Welcoming the New IGS Officers and Council for 2026–2030

The International Geosynthetics Society is pleased to welcome its new Officers, Council and Committee Chairs for the 2026–2030 term.

Following the IGS General Assembly in Montréal, Daniele Cazzuffi begins his term as President of the Society, succeeding Samuel Allen, who served as IGS President from 2022 to 2026.

Together, the incoming leadership team brings a broad range of experience, expertise and perspectives from across the international geosynthetics community. Over the next four years, they will guide the Society’s activities, strengthen its global connections and help create new opportunities for members to participate and contribute.

Recognizing Sam Allen’s Leadership

The Society extends its sincere appreciation to Sam Allen for his leadership, commitment and service as IGS President from 2022 to 2026.

During this period, the IGS strengthened its financial and organizational foundations and increased its investment in activities supporting members and the wider geosynthetics industry. This included publishing the new Geosynthetics Handbook, piloting Professional Development Courses, developing the Sustainability Calculator and strengthening the Society’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

These achievements were made possible through the combined efforts of the Officers, Council, Committees, Chapters, staff, volunteers and members who supported the Society throughout the term.

Although his presidential term has concluded, Sam will remain part of the IGS Officers group, serving as Immediate Past President. In this role, he will continue to support the Society and provide valuable experience and continuity as Daniele and the incoming leadership team begin their work.

Welcoming IGS President Daniele Cazzuffi

Daniele brings extensive knowledge of both the IGS and the international geosynthetics community to the role. Having previously served as IGS President from 2002 to 2006, he returns to the presidency with a deep understanding of the Society’s history and a strong commitment to its future.

Daniele will work alongside the full IGS Officers group for 2026–2030: Vice President Dr. Laura Carbone, Secretary Giulia Lugli, Treasurer Dr. Jie Han and Immediate Past President Sam Allen. Together, they will work with elected, co-opted and invited Council members, Regional Activities Committee representatives, Technical Committee Chairs and Operational Committee Chairs to guide the Society over the next four years. 

The 2026–2030 Council is larger and more diverse than ever before, bringing together expertise, experience and perspectives from across the world. Its members represent different regions, career stages and areas of the geosynthetics industry, strengthening the Society’s ability to understand and respond to the evolving needs of its global community.

The incoming leadership will also benefit from the continued involvement of former IGS Officers through the Past Officers Group. Their collective knowledge and experience will help provide continuity, support the Society’s future development and create space for new ideas, new voices and the next generation of IGS leadership.

Looking Ahead to 2026–2030

Over the next four years, the Officers and Council will focus on advancing the Society’s mission, strengthening connections across its international network and increasing the value delivered to members.

This will include supporting education and knowledge sharing, strengthening regional and technical activities, encouraging greater participation throughout the Society, engaging young members and helping the geosynthetics community respond to the infrastructure and environmental challenges facing the world.

We heard from our new IGS President, Daniele Cazzuffi:

"First of all, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to the IGS Individual and Corporate Members for the great support for my election, which was really beyond any optimistic expectation, also in numerical terms.

The style that will orient my four-year IGS Presidential mandate will always be inspired by these 3 fundamental keywords:

• Technical excellence
• Friendship
• Respect

Following the repeated invitations of several international colleagues, I’ve decided to run again for the IGS Presidency, twenty years after my successful mandate from 2002 to 2006. Of course, compared to two decades ago, the overall boundary conditions have completely changed, even in the geosynthetics arena, both in economic terms and in terms of geopolitical constraints.

Thus, it’s time now to start a vigorous process of re-addressing the scope and the duties of our learned society, in continuity with the past, but looking for a stronger IGS, expanding its global reach and strengthening its actual impact on the world’s most crucial challenges.

In this Winter Olympics year, my presidential program is based on 5 points, exactly as the 5 Olympic rings, also representing the geographical balance always needed among the 5 continents.

First goal: transparency and real representation of all components

First, it is desirable to improve the transparency and the democracy of the decisions inside the IGS Council and the other committees governing our society, giving the right voice to all components of our profession and developing shared criteria for real participation in decision-making.

Efforts have already been made in terms of co-opted and invited members to this IGS Council, in order to ensure real representation of all components, in terms of geographical areas, professions and gender.

A crucial role in the development of such a strategy will be played by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

Second goal: international harmonization of test method standards and of application-oriented guidelines

Secondly, I urge the IGS to take the lead in effective international harmonization of test method standards and of application-oriented guidelines, giving manufacturers and distributors the opportunity not to be “prisoners” of a variety of prescriptions, sometimes in contradiction with one another.

A crucial role in the development of such a strategy will be played by the IGS Corporate Committee, in close contact with the leadership of the international standards committees of ASTM, CEN and ISO.

Third goal: relevance of efficient communication

I am open to the IGS favoring the correct use of AI, also in order to attract newcomers, particularly those not familiar with the geosynthetics world: in fact, a balanced diffusion of AI, even among young people, could represent an important resource for finding new areas of development for our profession.

We also have to improve the effectiveness of our overall communication system, through the various channels (website, newsletter, academic journals, LinkedIn and other social media), in order to attract new Individual and Corporate Members to active participation inside our learned society.

A crucial role in the development of such a strategy will be played by the IGS Communication and Marketing Manager, with the careful assistance of other IGS Staff.

Fourth goal: applied research and coordination of the IGS Technical Committees

Our society should try to give more support to young researchers worldwide with a number of concrete actions: one of these actions could be free IGS membership for 3 years for all PhD candidates after their defense of a specific thesis on one of the numerous subjects of geosynthetics engineering.

Moreover, the action of the IGS Technical Committees should be better coordinated through the creation of an ad hoc Task Force including all TC chairs.

Finally, an official link between the IGS Technical Committees and the IGS Chapters should be established.

A crucial role in the development of such a strategy will be played by the IGS Education Committee, with the fundamental assistance of the entire IGS Council.

Fifth goal: more active presence in the international scientific and technical community

First of all, the IGS should increase international cooperation inside FedIGS, with a privileged relationship with the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE).

The IGS should also start an important relationship with other learned societies related to important fields of geosynthetics applications, such as dams and reservoirs (ICOLD – International Commission on Large Dams) and tunnels and underground structures (ITA – International Tunnelling Association).

A crucial role in the development of such a strategy will be played by the IGS President, with the careful assistance of the entire IGS Officers group.

I would like to thank in advance all IGS Individual and Corporate Members who will interact with me and the entire IGS Council during the next 4 years of my IGS Presidential mandate.

Therefore, I will very much welcome any constructive contribution that all of you will be able to suggest to me in the next term.

Thanks a lot for your support in the years ahead!"

The beginning of the new Council term is an opportunity to build on the Society’s achievements while welcoming fresh perspectives and creating new opportunities for members to contribute.

The IGS looks forward to working with its Officers, Council, Committees, Chapters, corporate partners and members around the world as we continue to advance the understanding and responsible use of geosynthetics.

Be Part of the IGS’s Future

The strength of the IGS comes from its members. Their knowledge, participation and support enable the Society to provide education, promote technical development, connect professionals across borders and advance the geosynthetics industry as a whole.

The 2026–2030 term will create new opportunities for members to contribute to the Society’s work. Members can become involved through their local IGS Chapter, participate in events and educational activities, share their expertise, support IGS initiatives or contribute to one of the Society’s Technical and Operational Committees.

This will include opportunities to engage with two new Technical Committees: the Technical Committee on Sustainability and the Technical Committee on Installation and Contracting. These Committees will bring members together to exchange knowledge, address important industry priorities and contribute to the future development of geosynthetics.

Whether you are a student beginning your career, an individual working in the field or an organization looking to connect with the international geosynthetics community, there is an IGS membership option to suit your needs.

We encourage existing members to become more involved and invite those who are not yet members to join us as we begin the 2026–2030 term.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected and more inclusive global geosynthetics community.

Learn more about IGS membership and how to get involved:
https://www.geosyntheticssociety.org/memberships/