Modern Codes for Modern Problems
Is Eurocode 7 the Solution to Australia’s Geotechnical Design Challenges?
Australia’s geotechnical industry is facing unprecedented pressures — increasingly complex infrastructure, climate-driven uncertainty, accelerated construction programs, and a regulatory environment struggling to keep up with modern design practices.
This debate night brings together leading geotechnical engineers, researchers, and engineering geologists to explore this question from technical, regulatory, practical, and commercial perspectives.
Panellists will examine:
- Whether EC7’s limit-state philosophy delivers clearer reliability and consistency than existing Australian Standards.
- The feasibility and challenges of transitioning Australian practice to an EC7-style framework.
- Compatibility with local soil conditions, construction methods, and verification requirements.
- The risks and benefits for designers, contractors, and regulators.
- Whether adopting or adapting EC7 could reduce ambiguity, improve safety, and streamline national geotechnical practice.
The session will be interactive and provocative, encouraging the audience to consider whether modern design problems require modern design codes — or whether Australia’s existing framework simply needs refinement, not replacement.
Join us for an evening of rigorous technical discussion, differing viewpoints, and forward-thinking insights on the future of geotechnical engineering in Australia.
About the panellists
Jamie McIlquham Technical Director, WSP
Jamie is a Technical Director with WSP with over 25 years experience as a geotechnical engineer and has worked on projects in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, PNG and the UK.
He has extensive experience in leading investigation and design teams on transport and mining infrastructure projects. He has worked on many different types of projects, including road tunnels, underground structures, road and rail upgrade projects, earthworks projects, bridges, projects on soft soil, stabilisation of soil and rock slopes, temporary works design, port reclamation and wharf structures, high rise buildings and deep basement excavations.
Ondrej Synac Senior Principal Geotechnical Engineer and Technical Lead, Tetra Tech Coffey
With over three decades of global experience across both Europe and Australia, he specialises in deep foundations, stabilisation, ground improvement methods, and general geomechanics.
Ondrej’s technical expertise encompasses a wide range of methods, including piling, diaphragm and retaining walls, anchoring, jet grouting, underpinning, soft soil remediation, and landfill remediation. He focuses on leading design teams to implement cutting-edge strategies for value engineering, improving buildability, and minimising geotechnical risks.
His extensive career includes pivotal leadership roles:
- Senior Principal Engineer at CMW Geosciences
- Chief Engineer at Keller Australia, leading both Keller Ground Engineering and Vibropile
- Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Laing O’Rourke (UK)
- Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering/Pennine Vibropiling (UK)
Ondrej is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and holds advanced degrees in Geotechnical & Tunnelling Engineering from the Czech Technical University, Prague. He is committed to professional development, serving as a casual lecturer at NSW Universities and acting as the principal author for the revision of the ICE Specification for Piling and Embedded Retaining Walls (SPERW) 2nd edition in the past. Furthermore, he has actively contributed to the Australian Geomechanics Society, serving as Secretary and Chapter Chairman of the NSW Chapter.
Ramtin Tajeddin Senior Technical Director, GHD
Ramtin Tajeddin is a Senior Technical Director, with 30 years’ experience in leading geotechnical design. As the Service Line Leader for geotechnical engineering at GHD, Ramtin drives the Delivery Transformation strategy, by leveraging AI, machine learning, and automation.
His special interest is the implementation of Risk and Reliability Based Design, bringing rigor, transparency, and performance assurance to decisions. Ramtin serves as a technical advisor to state departments and authorities, advocating for inclusion of Risk and Reliability-Based Design in Australian Standards, helping shape resilient infrastructure through innovative geotechnical practices
Sam Mirlatifi Team leader and Technical Director of the Arcadis NSW Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering
Sam is a Chartered Fellow Engineer with over 24 years’ experience in geotechnical and tunnel engineering, technical leadership, and design management for infrastructure, energy and building projects in Australia and internationally. He has held key roles on Sydney Metro, Torrens to Darlington, WestConnex, North East Link, Suburban Rail Loop, Sydney Gateway, Crown Sydney Tower, One Sydney Harbour Towers, and other projects across multiple sectors. Sam is currently the Team Leader and Technical Director of the Arcadis NSW Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering team, providing practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions for diverse stakeholders.
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.