Prof. Rolando Orense is a Professor at the University of Auckland and a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, recognized in 2024 for his significant contributions to geotechnical engineering.

With extensive experience as both an educator and researcher, his work centers on soil liquefaction and dynamic soil behavior. He has been actively involved in major geotechnical research initiatives in New Zealand and has served on various national and international committees focused on earthquake engineering.

Prof. Suttisak Soralump is Vice President of Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT), and Associate Professor at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, where he serves as the head of the Geotechnical Engineering Research and Development Centre.

He is an experienced academic with an extensive background in both research and teaching. His research focuses on slope stability, dam safety, landslide risk assessment, soil improvement, and geotechnical investigation and testing.

Dr. Dennes Bergado is a Professor Emeritus of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand where he has served for over three decades and established the Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics (ACSIG).

His research focuses on soft ground engineering, ground improvement, and geosynthetics. He has an extensive publication record and has contributed as editor and reviewer for prominent international geotechnical journals.

Dr. Marc Ballouz has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering practice and academe. He is founder and President of the International Institute for Geotechnics and Materials (IGM) and has served as Senior Lecturer and Assistant Professor in Lebanon and the USA. His expertise includes deep excavations, foundations, micro-piling, slope stabilization, and forensic geotechnics.

Dr. Keh-Jian “Albert” Shou is also the Chairman of the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), Honorary Chairman of Chinese Taipei Society for Trenchless Technology (CTSTT), and a Distinguished Professor at National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan.

He has published numerous papers in geotechnical engineering, rock mechanics, geohazards, and trenchless technologies, has extensive international teaching and professional experience, and serves as editor of Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology (SCI).

Prof. Lyesse Laloui, Vice President for Europe of the ISSMGE, is a Professor and Director of the Soil Mechanics Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. He founded Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment and earned major honors, including an ERC Advanced Grant for his BIOGEOS project, along with an ERC Proof of Concept Grant in 2020. His expertise includes geomaterials, energy geostructures, patents, start-ups, and international engineering initiatives.

Prof. Ikuo Towhata is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo with broad experience in geotechnical earthquake engineering. He has been active in both research and international collaboration, having taught in Canada, Thailand, and Japan. He has delivered numerous lectures at conferences while actively contributing to professional societies. His work focuses on soil behavior during earthquakes, ground deformation, and the seismic performance of geotechnical structures.

Prof. Marolo Alfaro is a Professor at the University of Manitoba specializing in geotechnical and geosynthetics engineering. He has published extensively and received major recognitions including the 2019 Geosynthetics Award and the 2022 Roger J.E. Brown Award for contributions to permafrost engineering. He currently serves as Chair of the Canadian Geotechnical Research Board. His expertise includes geosynthetics, ground improvement, foundations, slope stabilization, and cold regions engineering, with research spanning laboratory testing, field studies, and numerical modeling.

Dr. Anil Joseph is the Managing Director of Geostructurals PVT LTD., a leading foundation and structural consultancy firm in India. With over 30 years of experience, he has led the design consultancy for more than 3,000 infrastructure projects in India and abroad. Dr. Joseph holds significant leadership roles in professional bodies including President of the Indian Geotechnical Society and Chairman of the Civil Division Board of the Institution of Engineers (India) (2024).

Prof. Feng Zhang is a Professor at Tongji University specializing in soil and rock mechanics. He was formerly a professor at the Nagoya Institute of Technology, where he served as the head of the Civil Engineering Department (2006-2008) and the director of Advanced Disaster Prevention Engineering Center (2011-2014). His research focuses on soil and rock mechanics, numerical analysis, and seismic evaluation of earth structures. Dr. Zhang has received multiple awards, including the Best Paper Medal from Soils & Foundations (2002, 2011) and JSCE (2007).

Prof. Jong-Sub Lee is a distinguished professor and researcher at Korea University’s School of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. His research in geotechnical engineering addresses a wide range of topics, including soil behavior, foundation systems, and geotechnical testing methods. Professor Lee's recent work focuses on advanced techniques for soil stiffness assessment, subsurface anomaly detection, UAV-based site analysis, pile integrity testing, ground settlement estimation, and geotechnical material characterization.