Abstract

There appears to be broad consensus among government, Academia and industry regarding the need to improve current low levels of academic-industry collaboration in Australia and the flow-on detrimental effects to innovation in the industry.  The Chairs Address will highlight some key issues in the ongoing debate regarding academic-industry collaboration while also reflecting on personal experience to highlight how academic-industry collaboration enables technology and knowledge transfer, can strengthen the geoprofession and discuss the role that learned societies can play in enhancing this collaboration.

Speaker Bio

Daniel King is a Principal Geotechnical Engineer at WSP-Golder with 15 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons1) and Bachelor of Science (Physics) from the University of Melbourne. He completed his PhD at Monash University in 2017 investigating the serviceability behaviour of geosynthetic reinforcement column supported embankments based on an industry funded field case study completed as part of Regional Rail Link. He was awarded the 2017 Best Paper in Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Editors Choice award July 2018 in the Canadian Geotechnical Journal and was the recipient of the 2017 Jack Morgan Young Geotechnical Engineering award. He has been a committee member of the AGS Victoria since 2014, has had considerable involvement in past AGS Victoria Symposiums and is the current AGS Victoria Chair. He has worked broadly in the field of geotechnical engineering.  Some notable projects include the stone column ground improvement design for a iron ore stockyard in Port Hedland, piled raft foundation analysis for two 60-level residential towers in India, ground movement risk assessments for Hazelwood Mine closure and recently as Civil Lead for a 250 m high ground anchored wall at a mine site in PNG.

Speaker Bio

With over 38 years’ experience in the industry, Ernie is a well-respected member of the geotechnical fraternity. Ernie is the sitting Chairman of the Australian Standards CE009 committee of which he has been a part of since 2006. He currently holds the position of Secretary of the Victorian Construction Materials Laboratory Association, is a NATA technical assessor, has written several training modules for technical colleges in the industry and is a regular presenter at a variety of National and State conferences. He actively participates in many associations including the STA, ALDE, ARMA, AGCSA, FFSV, HEDRA, and VGA. Ernie has recently been appointed to the NATA Geotechnical and Civil Construction Materials Testing Accreditation Advisory Committee.