A few geotechnical mishaps and some lessons to be learnt

Allan McConnell

Join us for a thought-provoking technical session led by Allan McConnell, a geotechnical engineer with over 50 years of experience in both consulting and in situ testing. Drawing on decades of real-world work across Australia, Allan will share a curated selection of case-based “Geotechnical Mishaps”, situations where things didn’t go as planned, but left valuable lessons in their wake.
Each mini-presentation highlights a unique incident, offering insights into what went wrong, the background behind it, and the key takeaway. These examples illustrate how theory and practice can sometimes diverge,  and how to bridge that gap with better judgment and technical understanding.

This event is ideal for engineers, students, and industry professionals interested in sharpening their practical understanding through real examples and reflective learning.

About the speaker

Allan McConnell Founder, IGS

Allan McConnell is a distinguished Australian geotechnical engineer with over 50 years of experience across Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. He is the founder of Insitu Geotech Services (IGS), a company specializing in geotechnical testing. Renowned for his consulting work on major projects involving soft soils, Allan is a passionate advocate for reducing risk and uncertainty in geotechnical engineering. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Registered Engineer in Queensland, and an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Geomechanics Society.

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.