1st Australian Conference on Engineering Geology

The AGS and IAEG are delighted to invite you to attend the inaugural AGS Australian Conference on Engineering Geology. The conference will bring together geopractitioners from around the country who work on engineering and geohazard projects. The aim is to showcase the valuable work being carried out by engineering geologists to support Australia’s economic and social development.

The event

The conference will provide an important forum to make new contacts in the profession and to discuss with colleagues the challenges facing the engineering geological profession and its individual practitioners.

The conference will comprise internationally recognised keynote speakers, engineering geologically themed technical sessions and workshops, geological field trips and a social program.

Program

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 — Pre-Conference
13:30 – 17:00Check-in & registration
17:00Welcome Drinks (Hosted by Young Engineering Geologists)

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 — Day 1
8:00 – 8:30Registration & Coffee
8:30 – 9:00Welcome & Opening Address
9:00 – 9:45KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Paul Marinos Lecture: Towards the Next Generation of Engineering Geology
Xuanmei Fan, Director of SKLGP at Chengdu University of Technology, China

9:45 – 10:30 — Session 1: General Engineering Geology

9:45 – 10:00Slope Stability in Weathered Basalts
Stephen Fityus, Douglas Partners
10:00 – 10:15Coal Mine Engineering Geology as a Trans-Tasman Learning Experience in a University Postgraduate Course
Martin Brook, University of Auckland
10:15 – 10:30Engineering Geology Model as a Tool for the Effective Management of Open Pit Slopes
Felicia Weir, PSM
10:30 – 10:55Morning Tea

10:55 – 12:30 — Session 2: Civil Infrastructure (Stream 1)

10:55 – 11:00GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATION
Geobrugg
11:00 – 11:15Understanding Critical Stability Factors: Integrating Old and New Data to Improve Foundation Stability Assessments
Ben Speakman, Hydro Tasmania
11:15 – 11:30The Specification of Unprocessed Rockfill for Highway Applications – A Case Study from the Coffs Harbour Bypass
Andrew Tait, Ferrovial Construction
11:30 – 11:453D Geological Modelling of a Large Dam Foundation Zone to Inform Dam Engineers and Dam Owners During a Dam Safety Review
Hugh Stallard, Aurecon
11:45 – 12:00Management of Complex Geological Structures using Engineering Geological Models during Tunnel Construction: The Luna Park Fault Zone, Sydney
Richard Brehaut, PSM
12:00 – 12:15Case Study On Snowy 2.0, Australia: Use of Lidar and Endoscopy for Assessing and Modelling Geological Features in Underground Caverns
Ben Potter, Snowy Hydro Limited
12:30 – 13:30Lunch

11:00 – 12:30 — Session 2: Geohazards (Stream 2)

11:00 – 11:15Application of a Copula Approach to Quantify Rainfall-Induced Rockfall
Farshad Bahootoroody, University of Newcastle
11:15 – 11:30The Specification of Unprocessed Rocsusceptibility and Mitigation of Debris Floods and Flows in the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve, NSW, Australia: Bushfire And La Niña Impacts
Adam Irvine, PSM
11:30 – 11:45The Bogong Landslide, A Case Study into an Australian Landslide in Unsaturated Soils
Darren Paul, WSP
11:45 – 12:00Engineering Geological Models in Remote and Difficult Access Terrain: A Case Study from Bogong High Plains Road
Davide Casagrande, PSM
12:00 – 12:15Slope Hazard Management on the Toowoomba Range Rail Corridor
Bruce Cheesman, SMEC Australia
12:15 – 12:30GIS Mapping of Landslide Susceptibility and Life Risk in Blue Mountains National Park
Zack Tuckey, Jacobs
12:30 – 13:30Lunch

13:30 – 15:00 — Session 3: Geohazards (Stream 1)

13:30 – 13:45The use of Empirical Methods to Predict Landslide Runout for use in Rapid Landslide Risk Asssessments following Cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand
Ryan Hayes, GHD
13:45 – 14:00Experiences Communicating Landslide Risk to Non Technical Stakeholders
Chris Coulson, AECOM
14:00 – 14:15The Bogong Landsrisk Management of Coastal Cliff Hazards – A Case Study from the Surf Coast, Southwest Victoria
Kris Jelly-Butterworth, GHD
14:15 – 14:30Slope Risk Management of Glasshouse Mountain Summit Routes: Balancing Safety, Accessibility, and Tolerable Risk
Sally Roberts-Kelly, EDG Consulting
14:30 – 14:45Rockfall Risk Assessment at North Head, Sydney Harbour National Park, NSW
Paul Roberts, JK Geotechnics
14:45 – 15:00Landslide Risk Assessment in Coastal Settings – Recognizing the Challenges and Uncertainty
Andrew Hunter, GHD
15:00 – 15:25Afternoon Tea

13:30 – 15:00 — Session 3: Geohazards (Stream 2)

13:30 – 13:45Rockfall Hazard Assessments and Remediation for the Major Cliff Precincts of Brisbane
Andy Law, SMEC Australia
13:45 – 14:00Structural Controls of the Otway Ranges and Hazards to Road Users
Dane Pope, PSM
14:00 – 14:15Engineering Geology Consideration for Development on Bringelly Shale in Western Sydney
Minly So, Arup
14:15 – 14:30A Scalable Machine Learning Modelling Tool for Mapping Landslide Runout using a Case Study in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Alex Stokes, Tonkin+Taylor NZ
14:30 – 14:45Importance of Detailed Geomorphic Interpretation in the Landslide Characterisation Component of Risk Assessment
Nick Roberts, State Growth Tasmania
14:45 – 15:00The Engineering Geological Assessment of a Slow Moving Landslide, Garie Road, Royal National Park, NSW
Tim Donovan, Aurecon
15:00 – 15:25Afternoon Tea

15:25 – 17:30 — Session 4: Conference Discussion

15:25 – 15:30GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATION
Scope Geo
15:30 – 15:45What is the Future of Engineering Geology as a Discipline in Western Australia and Australia?
Julia Bota, HATS Consulting
15:45 – 16:15GUEST SPEAKER
The Impact of Industry Supported Field Courses on the Education and Professional Training of Geological Engineers at Queen’s University, Canada
Jean Hutchinson, Professor Emerita at Queen’s University, Canada
16:15 – 17:30PANEL DISCUSSION
Improving the Development and Recognition of Engineering Geology in Australia
Facilitators: Megan Packer & Christopher Bennett
Break
6.30pm for 7pmConference Dinner
Thursday, July 24, 2025 — Day 2
8:30 – 8:45Day 2 Welcome
8:45 – 9:30KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Engineering Geologists – A Call to Arms
Fred Baynes, Past President IAEG (2007-10)

9:30 – 10:30 — Session 1: Geohazards

9:30 – 9:45Multi-Hazard Assessment for Linear Critical Infrastructure: Case Study in Malaysia
Mohamad Faruq Syahmi Bin Md Aripin, Geoscience Consult
9:45 – 10:00Landslide Vulnerability: Learnings from the Impacts of Debris Flows on Buildings to Inform Quantitative Loss of Life Risk Assessments
Luke Agnew, GHD
10:00 – 10:15Effect of Discontinuities on the Survival Probability of Spherical Block upon Impact
Davide Guccione, University of Newcastle
10:15 – 10:30Scoping for Geohazards – Environmental Contrasts Comparing the Engineering Geologist’s Role between Mining, Civil Road Tunnels, Dam Design and Pumped Hydro
Helen Baxter-Crawford, SMEC Australia
10:30 – 10:55Morning Tea

10:55 – 12:30 — Session 2: Mining & Enegery

10:55 – 11:00GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATION
GHD
11:00 – 11:15Assessing the Geotechnical Susceptibility of Caves in Pilbara Iron Formations to Instability
Duncan Noble, PSM
11:15 – 11:30Project Phoenix Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project – Successful Implementation of the Engineering Geological Model Approach in support of the Energy Transition
Alistair Schofield, GHD
11:30 – 11:45Development of a Geotechnical Rock Mass Model using Geochemical Data and Machine Learning
Megan Baker, PSM
11:45 – 12:00Complex Factors Influencing Footwall Slope Performance in a Weak Sedimentary Rock Mass
Kai Koosmen, PSM
12:00 – 12:15Finite Element Check of GSI Adjustment Equation Reconciling Hoek-Brown and Step-Path Strengths
Norbert Baczynski, Prime Geotechnics
12:15 – 12:30Engineering Terrain Evaluations – Opportunities and Challenges of the Energy Transition
Tom Casey, Arup
12:30 – 13:25Lunch

13:25 – 15:00 — Session 3: Civil Infrastructure

13:25 – 13:30GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATION
Ischebeck Titan
13:30 – 14:15GUEST SPEAKER
Landslides and Reservoirs, The Clyde Dam Experience
Don Macfarlane, Senior Principal Engineering Geologist, AECOM NZ
14:15 – 14:30Engineering Geological Mapping for Dam Foundations – Examples from Recent Work
Jo Darby, GHD
14:30 – 14:45Geological Challenges of Brisbane’s Cross River Rail Project
Ralph Cammack, PSM
14:45 – 15:00Site Investigation and Geological Challenges for a Rail Level Crossing Project in SEQ
Craig Brock, WSP
15:00 – 15:25Afternoon Tea

15:25 – 17:00 — Session 4: General Engineering Geology

15:25 – 15:30GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATION
PSM
15:30 – 15:45SPECIAL REPORT
Update to the AGS 2007 Landslide Guidelines Review
Darren Paul & Tony Miner, AGS-NZGS Steering Committee Representatives
15:45 – 16:00Neotectonic Fault Significance: Sensitivity Assessment
Tim Mote, GHD
16:00 – 16:15Engineering Geological Models – a Clients Perspective
James Cox, Transport for New South Wales
16:15 – 16:45GUEST SPEAKER
Uncovering Geohazards Impacting Infrastructure in the Himalayas
Ranjan Kumar Dahal, IAEG Regional Vice President for Asia
16:45 – 17:00Closing Remarks
17:00Networking Drinks
Friday, July 25, 2025 — Day 3 (optional)

Option 1

8:00 – 16:30Full Day Field Trip
Landslide prone environments on basalt terrains in Glasshouse Mountains, Maleny

Option 2

8:00 – 13:00Half Day Field Trip
Walking tour of Brisbane Geology

Important dates

Final papers are on an extended deadline: Monday 16 June 2025

Keynote Speakers

Xuanmei Fan Director, State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP), Chengdu University, China

Paul Marinos Lecture: Towards the Next Generation of Engineering Geology

This lecture explores advancements in engineering geology, including China’s extensive experience in disaster risk reduction and innovative technologies such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, advanced remote sensing, and numerical and physical modelling. It emphasizes how these developments can address multi-hazard risks and support sustainable development in an era of rapid climate change.

Biography

Professor Dr. Xuanmei Fan is the Paul Marinos Distinguished World Lecturer and is the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP) at Chengdu University of Technology, China. She obtained her PhD in Engineering Geology from the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observations (ITC) at the University of Twente, Netherlands. Her research focuses on earthquake- and climate change-induced geological hazard chains, long-term landscape evolution, and disaster risk reduction. Her work has been extensively applied in emergency response and rescue operations following major earthquakes. Prof. Fan has served as the Principal Investigator for more than 20 national and international research projects, including a UK-China collaboration project, European initiatives, and multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). As the founding chair of the Global Partnership for Smart Informatics and Multi-hazard Reduction (SIMR), she seeks to address global challenges associated with increasing multi-hazard risks and climate change in a rapidly evolving world.

Fred Baynes

Engineering Geologists – A Call to Arms!

The implementation progress of the IAEG C25 Guidelines on Engineering Geological Models will be reviewed and lessons learnt during the roll out will be discussed. Some outstanding issues facing engineering geologists within Australia that require further effort will be suggested along with a global perspective of key issues that engineering geologists will face and their potential future contributions.

Biography

Fred Baynes was educated in the UK, obtaining a BSc in geology from Bristol University, an MSc in engineering geology from Imperial College and a PhD from Newcastle University relating to research on weathered rocks. After working for a site investigation contractor in the UK for a couple of years, he immigrated to Australia in 1980, where he has worked as an engineering geologist for contractors, consultants and utilities. Since 1996, Fred has been an independent consultant-engineering geologist with a continuing love of fieldwork and is now based in Central Victoria, Australia. He provides advice to major projects in the civil, mining and oil and gas sectors throughout the world. The advice provided invariably centres around “getting the geology right” and developing effective engineering geological models of all sorts to facilitate project delivery. He regularly teaches engineering geology and geology for engineers to both undergraduates and practitioners and has developed and delivered a variety of professional development courses. He has been actively involved in the IAEG since 2002 and had the honour of serving as President between 2006 and 2010.

Invited Speakers

Dr Ranjan Kumar Dahal

Uncovering geohazards impacting infrastructure in the Himalayas

This presentation will illustrate and discuss the broad range of geohazards affecting Himalayan infrastructure and society.  It will discuss the part that engineering geologists are playing to address these problems and will review the impact that they and other ground engineering professionals are having on a range of projects.

Biography

Dr Dahal is Vice President for Asia of the IAEG and is an associate Professor of engineering geology at Tribhuvan University and a visiting professor at the Universities of Ehime and Kagawa in Japan.   He has consulted extensively on projects in the Himalayas and in particular in his home nation of Nepal.

Prof D Jean Hutchinson

The impact of industry supported field courses on educational and professional outcomes

This presentation will reflect on a field school that Prof. Hutchinson taught during her career, and which covered the mining cycle and all the ways that Geological Engineers could have an impact. This course was a significant contributor to the engagement of Geological Engineers in the mining industry in Canada and on the way that mine closure planning is done.

Biography

Jean Hutchinson is Professor Emerita at Queens University Canada. President of Innovative Geomechanics Inc. past Vice-President for North America of the IAEG and currently a member of the IAEG Advisory Committee. During her years as Professor in Geological Engineering at Queen’s University, she conducted research into slope stability (open pit and natural) and landslide hazards and risks, risk-based decision-making using monitoring techniques, applications utilizing LiDAR surveys, with applications to landslides adjacent to hydro reservoirs, and ground hazards affecting railway corridors.

Don Macfarlane

Landslides and reservoirs, the Clyde dam experience

This presentation will outline the role of engineering geology in the scoping and management of the investigations, design and construction of remedial works undertaken on 10 large landslides flanking the Clyde Dam reservoir prior to lake filling in 1992-93. It will outline the ongoing management and performance of the landslides and the role of engineering geology in that work.

Biography

Don Macfarlane is an applied engineering geologist with more than 45 years of experience as consultant, manager and reviewer in investigation, construction and monitoring aspects of dam and other infrastructure projects, slope stability assessments and groundwater investigations in a range of geological environments, mostly in Australia and New Zealand.  

Field Trip & Walking Tour

Conference attendees are invited to register for either a one-day field trip to the Glasshouse Mountains, or a half-day walking tour exploring the geology of Brisbane. Details and registration can be found at the links below:

Glasshouse Mountains Field Trip

Walking Tour of Brisbane Geology

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship opportunies for the conference are now available. Details can be found in the sponsorship flyer. For more information, please contact [email protected]

Sponsorship can be purchased directly through the website.

Organising Committee

Planning & Coordination: Megan Packer and Christopher Bennett

Technical Program: Mark Eggers and Anthony Bowden

Accommodation

Sofitel Brisbane Central, the conference venue, offers a special rate to conference attendees. You can book your accommdation via the Sofitel conference link.

Registration

Members are required to log in to access the AGS member price, which is not transferable.

More information about logging in to this website can be found here.

Payment via credit card is available and processed by Stripe. The Australian Geomechanics Society will not store or have access to your credit card information, and Stripe adhere to strict security and PCI compliance for processing online transactions.

Upon purchase, an email and a tax invoice will be sent to the buyer. Attendees will also receive an email with their tickets attached, as well as a link to download the tickets if they are misplaced.

Tickets to the conference include a ticket to the conference dinner. You can buy additional conference dinner tickets for people not attending the conference or day-rate ticket holders.

Please note, the field trip and walking tour are intended for conference attendees. The organisers reserve the right to refund purchases made by non-attendees.


AGS Members

AGS Member

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AGS Student Member

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IAEG Overseas Members

You will be required to provide information about your IAEG membership during the checkout process. We reserve the right to validate membership and charge the full-price where membership is not current.

IAEG Member – Tier 1 Overseas Member
$995.00 inc. GST
Tier 1 overseas members are referred to as high-income country members by IAEG.
IAEG Member – Tier 2 Overseas Member
$695.00 inc. GST
Tier 1 overseas members are referred to as low-income country members by IAEG.

Non-Members

Non-Member
$1,195.00 inc. GST

Field Trip, Friday 25 July

This full day field trip is to the volcanic Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane.

Field Trip
$125.00 inc. GST
Coach transport, morning tea and lunch will be provided as part of the field trip fee.

Walking Tour, Friday 25 July

A half day walking tour of Brisbane City will explore the two principle geological units within which much of the Brisbane is constructed.

Walking Tour
$50.00 inc. GST
Lunch will be provided as part of the tour fee.

Additional tickets to the conference dinner

For purchasers of the day rate, or those who wish to purchase a “plus one” ticket to the dinner.

Conference Dinner – extra ticket
$160.00 inc. GST

One-Day Delegate rates

One-Day Delegate rate tickets will only be made available for sale after 1st July 2025.

These tickets for either Wednesday or Thursday attendance will be $495 for AGS and IAEG Overseas Members and $595 for non-members. One-Day Delegate tickets for either day do not include attendance at the Conference Dinner. You will need to buy an “extra ticket” to attend as a One-Day Delegate.

We have secured a conference rate for attendees staying at the venue, the Sofitel Brisbane Central. Accommodation arrangements should be made through the hotel and are subject to availability.

Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.