Judges

Jasmin Amberg has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the ETH Zurich (2013) with focus on Tunnelling and Geotechnics. She works now for Amberg Engineering Ltd. as a project manager, where she is involved in several tunnelling projects at different design stages.

Her first visit of a tunnel construction site at the age of six certainly had an impact on her choice of profession and she enjoys motivating young people to explore the world of engineering and tunnelling.

Jasmin is founder and chair of the Swiss young members group. Since 2017 she is a member of the ITAym steering committee. In 2020 Jasmin took over the role of Chair of the ITAym after holding the Vice-Chair position through 2018-2020.

Youssef Diab is a tuner Professor of Urban Sustainable Planning in the University Gustave Eiffel in France. He is also in charge of prospective and chairs development in the EIVP: Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris. A graduated school dedicated the urban and municipal engineering. This school is attached to the city of Paris and affiliated to the University Gustave Eiffel. He is also involved in graduate programs dedicated to urban Engineering in other European, Asian, Middle Eastern, and north American universities

His research activities are related to the field of civil and environmental, resilience and energy engineering. He is particularly concerned by the underground planning and relations with circular economy especially earth valorisation: construction materials, landscaping, fertile soils, biodiversity…

 These researches are based on multi criteria analysis and of modelling infrastructure systems. Many of these researches are realised in co-operation with municipalities and local authorities especially the city pf Paris. He is the scientific ambassador of ITACUS: ITA Committee on Underground space.

Youssef Diab is the author of more than 150 papers, communications, and reports in the field of urban sustainability and urban services management.

Robert Goodfellow is the President of Aldea Services Inc.

He has almost 30 years of experience in the tunneling industry and he currently serves as Chair of the Executive Committee for the American Underground Construction Association (UCA of SME).

Mr. Goodfellow is widely published, co-authoring books and industry guidelines on subjects as diverse as risk management and concrete lining design, in addition to a host of technical papers.

He writes a regular column as “The Insider” for North American Tunneling Journal.

Anne Kathrine Kalager has a Master’s Degree in Geology from the University of Oslo. One of her main focus areas, is the preparation for the performance of the projects. Good knowledge of the ground-conditions is always an important key to success.

Since 1989, she has held key positions in the performance of several major railway projects. Tunnels have formed a significant part of all the projects, many of them located within urban areas. The majority of her tunnel-projects have been performed by the Norwegian Method of Tunneling by drill and blast excavation. The extension of the National Theatre station in downtown Oslo, is probably her most spectacular project, with huge technical challenges and limited access in combination with measurements to reduce the impact for the neighbours. The project was successfully finalized after a three year long construction period.

Since 2007, she has hold the position as Project Manager for the 20 km long twin-tube tunnel at the Follo Line project. The tunnels were successfully excavated by four hard-rock TBMs operating from one centrally located access-point. She has followed the project from the beginning, and it will be handed over in 2021

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker studied Civil Engineering and graduated in 1990 from the Aachen University of Technology (Germany), in 1995 he received a Dr.-Ing. (Phd.) in Civil Engineering, from 1995-2006 he worked with HOCHTIEF AG, at that time the biggest German construction company, at last as a Design Manager and Coordinator for several structural civil engineering and especially tunnelling projects, 2006 he joined STUVA and is since 2008 the Managing Director.
He is experienced in conducting model tests, design and calculation of civil engineering structures, tunnelling (conventional and mechanical excavation), contract management, planning, ground freezing, sealing, fire safety, and operational upgrading of tunnels. Especially safety and security during tunnel operation is a focus of his present works.

Furthermore, he is the Managing Director of the German Tunnelling Committee and is active in several international and national committees. He is a member of the Steering Board and Past Chairman of ITA-COSUF, Committee on Operational Safety of Underground Facilities (International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association); a member of the National Standards Committee on waterproofing of buildings and structures (DIN 18195/18533); and a member of the Working-Group 2.6 „Tunnelling“ of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), ZTV-ING. Besides that, he is Professor at Ruhr University Bochum in the field of “Operation of subsurface infrastructures” with teaching assignment since 2012.

Mike Rispin, P.Eng., is Vice President – Tunneling for Strata Worldwide.  He is also currently serving a two-year term as Chair of the Underground Construction Association of SME, the Member Nation organization of ITA in the USA.

He has over 35 years’ experience in tunneling and mining on a global level and has relevant expertise in disciplines such as explosives and blasting, ground control, heavy equipment, and mechanized tunneling applications.

He has worked in the past for companies such as Master Builders / BASF, Normet and Dyno Nobel.  Originally Canadian, he has also resided in Switzerland and now calls the USA home.

Oskar Sigl is a Civil Engineer and Partner, Professional Engineer and Expert Advisor.

He has more than 35 years of experience in rock and soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, including detailed design of tunnels and caverns and other underground structures in rock and soil using shotcrete, rock bolts and ground anchors; cast in-situ and segmental linings; excavation support systems for cut & cover tunnels using sheet piles, soldier piles, diaphragm walls and bored piles; design of all types of deep and shallow foundations; consultancy for TBM tunnelling in soft ground and mixed face; geotechnical monitoring.

Civil Engineer, Buenos Aires University, Argentina, 1959. Graduated Suma Cum Laude. Post-Graduated Courses on Geotechnical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec Canada, Berkeley University, California, USA, President of AATES, Asociación Argentina de Túneles y Espacios Subterráneos.

Since 2010 President of Vardé & Asociados S.A., geotechnical engineers involved on important projects in Argentina including high dams, tunneling, highways, bridges, port facilities, heavy industrial plants, buildings, and major projects in Latin America (Brasil, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela).

More than sixty years on professional activity. In the last 30 years mainly  focused on Underground Works on soils and rocks, Special Foundations, Dams, and participation on Independent Boards of Experts to assess  the safety of  Dams and Tunnels in construction and operation in Argentina and South America.
Author of 140 papers published in local and international technical events on Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology , Tunneling and Dams.