong working relationships to solve complex challenges, keeping the projects on programme, safely, sustainably, and profitably.

Chris has been an executive director of Bachy Soletanche for the past 15 years.

He is married with two daughters.

Colin has extensive experience in I&M for main Contractors on large scale projects, including Crossrail, TCRSU, HS2 N1/N2 and HS2 S1/S2. His background includes site experience of I&M installations and engineering surveys, including King’s Cross Station, Westfield, the Shard, and Crossrail enabling contracts (among others). His career areas of interest and expertise include design and delivery of I&M at all stages of large-scale civil engineering projects, from scheme design to project handover, and asset management regimes for existing assets. Colin is passionate about continuous improvement of all aspects of I&M.

David is an Engineering Geologist and Principal at BGC Engineering, as well as a Registered Ground Engineering Advisor (RoGEP) in the UK. He graduated from the Engineering Geology program at Imperial College London and brings over 28 years of experience working with, contractors, consultants, and 13 years with BP.

He has extensive expertise in geohazard assessment and terrain evaluation for major infrastructure projects worldwide. David has contributed to landmark pipeline developments, including the BTC/SCP pipelines from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean and the 3,500-kilometre Southern Gas Corridor natural gas pipeline connecting Azerbaijan to Italy. More recently, he has supported energy transition initiatives such as the NZT Teesside carbon capture and storage project in the UK.

His experience also includes trenchless crossing investigations and assessments, alongside oil and gas, mining, water, and renewable energy infrastructure projects in Oman, Australia, Mauritania, Egypt, Senegal, the UK, Indonesia, and Pakistan. He has worked in environments ranging from temperate and tropical regions to hyper-arid deserts and mountainous terrain in locations such as Hong Kong, Georgia, Turkey, West Africa, and the Middle East.

Beyond project delivery, David is active in the professional community as Chair of the Ground Engineering Sub-Group of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), a RoGEP panel member, and a committee member of the British Geotechnical Association.

Derek Butcher is currently Principal Geotechnical Engineer and works for Network Rail, based in London, looking after earthworks and drainage in the Southern Region.

Previously Derek has worked for consultants Atkins, Babtie (now Jacobs) and Knight Piesold (now Scott Wilson) and also Kent County Council. He has 32 years experience in Geotechnical Engineering.

Derek has an Honours Batchelor of Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Greenwich and is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He has been Chairman of the Kent and East Sussex Branch of the ICE, Chairman of the South East Region of the ICE and Chairman of the Geotechnical Asset Owners Forum. He is a UK Registered Ground Engineering Adviser.

Derek has more than 38 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering, providing advice to clients on a wide range of geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects. He joined Coffey as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer in 1995, becoming Managing Director in October 2022.

Derek has more than 38 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering, providing advice to clients on a wide range of geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects. He joined Coffey as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer in 1995, becoming Managing Director in October 2022.

I am a Geotechnical Engineer (MSc & BSc) with over 16 years’ experience of working in the maritime, rail, energy, water and port infrastructure sectors in the UK and overseas. I am also a Chartered Engineer, Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE) and a UK Registered Ground Engineering Professional.

I currently lead the Geotechnical Discipline within the wider Civil Department at MHB Consultants.

My experience includes managing the geotechnical input into projects from both commercial and technical aspects. This includes preparation of geotechnical proposals outlining the scope of work, identifying the ground engineering risks, scoping ground investigation, preparing specifications, site supervision and undertaking geotechnical design for various structures. This includes embedded and gravity type retaining walls, flood protection embankments and walls, shallow and deep foundations for various structures, slope stability analysis, ground improvement schemes and coast protection structures.

I have also extensive experience in managing the interface between the geotechnical team and the wider project team, the principal designer and/or the client and overseeing/providing guidance and support to junior geotechnical engineers working with me. I am experienced in creating geotechnical risk registers and maintaining them during the project development. I manage budgets and change control to make sure the projects run in parallel with the client scope and agreed budget.

Ian Rankin is a chartered geologist and principal engineer at CGL, with 10 years’ experience covering engineering geology and geospatial consultancy.

Dr. Jennifer Scoular is the Head of Product at SatSense. She holds a MSci in geology and a PhD from Imperial College London, where her research focused on the application of InSAR data to geotechnical hazards. With extensive experience in the commercial InSAR sector, Jennifer has contributed to a wide range of projects across the civil engineering, mining, and energy sectors. Jennifer is a co-author of the CIRIA guidelines "InSAR and Earth Observation Techniques for Infrastructure" (C805) and currently serves as Chair of the Geological Remote Sensing Group.

Jim is an engineering geophysicist with over 15 years’ experience across the commercial, research and innovation sectors. He obtained his PhD from the University of Bristol whilst working for the British Geological Survey, where he developed novel geophysical approaches to characterise and monitor natural and engineered slopes. Jim’s background is in near-surface geophysics, and the application of geophysical techniques to characterise and monitor the subsurface. He has experience in the delivery of environmental monitoring systems, leveraging novel non-intrusive technologies including geophysical, drone and satellite products to observe and analyse spatiotemporal observations to support data-driven decisions in environmental management. He is an Honorary Research Associate of the British Geological Survey, and is an author on over 50 journal and conference papers. He is Secretary of the Near-Surface Geophysics Group of the Geological Society and an Editorial Board Member of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology.

Joe leads the Digital Experience division at GHD. His team of experts deliver technology solutions for GHD's clients across the energy, water and transport markets. Joe has worked in nuclear for over 15 years, specialising in detailed engineering design, visual digital twinning and automation of some of the industry’s most complex design and process challenges.

John studied Civil Engineering before joining Expanded Piling in 2014. After a brief spell in the design and tendering team, he transitioned into site operations, delivering piling packages across major construction projects. With a strong interest in technology and innovation, John has spent the past four years as Digital Development Manager, leading the development of a bespoke QA application and creating data-driven dashboards to support informed decision-making. His current presentation draws on research undertaken as part of his Construction Engineering Master’s at the University of Cambridge. 

Jon joined RBL 29 years ago starting his career as a Pile Testing Engineer in 1994 and is currently the company’s Chief Geotechnical Engineer. He is also the Chair of the Federation of Piling Specialist Technical Committee which maintains and extends standards, policy, and developments in ground engineering at a national level.

Luke Swain - Principal Route Engineer (Geotechnics), West Coast Mainline Route, Network Rail. Over the past 13 years, I have been responsible for managing Geotechnical assets on the busy West Coast and Chiltern Mainline railways and have overseen the delivery of a large and complex portfolio of Geotechnical projects. This is a role that constantly offers the chance to meet new people and develop new skills. As a Geologist by background, I love to build and interrogate ground models to understand ground risk.

Marc Alt, is a French/ German Civil Engineer with a degree in Geotechnical and Structural Engineering from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

Marc has been Technical Project Director for the STRABAG Group and since 2025 leading the STRABAG UK’s Central Services providing support functions to its Operational Business.

Prior to being appointed into his current role Marc has been successfully managing international teams and overseeing project delivery for infrastructure activities, latterly on the HS2 Main works Civils Contract in the Skanska-Costain-STRABAG JV.

His responsibility for operational deliveries and service functions combines strong technical knowledge and cross-functional capacities to lead multi-functional teams.

Before relocating to the UK, Marc served as Project Manager at ZÜBLIN Germany and international divisions of the STRABAG Group, where, from 2007 he successfully delivered infrastructure and complex civil engineering projects in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe.

Marc is passionate about bringing people from different backgrounds together, creating networks and knowledge share for future businesses.

In his private life he enjoys cycling tours with his kids and outdoor activities with the family.

Over 20 years of experience in both geotechnical and civil engineering projects in the United Kingdom, Africa and New Zealand. Specific skills include slope stability and rockfall hazard and risk assessment, rockfall mitigation, ground investigation for transport corridors, finite element modelling and construction supervision. Both MICE CEng (ICE) and MIPENZ CPEng (IPENZ) qualified.

Mark Toye is one of the UK’s most respected leaders in ground investigation and geotechnical engineering. With over 27 years of experience and a career dedicated to raising industry standards, Mark is currently Managing Director of Ground Investigation for England & Wales at Igne. A Chartered Geologist and Chair of both the British Drilling Association and the Ground Forum, Mark has played a pivotal role in transforming standards across the drilling and geoscience sectors.

He has led major infrastructure projects, including the HS2 GI Framework and the Lower Thames Crossing, bringing deep insight into risk allocation, data management, and collaboration across complex delivery environments. At the forefront of innovation, compliance, and safety, Mark is a vocal advocate for better data sharing practices and more equitable distribution of project risk - essential for reducing inefficiencies, disputes, and delays in geotechnical delivery.

His commitment extends beyond technical excellence, championing mental health awareness and fostering a culture of accountability and care throughout the industry.

Neil is a geotechnical engineer with over 30 years of experience. He has special expertise in data management and the application of digital technologies in ground engineering. He is a member of the AGS Data Management Working Group and is the lead author of AGS Piling, a new transfer format for the exchange of piling data, currently in development.

Recently started as I&M manager after performing as Technical Manager for over two years, a former experienced Project Manager with 6 years of experience and a track record of challenging technical leadership and management roles in diverse large-scale projects within the Construction industry in maintenance and monitoring including R&D projects. Key strengths include building and motivating teams to deliver challenging projects within tight budgets and schedules; technical expertise in surveying/ monitoring; identifying new business opportunities and developing competitive commercial and technical proposals. Also, an articulate communicator with strong coaching skills.

I am a Digital Construction Leader with a strong background of digital engineering working for Balfour Beatty UKCS. I am responsible for establishing the project digital strategy, execution, mobilisation, and delivery. I have set-up and delivered many digital solutions for large and complex construction projects using the systems integrator approach. These solutions have saved us many man-hours, reduced cost and reduced risks. As a result this has helped us to gain our client’s confidence in Balfour Beatty for delivering projects successfully.

I lead the digital strategy #DigitalByDesign through which I bring the people to the forefront of technology, this helps me to clearly identify the outcomes including the objectives and benefits to be achieved from the digital solutions. This is to bringing a positive difference for digital transformation that I am leading at Balfour Beatty.

Senior Business Development Manager focused on helping clients identify the right software solutions for their geotechnical needs. I work closely with development teams to relay client feedback and spot market trends, making sure our tools evolve in ways that genuinely support engineering workflows. Always happy to connect and hear what’s working—or what could work better.

Doctor in Geotechnical Engineering with 20 years’ experience on effectively managing and delivering specialist discipline input to major multidisciplinary infrastructure and building projects in the UK, Middle East and Australia. She started her career lecturing and researching at universities in Italy and the UK, before joining the industry to work for international specialist geotechnical consultancies in the UK and Australia. Author of publications in Conference Proceedings. Winner of the 2024 European Women in Construction and Engineering Award as Best Woman Geotechnical Engineer.

She has considerable experience of using numerical modelling to solve complex geotechnical challenges and soil-structure interaction analysis, deliver integrated design solutions and provide an interface between clients and third-party representatives.

Paul has extensive experience in the design, as well as construction and project management, both in the UK and overseas, on a variety of civil structures, transport rail, marine, air including stations and tunnelling projects associated with surface, underground, building structures (including oversite property development).

He has particular expertise in developing efficient permanent and temporary works schemes for underground structures. With this experience he has undertaken detailed building damage assessments, their site survey, investigation, alteration, appraisal and assessment for protective measures to existing buildings, ahead of and during tunnelling. His work has included oversite property development design above and adjacent to live, operational railways and existing tunnels. He has a particular developed experience associated with Instrumentation and monitoring associated with tunnel schemes.

His work on Bond Street Station Upgrade, has been used in a number of industry best practice references.

#His experience also includes a range of building damage assessment (within tunnelling schemes) structural assessment, design of upgrading and alterations to a range of structures including Military / Justice, Government and Diplomatic Embassy Buildings, as well as complex alterations / additions to existing Grade I and II listed buildings.

His experience includes design and construction associated with Marine Structures, as well as the more common building uses associated with Commercial (Office / Retail), Residential, Hotel, Education and Stadia.

Following completion of his Geology degree at University Newcastle upon Tyne, Paul worked with Osiris as a ground investigation contractor commencing in the laboratory then out with drilling rigs and site laboratories. After 2 years he studied Engineering Geology MSc at University of Durham. He then joined Bullen and Partners through to AECOM for the next 37 years working on the delivery of infrastructure and reclamation projects in Northen England. He has been within the design team and finally providing technical leadership of the teams delivering schemes on the A1 from the Scottish border to Doncaster, and cross-country routes. He provided technical support to Network Rail Mining team developing their training materials relating to legacy mining. He was the chair of the team that authored the standard to allow Geoscience to be delivered at degree level (Level 6) through apprenticeship. In AECOM he provided technical support to the ground engineering team, supporting apprentices and assisted in development of in-house training materials. Last year he provided keynote presentation to the Baltic Circle (Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian geotechnical societies) at their annual meeting and assisted in delivering a module on a Masters Course at University of Northumbria.

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, the last 16 years at Laing O’Rourke. Peter leads the 35 strong Monitoring and Survey team at Laing O’Rourke. Over the last 5 years Peter has introduced a range of new technologies to LOR with varying levels of success; this has included the development of a Utility Survey Team, a UAV (drone) team, Reality Capture/Laser Scanning, Machine Control, Scan to BIM, Ground and Environmental Monitoring. The success has been achieved where new technology has made experienced staff more efficient. No matter how good the technology, a thorough knowledge of the theory is essential for good outcomes. Peter is a proud owner of a not very successful Allotment

Dr Rob Talby a geotechnical director of Mott MacDonald in Croydon with over 25 years’ experience of geotechnical works from design through to construction on major building and infrastructure projects in the UK and North America. Lead geotechnical director on Thames Tideway East, nuclear related structures in the UK and Europe, CAT 3 check lead for HS2 Euston Station, Traffic Embankment Loading model research project for Network Rail and link to SAALG’s DAARWIN tool for the real time implementation of the observational method. Rob is also a UK representative on the EC7 working group D2 – Foundations, reviewing proposed Part 3 for design by prescriptive rules, testing and observational method.

Ronnie Li is a chartered engineer, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Senior Engineer (Geotech) at Network Rail. With over six years of experience in geotechnical asset management, design and research across the UK and internationally, she plays a pivotal role in advancing data analytics to improve rail infrastructure resilience through shaping network-wide strategies and enhancing operational decision-making for earthwork assets. Her current focus includes embankment track geometry data analysis, landslide-rainfall analysis and InSAR data applications. She also represents Network Rail in its technical collaboration with SNCF (the French railway) and serves as the organisation's CIRIA representative, promoting cross-industry knowledge exchange.

Simon Abbott is a Chartered Geologist, a fellow of the Institute of Asset Management and the current Network Technical Head of Geotechnics at Network Rail. With over 20 years of experience in rail infrastructure, Simon leads the strategic direction for geotechnical asset management, including policy, standards, and research & development. Simon began his career in consultancy and joined the railway in 2006, managing day-to-day earthwork challenges across Kent, Sussex, Wessex, and Anglia. His vision and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the understanding and management of geotechnical risk across the network. Simon is passionate about integrating emerging technologies into asset strategies to build a safer, more resilient railway.

Simon Hughes joined Geobear in 2023 as Managing Director, bringing extensive leadership experience in driving innovation and scaling businesses across engineering and infrastructure services. Throughout his career, he has championed the adoption of new technologies and data-driven approaches to improve efficiency, enhance customer outcomes, and deliver sustainable growth.

At Geobear, Simon leads the company’s mission to transform ground engineering through pioneering solutions that reduce disruption, accelerate project delivery, and extend asset life. Guided by his personal purpose—to create and curate environments that enable people and organisations to perform at their best—he is committed to empowering teams and clients to achieve ambitious strategic objectives.

Stephen has supported the implementation of sustainable design concepts in Ground Engineering across the Ramboll Group. These principles have been developed on a wide range of projects encompassing major bridges and tunnels, the design of new ports, and the delivery of highways and railway schemes in the UK and overseas. To date he has promoted the reduction in carbon on these projects through design quality, the use of site based testing, re-use of materials, and the inclusion of existing sub-structures and foundations. He is now working with experts in Ramboll to take inspiration from the Nordics to take the approach to sustainable ground engineering to the next stage incorporating consideration of biodiversity and social value in our projects in partnership with clients and other stakeholders

As a Graduate Engineer Stuart worked on the Jubilee Line Extension at London Bridge, constructing running tunnels, station tunnels, shafts and escalators using NATM, pre-cast concrete and SGI linings. This was an amazing first experience of geotechnical engineering and the delivery of critical infrastructure. After 15 years working numerous projects, Stuart joined Wentworth House Partnership as a Director. WHP has grown into a sizable and respected geotechnical engineering and temporary works consultancy delivering efficient solutions to clients. Stuart has worked on many complex basements and below ground structures over the years including Thames Tideway East, 1 Bishopsgate Plaza, 22 Bishopsgate, The Shard and Crossrail basements at Farringdon and Paddington.

Tony is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer within the Ground Engineering & Tunnelling Practice of AtkinsRéalis and leads their Geo Asset Management Group. His particular field of interest in geotechnics is value engineering during design and construction, and geotechnical asset management. He has been fortunate to work across the full project lifecycle and across different markets, primarily in transportation, building & places, water, and nuclear. His previous roles include working for the M25 DBFO within their Geotechnical Asset Management Team, a geotechnical engineer within the On-Site Design Team for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme, and with Mott MacDonald within their Water Consultancy Division. Tony is currently seconded to Sizewell C’s Site Engineering Team as their Geotechnical Specialist. Beyond work, he is mentor for four graduate trainees seeking professional registration with the Institution of Civil Engineers, and the British Geotechnical Association’s Honorary Treasurer.

Ursula has more than 35 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector with geological expertise primarily in Cenozoic and Quaternary deposits and processes. Ursula started in local government Highways but has worked for both consultant and government client teams on projects ranging from single buildings to large scale tunnelling (Crossrail) and rail projects (HS2), from conceptual design to construction phases. Ursula has been Chair of the Engineering Group (EGGS) and is Assistant Editor for QJEGH. Ursula is involved in several EGSP working parties with EGSP 31 Engineering Geology of Groundwater in design and construction due for publication in 2025.