Professional Overview
Jeff has over 30 years’ professional experience in geotechnical engineering. Through his academic training and professional career, he has developed a sound background of analytical ability and a broad range of technical knowledge. He has managed and reviewed the geotechnical aspects of many large multi-disciplinary civil infrastructure projects both within Australia and overseas.
Jeff’s special areas of expertise include soft ground engineering, slope assessment and remediation, underground spaces and tunnels, deep foundations and retaining structures, and earthworks and materials in a broad range of sectors covering roads, rail, airports, water, ports, power and buildings. He also provides expert witness and forensic engineering services to lawyers and insurance companies for arbitration, litigation and legal cases.
Jeff joined SMEC in 1995 and has since built the geotechnical group in NSW to a size of 40 strong. He has also assisted with the establishment of the geotechnical operations in QLD and VIC. Today, SMEC GeoSolutions is a reputable geotechnical consulting group, which is preferred by many clients, under the leadership of Jeff.
In his current position, Jeff is responsible for providing high level technical review and audit to mitigate project risks, ensuring high quality of work, strengthening technical capability, mentoring staff, promoting company profile, conducting marketing and business development, developing corporate strategies for technical excellence, and providing guidance and leadership to SMEC’s national and global geotechnical operations.
Jeff is a highly regarded expert in soft ground engineering and has developed many innovative solutions to overcome project challenges. Many of these projects have won engineering excellence awards, including Bulahdelah to Coolongolook Freeway (NSW), Yelgun to Chinderah Freeway (NSW), Westlink M7 (NSW), Brunswick Heads to Yelgun Freeway (NSW), Tugun Bypass (QLD), Gateway Upgrade (QLD), Ipswich Motorway (QLD) and Ballina Bypass (NSW).
Jeff has had over 50 technical papers published in international journals and conferences. He is also a frequently invited speaker at universities, conferences and technical societies, a guest lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Western Sydney, and a former member of the International Technical Committee 28 (TC28) – Underground Construction in Soft Ground.
Employment History
2004 – Present Chief Technical Principal, Geotechnics, SMEC
2012 – 2014 General Manager, Geotechnics and Tunnels Australia, SMEC
2009 – 2012 Global Manager, Geotechnics, SMEC
1999 – 2009 Manager, Geotechnical Services, SMEC
1997 – 2004 Principal Geotechnical Engineer, SMEC
1995 – 1997 Senior Geotechnical Engineer, SMEC
1995 Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Coffey
1993 – 1995 Geotechnical Engineer, Coffey
1992 – 1993 Research Fellow, Sydney University
1988 – 1992 PhD Student & Research Assistant, Sydney University
1985 – 1988 Geotechnical Engineer, Moh and Associates, Taiwan
1983 – 1985 Resident Engineer, National Army Engineers School, Taiwan
1981 – 1983 Master Student & Research Assistant, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Years of Industry Experience
• 30
Qualifications and Memberships
• BSc (Civil Engineering) 1981
• MSc (Geotechnical Engineering), 1983
• PhD (Geotechnical Engineering), 1992
• Registered Professional Engineer, NPER-3 (Civil), Australia
• Chartered Engineer (Civil), UK
• Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (Civil)
• Member, The Institution of Engineers, Australia
• Member, The Institution of Civil Engineers, UK
• Member, Australian Geomechanics Society
• Member, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
Key Skills and Competencies
• Geotechnical investigation and interpretation
• Geotechnical study, analysis and design
• Project management and coordination
• Construction advice and service
• Numerical modeling – groundwater and soil-structure interaction
• Expert Witness for arbitration, litigation and legal cases
• Forensic Engineering
