Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
| 10 Jul 2026 | |
| Written by Gaby Vita | |
| Events News |
| Jie Han | Dr. Ing. Daniele A. Cazzuffi | Ivan Puig Damians | Jorge G. Zornberg | Patricia Guerra Guerra-Escobar | |||||
| R. Kerry Rowe | Richard J. Bathurst | Craig Benson | Ing Pietro Rimoldi | ||||||
| IGS North America |
Every International Conference on Geosynthetics has defining moments.
While hundreds of technical presentations showcase the latest research and engineering developments, it is often the keynote lectures that leave the greatest lasting impression. These sessions challenge conventional thinking, introduce new perspectives, celebrate decades of achievement, and inspire the next generation of engineers.
The 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) is no exception.
This year's keynote program brings together internationally renowned researchers, consulting engineers, sustainability leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry pioneers whose work has transformed infrastructure, environmental protection, transportation engineering, and sustainable development around the world.
Importantly, three of these presentations are prestigious named lectures: the Giroud Lecture, Rowe Lecture, and Bathurst Lecture. Presented at the International Conference on Geosynthetics once every four years, each recognizes an individual whose career has fundamentally advanced the science and application of geosynthetics.
Complementing these prestigious lectures are thought-provoking plenary sessions exploring sustainability, innovation, and the future direction of our profession.
Together, they perfectly capture the conference theme:
Legacy. Evolution. Revolution.
Dr. Jie Han
Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor
University of Kansas
🕣 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 Room 710
Every International Conference on Geosynthetics begins with a lecture that celebrates excellence.
Named after Dr. Jean-Pierre Giroud, founding President of the International Geosynthetics Society and widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern geosynthetics, the Giroud Lecture recognizes an individual whose work has profoundly influenced the profession.
This year that honor belongs to Dr. Jie Han.
Dr. Han has built an extraordinary career spanning both industry and academia. Before joining the University of Kansas, he worked with Tensar International, progressing from Design Engineer to Manager of Technology Development. That unique combination of practical engineering experience and academic research has enabled him to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
Today, he is internationally recognized for pioneering work in:
With almost 500 published technical papers, Dr. Han's research has influenced highway agencies, transportation departments, universities, and consulting engineers across the globe.
His leadership extends beyond research. He has served as President of the ASCE Geo-Institute, delivered the internationally respected Koerner Lecture, and received numerous awards recognizing his outstanding contributions to civil engineering.
Transportation infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges.
Road networks must carry heavier traffic, withstand increasingly severe weather events, reduce carbon emissions, and deliver longer service lives, all while controlling construction costs.
Dr. Han's keynote explores how innovative geosynthetic solutions are helping engineers meet those challenges through smarter design, improved resilience, enhanced sustainability, and more efficient construction.
As the opening keynote of 13ICG, this presentation promises to establish the technical direction for the week ahead.
Dr. Craig Benson
Wisconsin Distinguished Professor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin–Madison
🕣 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 Room 710
Environmental protection has become one of the defining applications of geosynthetics.
The Rowe Lecture, named in honor of internationally renowned geotechnical engineer Dr. R. Kerry Rowe, recognizes those who have significantly advanced our understanding of environmental containment systems.
Few people embody that mission better than Dr. Craig Benson.
For almost forty years, Dr. Benson has dedicated his career to protecting the environment through engineering research.
His work has combined laboratory testing, large-scale field experiments, and advanced predictive modeling to improve the design and long-term performance of barrier systems used to safely contain potentially hazardous materials.
His research has influenced projects involving:
Beyond his research, Dr. Benson leads the Landfill Partnership for the U.S. Department of Energy's Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP).
His remarkable career includes more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and many of civil engineering's highest distinctions, including the Karl Terzaghi Award, Ralph B. Peck Award, Huber Research Prize, Alfred Noble Prize, Casagrande Award, and the ASCE Croes Medal, which he has received twice.
As infrastructure owners demand longer service lives and greater environmental performance, understanding how geosynthetic clay liners perform under aggressive chemical conditions has never been more important.
Drawing on decades of laboratory research and field experience, Dr. Benson will share lessons that are directly applicable to engineers designing today's environmental containment systems.
🕣 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 Room 710
Not every keynote comes in the form of a lecture.
Wednesday morning's plenary panel invites delegates to join an open discussion exploring one of the most important questions facing our profession:
Moderated by IGS President Sam Allen, the session brings together internationally respected voices representing research, consulting, manufacturing, and infrastructure delivery.
Dr. Kerry Rowe
One of the world's foremost authorities on geosynthetic barrier systems, whose research has transformed environmental containment engineering worldwide.
Dr. Richard Bathurst
A globally recognized expert in reinforced soil structures whose work forms the basis of many modern design methodologies.
Patricia Guerra-Escobar
An experienced infrastructure leader bringing valuable perspectives from major engineering projects and practical implementation.
Anant Kanoi
A respected international business leader helping drive innovation and adoption of geosynthetic technologies around the world.
Together, the panel will discuss emerging technologies, sustainability, resilience, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the future challenges facing infrastructure.
Unlike a traditional keynote, audience participation will play an important role, making this one of the conference's most engaging and interactive sessions.
Elizabeth Dove
Alex Eaton
🕜 1:30–3:00 p.m.
📍 Room 710
One of the most distinctive keynote sessions at 13ICG looks beyond engineering itself.
As infrastructure professionals, engineers play an increasingly important role in addressing global challenges including climate change, resource efficiency, food security, and sustainable development.
Their combined perspectives will bring a broader sustainability dimension to the 13ICG program, connecting engineering and infrastructure with some of the global challenges addressed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Elizabeth Dove, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Canada, works with organizations across business, government, and civil society to advance responsible leadership and sustainable business practices.
Recognized among Toronto's Top Women Leaders, she has spent her career helping organizations embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into long-term strategy.
Joining her is Alex Eaton, CEO and Co-Founder of Sistema.bio, whose innovative biodigester technology is transforming the lives of smallholder farmers across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Alex's career has taken an extraordinary path, from journalist, filmmaker, photographer, educator, and mountain guide to environmental engineer and social entrepreneur.
Today, Sistema.bio helps thousands of farming families reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve agricultural productivity, and generate renewable energy.
Engineering has never been solely about solving technical problems.
It is about improving people's lives.
This plenary offers a broader perspective on how engineers, and geosynthetics in particular, can contribute to global sustainability, climate resilience, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Pietro Rimoldi
Consulting Engineer
🕣 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 Room 710
The final keynote of 13ICG celebrates another remarkable career.
Selected by the IGS Technical Committee on Reinforcement, Pietro Rimoldi has spent decades helping shape modern reinforced soil engineering.
His portfolio includes hundreds of reinforced soil structures worldwide, including projects in highly seismic regions and some of the tallest reinforced soil walls ever constructed.
Alongside his consulting work, Pietro has authored nearly 300 publications, including more than 130 papers dedicated specifically to soil reinforcement.
His work has helped bridge the gap between research and engineering practice, improving both design methodologies and construction techniques around the world.
The Bathurst Lecture is more than a technical presentation.
It is an opportunity to hear one of the profession's most respected engineers reflect on decades of innovation, testing, design evolution, and lessons learned from projects across the globe.
For anyone working with reinforced soil structures, retaining walls, transportation infrastructure, or geotechnical engineering, this is a fitting conclusion to the conference's keynote program.
Collectively, these keynote speakers represent more than 150 years of combined experience advancing engineering, sustainability, infrastructure, and innovation.
Their work has influenced international design standards, transformed environmental protection, advanced transportation infrastructure, and inspired engineers around the world.
The keynote program is also carefully structured to mirror the conference theme:
Legacy — honoring those whose careers have shaped modern geosynthetics.
Evolution — showcasing how research continues to improve engineering practice.
Revolution — exploring the technologies, sustainability initiatives, and innovative thinking that will define the next generation of infrastructure.
Whether your interests lie in transportation, environmental protection, reinforced soil structures, sustainability, research, consulting, manufacturing, or construction, these keynote sessions offer a rare opportunity to learn directly from some of the most influential people in the profession.
All keynote and plenary sessions listed above will take place in Room 710 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal and are open to registered 13ICG participants.
Morning keynotes run from 8:30–10:00 a.m. each day, while the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plenary takes place on Wednesday afternoon from 1:30–3:00 p.m.
If there is one piece of advice for delegates planning their week, it is this:
Arrive early. Bring your curiosity. Take notes.
These keynote presentations are far more than lectures. They are opportunities to hear directly from the people whose ideas have shaped the past, are driving the present, and will influence the future of geosynthetics.
In addition to the main keynote and plenary program, 13ICG will feature a dedicated program of Featured and Special Sessions throughout the week.
These sessions will take place from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. each day and will highlight key technical themes across the geosynthetics profession, from roads and railways to barriers, sustainability, reinforcement, mining, erosion control, landfills, PFAS, and irrigation.
Monday's program will feature sessions on TC-RRA, PFAS, and the GMA Koerner Lecture:
TC-RRA Special Session – Featuring Jorge Zornberg
PFAS Special Session – Featuring Malek Bouazza
GMA Session featuring the Koerner Lecture by Shobha Bhatia
These sessions will provide valuable insights into transportation infrastructure, emerging environmental challenges, and wider geosynthetics industry developments.
Tuesday’s program will include sessions on TC-B and Erosion, featuring:
Erosion Control Special Session – Featuring Joel Sprague
TC-B Special Session – Featuring Richard Brachman
Delegates interested in barrier systems, containment, erosion control, and long-term infrastructure protection should make time for these sessions.
Wednesday's program will place a strong emphasis on sustainability, landfills, and geosynthetics in dams, with contributions from:
Ivan P. Damians – Sustainability Assessment
Jabulile Msiza and Johnny Oriokot – Case Studies
Daniele Cazzuffi – Geosynthetics in Dams
These sessions connect directly with the conference theme by exploring how geosynthetics can support more sustainable, resilient, and responsible infrastructure.
Thursday’s program will highlight TC-R, Mining, and ICID, with presentations from:
Yoshihisa Miyata – TC-R Special Session
Special Session on Mining – Featuring Attila Marta
Chandra Madramootoo – TC-H Special Session (ICID)
These sessions will be especially relevant for delegates working in reinforced soil, mining applications, irrigation, drainage, and water-related infrastructure.
These sessions offer delegates a valuable opportunity to hear from leading experts across several specialist areas of geosynthetics. Each session is designed to complement the main keynote program while providing more focused technical insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.
Together, these sessions demonstrate the breadth of geosynthetics applications and the important role the profession continues to play in creating more sustainable, resilient, and efficient infrastructure around the world.
Road to Montréal Tip: Add these 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. sessions to your schedule early, as they provide an excellent bridge between the main keynote program and the wider technical sessions taking place throughout the conference.
View the full 13ICG program here.
Register for 13ICG here.
To view this News Article
