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Breakthrough 2020 Digital Edition Sponsor
SHAPE THE DIGITAL
FUTURE WITH US.
In operation for over 50 years, we are one of the world’s leading
engineering companies. We offer expertise in the complete range of
services from feasibility, planning, design, to site supervision, renewal
and project management. The sustainable use of surface and sub-
surface space is always our focus.
We have continuously grown and adapted to embrace innovative
and digital working methods such as BIM for the design of infrastruc-
ture projects. Become a member of our team and realize your career
goals.
www.ambergengineering.com/career
WE ARE AMBERG.
AMBERG ENGINEERING AMBERG LOGLAY AMBERG TECHNOLOGIES HAGERBACH TEST GALLERY
200629_Break Through_Young Members_Amberg Engineering_210_297_cmyk_Def.indd 1 07.07.2020 08:06:12
8 Breakthrough
The ITA Young Members’ Magazine
Issue 6 2020
ITA Young Members:
A Growing Movement
Malaysia’s Next
Generation Tunnellers
Scouting Innovation in
Switzerland
Building Diversity
Breakthrough 1
ALL AROUND ONLINE MAGAZINE
BUILDING UP
DOWN UNDER
Pioneering infrastructures are booming in Australia and New Zealand.
Ambitious transport, supply and disposal projects are already being
made a reality. Many new projects are in the planning pipeline. Learn
more about innovative traffic and utility tunnelling in Oceania in the
latest All Around Online Magazine by Herrenknecht.
www.herrenknecht.com/aaom12
2 Breakthrough
Welcome to ‘Breakthrough’
Dear readers,
Welcome to the sixth edition of Breakthrough, the International Tunnelling and
Underground Space Association’s (ITA) initiative to promote opportunities for the next
generation of tunnellers. In the following pages you will hopefully learn something new
about the people and projects of the ITA family of nations, to inform, inspire or interest you.
In the 2020 edition of Breakthrough we are looking to showcase the diversity of the ITA
Young Member (ITAym) family. Diversity means a lot of different things to our members,
but we all call ourselves tunnellers. It is an inclusive term that covers professionals
from diverse daily activities, including site-based and office-based engineers, university
lecturers and equipment manufacturers, as well as many other engineers and professions.
To me it is this amazing diversity and inclusion that makes the world of tunnelling so
engaging to work in.
I was lucky enough, in early March immediately prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, to visit
a few ITAym member nation committees to see first-hand how different nations address
similar issues and look for ideas on how to further our four key goals (Collaboration,
Connection, Development & Integration). The teams in Germany, the Netherlands and
the UK all have an amazing passion for the development of young tunnellers in their
jurisdiction, and yet there are subtle differences between these nations that are so
geographically close to one another.
An initiative that has since been developed by the Steering Board is the establishment of
an online forum for member nation representatives to have more regular and frequent
contact via Slack. If your nation has not joined up yet, please get in touch with us via the
ITAym email address (itaym@ita-aites.org).
The initiatives from member nations during the lockdown has been impressive. The silver
lining of more and more people working from home around the world has seen increasing
take-up of online and digital communication between tunnellers young and old. We have
seen the growth of tunnelling specific podcasts, the proliferation of online lectures and a
development of online connections and communities (the recent ITAym LinkedIn page is a
great place to look!).
Although these are trying times, please make sure to stay safe and keep in touch with
colleagues and friends.
As always happy tunnelling!
Keith Bannerman, ITAym Chair
Front Cover
US contractor Kiewit’s ‘Future
Women’ initiative encourages
female engineers to get together
and share experiences (see p16)
Breakthrough 3
Contributing to Breakthrough
If you would like to get involved in Breakthrough magazine
by contributing an article, or suggesting potential content
for future editions, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Please feel free to contact Breakthrough’s editorial team or
the ITAYM Young Members Committee (details below).
Note to YM Member Nations
All national Young Member (YM) groups are encouraged to
get involved in Breakthrough magazine – we rely on your
input. Please remember to document your country’s YM
activities and take plenty of good quality photos at any YM
events throughout the year so we can make the most of
your reports in the next edition!
Editor
Amanda Foley
amanda@tunnellingjournal.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7973 158 065
Contributing Editor
Kristina Smith
kristinasmith.editorial@gmail.com
Tel: + 44 (0) 7833 230 853
Sales Director
Daniel Lee-Billinghurst
daniel@tunnellingjournal.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7818 422 712
Art Editor
Michael Hooker
Technical Illustrator
Pete Beach
Brought to you by the publishers of
ITA-AITES Secretariat
AITES c/o MIE 2, Chemin de Balexert 9,
1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland TGS Media Ltd. The Old Library, Webster House
Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1LE United Kingdom
Tel: +41 (0) 22 547 74 41 E-mail: itaym@ita-aites.org Tel: +44 (0) 1892 522585 www.tunnellingjournal.com
Website: www.ita-aites.org
Breakthrough is endorsed by the ITA The publishers, authors, associations, and groups mentioned cannot accept
liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the copyright holder,
application for which should be made to the publisher, TGS Media Ltd. ISSN
Breakthrough (Print) ISSN 2059-1241, Breakthrough (Online) ISSN 2059-125X.
4 Breakthrough
Meet the ITAYM Board
The governing structure of the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association’s (ITA)
Young Members group (ITAYM) is a Steering Board made up of Chair, Vice-Chair, and a number
of representatives selected by members of the Group. Steering Board members are elected for
alternating periods to ensure continuity. The mandate is for two years.
Keith Bannerman
Keith is an enthusiastic tunneller who never misses an opportunity to get his boots dirty. Since graduating in 2008 with a
Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) he has gained experience as a designer,
cost engineer, site engineer and most recently as part of a client delivery team. Keith has been an active member of the
Australian Tunnelling Society for over 10 years and is currently the ATSym Chair, as well as sitting on the ATS Executive
Committee. When not wearing his high viz, you can usually find him outdoors with his wife, kids and dog enjoying the
sunshine.
Jasmin Amberg
Jasmin first visited a tunnel construction site when she was 6 years old. Although she probably understood almost nothing,
the virus got implemented. In 2013 she did her Masters in Civil Engineering at the ETH Zurich in Switzerland and works
now as a Junior Project Manager at Amberg Engineering AG, where Jasmin is involved in several tunnelling projects at
different stages. Jasmin is the founder and Chair of the Swiss Tunnelling Society Young Members group (STSym). Outside
of work, she likes cooking and spending time with her family and friends, when she’s not busy acting as a basketball coach
or referee.
Jekaterina Jonsson
Jekaterina was born in Estonia, a country with no mountains or tunnels. She moved to Sweden and graduated in 2012
from Luleå university of technology with a degree in Civil and rock engineering. She got into tunneling by Master study on
blasting efficiency at Swedish nuclear fuel and waste management Co and worked in Stockholm bypass project in both
design and construction phase 2012-1018. Jekaterina is technical consults at Geosigma, currently, assigned as project
leader for construction projects in utility tunnels and rock specialist at Stockholm subway expansion project. She is a
committee member of Swedish YM group. Jekaterina spends most of her time off outdoors ice skating, camping, climbing
and skiing.
Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou
Chrysothemis is a Tunnel/Mining Engineer (MEng) with post-graduate studies (MSc) in Tunnelling from NTUA (GR). In
2016, she completed her PhD, which involved working on a joint Research Project between Queen’s University and ETH
Zurich. She is currently an EMBA candidate. In 2017 she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Leeds (UK).
She also works as an Independent Consultant and in the past as Tunnel Engineer. She is an active member in the Greek
and British Tunnelling Society Young Members groups and the ITA’s ITACUS and ITACET committees. When Chrysothemis
is not working, you will find her spending time with friends and family at her Eden, a magical place in Southern Greece.
Nicolas Ziv
Nicolas ZIV is a civil engineer and urban planner, presently working on the development of Data Science algorithms to
improve Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) productivity at Tunnel Lab, the R&D department of Bouygues Travaux Publics, a
French-based contractor. Nicolas undertook an industrial PhD in partnership with ESTP-Paris, developing new methods
to manage the complexity of construction projects based on systems engineering, functional analysis and constructability.
At Egis, Nicolas worked on the design and planning phases of several transport infrastructure projects, including the
extension of Lyon Metro’s line B, the Greater Paris metro and the Madinah Metro Network. Nicolas also participated in the
creation of the AFTES Young Members association in France.
Sandeep Singh Nirmal
Sandeep holds a Masters in Tunnelling & Underground Space from the University of Warwick, UK, and was a recipient of
the ITA’s ITA-CET scholarship in 2015. He has 6.5 years’ experience working in the UK and India with active engagements
with various professional development organisations such as the British Tunnelling Society, Institution of Civil Engineers
and Tunnelling Association of India. He co-founded the Tunnelling Association of India Young Members (TAIym) in 2018 and
is currently Chair. He is a co-founder of the Symposium of Young Tunnellers of Asia (SYTA), which is scheduled be held for
the first time in 2020. In his own time Sandeep is a keen runner and amateur photographer.
Breakthrough 5
SHAPE THE DIGITAL FUTURE WITH US. In operation for over 50 years, we are one of the world’s leading engineering companies. We offer expertise in the complete range of services from feasibility, planning, design, to site supervision, renewal and project management. The sustainable use of surface and sub- surface space is always our focus. We have continuously grown and adapted to embrace innovative and digital working methods such as BIM for the design of infrastruc- ture projects. Become a member of our team and realize your career goals. www.ambergengineering.com/career WE ARE AMBERG. AMBERG ENGINEERING AMBERG LOGLAY AMBERG TECHNOLOGIES HAGERBACH TEST GALLERY 6 Breakthrough
Contents...
08 ITA Young Member’s National News
Find out more about the initiatives and networking activities
of young tunnelling groups around the world.
16 Diversity Matters
Breakthrough talks to a number of female tunnellers about
the work they are doing to further diversity in the industry.
23 My Tunnel Vision
Sweta Nemani shares the story of her career in tunnelling
and her vision for India’s future use of underground space.
24 Next Generation Tunnellers
Breakthrough speaks to several young tunnellers who are
making waves in Malaysia’s burgeoning tunnelling industry.
28 Start of the Shift
Ahmed Shaz shares his epic commute to work on a railway
tunnel in a remote and troubled region of northeast India.
31 Passage to Sweden
Claudia Sanchez left Peru and undertook a major career
migration to work in Sweden on a nuclear storage project.
34 A Growing Movement
Past and present ITAYM Board members give feedback on
working for the committee and what they’re doing now.
38 ITAYM Map
Breakthrough’s guide to the various national tunnelling
organisations around the world with Young Member groups.
40 Down for That
America’s UCA of SME Young Members (UCAYM) Chair, Jes
Barron, speaks out for the new ‘Down for That’ initiative.
42 Connecting Sydney
Nick Mirsepassi is a tunnel engineer currently working on
the WestConnex M4-M5 highway link, in Sydney, Australia.
44 Scouting Innovation in Switzerland
Klaus Wachter tells us about initiatives underway the Swiss
Centre of Applied Underground Technologies (SCAUT).
46
5 from Five
We speak to five tunnellers who attended five institutions
that offer specialist degrees to find out where they are now.
Breakthrough 7
YM MEMBER NATION NEWS
Colombia NGTs reach new depths
In their third year as a Young
Members Group, ACTOS’
(the Colombian Tunnelling
and Underground Works
Association) New Generation
of Tunnellers (NGT) Young
Member Group has proudly
reached a number of
fundamental goals set out
during its establishment.
The group now has over 100
members who gather every two
weeks at the Colombian Society
of Engineers - SCI, working to
improve underground space
development in Colombia,
which will be a key economic
activity for the country over the
next 50 years. The NGT board ACTOS-NGT members at one of
their regular meetings
of directors for the 2020-2022
period is composed of Paola
Castillo (Chair), Camilo Ramírez One of ACTOS-NGT’s major
(Vice-chair) and Juan Pablo goals is to be in the vanguard
Romero (Secretary). The latter of the international tunnelling
two are also the Vice President community, sharing the state-
and President of the Youth of-the-art of underground
Commission of the Colombian engineering in Colombia
Society of Engineers – SCI. and establishing strategic
Juan Pablo Romero, a 27- partnerships with different
year old tunneller, graduated young members groups
in 2016 with a Bachelor’s around the world. NGT is
degree in Civil Engineering pleased to share that it has
and is currently studying for a been addressing this goal
Master’s degree in Geotechnical by developing articles of a
Engineering at the National high technical level, which
University of Colombia. His have been chosen for
ACTOS-NGT at WTC 2019
interest in tunnels began when presentation at recent World
he attended a technical visit to Tunnel Congresses. The first,
the Sogamoso Hydroelectric 3.4km-long Tesalia highway and Cartago by an hour and a entitled “Comparison of two
Project, in Colombia, where he tunnel. Juan has to deal with half (at present the travel time possible alternatives for the
was impressed by the complex four geological faults and the is three hours). development of subsurface
tunnel network needed to challenge of large rocks that Juan contributes his of historical buildings: a
transport water and generate even pose difficulties when knowledge in tunnels to the case study in Shangai”, was
energy. This prompted Juan using dynamite daily. He is ACTOS-NGT group in different contributed by Diana Diaz, at
to study a Master’s degree in charge of supervising the technical discussions that are the Dubai WTC, in 2018. For
in geotechnics and join the tunnel works, including the civil organised monthly and he the Naples WTC, in 2019, the
Colombian Society of Engineers works construction process, also encourages members to paper “Shafts and drainage
and especially the Geotechnical tunnel lining, pavements and continue their professional tunnels sustainable design for
Commission of the same water treatment and must development. He considers groundwater collection as an
entity. From the Colombian always be attentive to design professional development and optimal socio-environmental,
Society of Engineers, he had modifications. This tunnel continued training as the most economic and preventive
the opportunity to interact with represents an upgrade in the effective method to address measure to mass movements
the tunnelling community and country’s economic processes the variability and uncertainty of saturated soils with seismic
that is how he started work as it will reduce the travel time of the geological-geotechnical activity in Bucaramanga,
as a Tunnel Engineer on the between the cities of Medellin aspects of a rock mass. Colombia” was presented and
8 Breakthrough
Swiss STSym activities expand
Juan Pablo Romero at his day
job on the Tesalia Tunnel
Founded in 2017, the Swiss a certain technical problem
Tunnelling Society’s young during design phase or the
members group (STSym) experience of a new job as
expands every year and now young engineer (e.g. site
consists now of about 90 official manager), or anything else
members. Every year the that could be interesting
STSym organise several events. for other young members.
In March, 2019, the STSym In 2019, presentations
visited steel manufacturer were held on the design
Jörimann, in Walenstadt. tunnel in the middle of the city. of the Gotschnatunnel
Jörimann supplies a lot of As usual for construction sites (swelling pressure), the
underground construction in cities, space is really limited, tasks of a geologist in the
projects and It was interesting which is a challenge for the different project phases and
finally for the 2020 Malaysia for the STSym members to see whole logistics operation. All experiences of a “young” site
WTC, the paper “Overcoming how the steel is produced and speakers and guides were manager. In the second half
ethical and engineering what the challenges are for young members working on of the workshop, the STSym
challenges in the planning, the manufacturer. Maybe there the project, which is one of got a small introduction into
design and construction of will be some impact on future the goals for STSym’s young the field of MBSR - mental
“La Línea” tunnel (8.6km) in designs by the young tunnellers member events. After visiting based stress reduction. A
the Central Andean Mountain as a result of the visit. the interesting site, young very interesting topic and
Range, Colombia” was In June, the annual Swiss members went for some maybe useful now or in the
contributed by Eng. Paola Tunnelling Congress took place drinks and the next day a future...
Castillo. and, once again, the STSym smaller group enjoyed a hike For 2020, the STSym plan
For the period 2020-2021, organised a social event for in the near world heritage site to have a joint event with
the new Board of Directors has young tunnellers. Luckily, the “Lavaux”. the French young members,
defined its action plan, titled weather was good and a great Beside the excursions, to visit the construction
“underground engineering evening was enjoyed on a STSym also organised an site at CERN, in Geneva,
and sustainability research rooftop with food and drinks. annual workshop where where we will not only try to
group”, which aims to generate On a second excursion in young members speak about understand what CERN is all
knowledge through research July 2019, the STSym visited their experiences in the field about, but also strengthen
and subsequent publication of a the construction site for Tunnel of tunnelling. The topics are our international young
series of articles in journals and LEB, in Lausanne, a new rail varied, such as the handling of members network!
conferences at both the national
and international level.
Another action item will
be contributing to the socio-
environmental and sustainable
subject of underground
engineering, with the purpose
of creating awareness of the
need for multidisciplinary
professional teams (urban
planners, architects, engineers,
geologists, sociologists,
environmentalists, etc.) for
the development of durable,
sustainable and resilient tunnel
projects. Finally, NGTs intend
to strengthen their cooperation
with the Youth Commission
of the Colombian Society of
Engineers - SCI, to spread
our message among young
Colombian engineers. Members of the STSym group at one of its networking events
Breakthrough 9YM MEMBER NATION NEWS
ATSym works to assist national efforts
The ATSym continue to be a key and
vibrant part of the Australian Tunnelling
Society (ATS). The ATSym is integrated
with the view to “lift all boats” and use
the enthusiasm of our young tunnellers
to improve the society as a whole. Each
of the Society’s individual chapters has
a ym representative, as well as having a
standing position as part of the national
executive committee.
As well as having a key role in organising
technical presentations, this year the
ATSym have focussed on developing an
ATSym TBMs and Trains Networking
“Australian Tunnel Design Guideline”.
Historically, tunnelling activity has been
sporadic in Australia, therefore tunnel
design is not covered in Australian
undergraduate courses and rarely offered
at post-graduate level. In addition,
many current local specifications do not
include tunnel specific requirements
that are appropriate for tunnel design.
This shortfall leads to the risk that
inappropriate design standards could be
used in tunnel design in Australia.
The ATSym has established a working
group of practicing young tunnellers to ATSym Team: (L-R) Simon Brinkmann (NSW), Aaron Lippett (NSW), Monique Quirk (QLD),
document current design best practice and Keith Bannerman (ITAym), Will Houghton (WA) and David Suter (VIC)
where applicable and possible will reflect
Australian and international standards. Keep in touch via the ATS facebook page (@AustralasianTunnellingSociety) or ats.ymc@
The document currently runs to over 100 gmail.com if you would like to know more about ATSym! Also visit the ITAym facebook page
pages and will be published very soon, (@ITAYoungMembers) to keep up with what the next generation of tunnellers area up to in
keep an eye out on ats.org.au for more all corners of the globe.
information.
GTSyms champion collaboration during lockdown
During 2020 and COVID-19, GTSym has ambassador
been increasingly active in several new Rosanne Verloop
initiatives and has organised a number were accompanied
of joint events with other national young by GTS Chair
members groups worldwide (BTSym in Ioannis Fikiris in a
the UK, TACym in Canada). GTSym has panel discussion
also become the first young members that was chaired by
group to host an ITACUS (ITA Committee Dr Chrysothemis
on Underground Space) on-line Paraskevopoulou,
workshop on “Expanding Underground ITACUS’ Activity
Space, Passion and Knowledge to Make Group Leader
a Positive Impact on the World”. of Urban
The workshop was highly successful Sustainability. The
with more than 100 attendees around panel resulted in a fruitful discussion on The workshop and on-line presentations are
the world. ITACUS representatives, various topics, from sustainability to the available to view on YouTube via the WTC 2023
Co-Chairs Antonia Cornaro and Han future of tunnelling and underground space - Athens Candidacy Channel. To get involved
Admiraal, and ITACUS young talent development in developing countries. with YMG GTS email: ymg.gts@gmail.com
10 BreakthroughDelivering complex
award-winning
tunneling projects
worldwide
Contact:
Nasri Munfah
Director of Tunneling and
Underground Engineering
nasri.munfah@aecom.com
aecom.com
Tun-Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Northern
Connection Subsea Tunnel Section
Hong Kong, China
2019 ITA Project Of The Year Award #AECOMTunneling
Breakthrough 11YM MEMBER NATION NEWS
YouTubers take a leaf from BTSym
whilst giving both local and
international tunnellers in their
early careers an opportunity to
Mid-March 2020, and the share their experiences – as
months that followed, saw expenses and approval to travel
the world almost come to a would not be a constraint.
complete halt. An exaggeration We also realised that we were
maybe, but not too far from what not the only YM committee
many within the industry may in this boat. It was a global
have felt, both professionally problem. We therefore took
and personally. another leaf from the industry’s
It all started with the collaborative nature and started
postponement of the British reaching out and delivering joint
Tunnelling Society (BTS) Young events on our BTS’ YouTube
Members’ annual conference, channel. Consequentially,
which was scheduled for 13 despite the pandemic, we
March. Over the weeks that delivered seven BTSYM events
followed, the UK underwent a (some jointly with TAIym,
rigorous lockdown. Realisation TACym, CBTym and GTSYM)
of the scale of the COVID-19 between April and September
pandemic, put both the future 2020, and have witnessed
BTS and BTSYM live lectures maximum viewership figures
in jeopardy. We therefore of up to 3,300 – an average
responded using skills gained of 600 per videos – and even
from our lives as tunnellers. attracted viewers outside of the
The BTS had been operating tunnelling industry.
a YouTube account since May BTSym’s broadcasts have drawn a large following during the lockdown Yes, COVID-19 did hamper our
2019 as a part of an attempt plans, but has also given us a
to automate its live lecture Microsoft Teams and Skype, the pandemic may offer some vision of what our new normal
broadcasts. So, our first BTSYM members championed opportunities after all. can, and will, be; it will entail
response was to transfer the shifting of the BTS AGM This realisation was the key to more online events focused
the April lecture online and (which saw Kate Cooksey, the our response. We realised that on international knowledge
deliver it from the safety of the founder of BTSYM, take over as we could not only still aid the exchange, more YouTube
presenter’s and our Sub-Chair’s the BTS Chair) online. professional development of our content and, of course, more
homes. Through a request for a joint members through webinars. collaboration. Please subscribe
As most of our industry event from the ATS, via Keith But also, get them access to a to the British Tunnelling Society
members are versed with Bannerman, we realised that more international experience; YouTube channel for more info.
‘Down for That’ initiative launched in the USA
The UCA of SME (the Underground academic careers is imperative,” said Paul
Construction Association division of SME Schmall, PhD, PE, Vice President, Keller
in the USA) has launched a new online North America, and UCA board member.
educational resource called ‘Down for “This website provides students and
That’. The new website is designed to be a educators with access to the tunnelling
one-stop resource for students, professors industry that has been lacking until
and industry professionals to gain now. There are viable and vibrant career
knowledge and share information on the paths in underground engineering and
underground construction and tunnelling construction, and we’re excited to pass it through video presentations, as guest
industry. on to tomorrow’s professionals.” speakers, and by conducting on-site tours
“The vast majority of Civil Engineering Students can gain knowledge and of tunnelling projects.
students have no exposure to any university professors can support their Visit the new website at
underground engineering or construction. classroom through a library of resources, undergroundcareers.org to see how
If they ever get a glimpse, it comes from videos, papers, and presentations on UCA is raising awareness about exciting
us, the UCA members. Exposing them to underground construction topics, as well careers available in the American
the exciting and long-term underground as scholarship opportunities. Industry tunnelling and underground construction
career opportunities early in their professionals contribute to the resources industry.
12 BreakthroughTraining Day at Herrenknecht
This July, world leading course, the requirement that
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) visitors wear face coverings
manufacturer Herrenknecht throughout. From 9:00am to
opened its gates to young 5:00pm, visitors nevertheless
people from the company’s experienced an informative,
home region, near Schwanau, clearly presented and varied
Germany, to provide insight into programme.
around a dozen apprenticeships The groups, of up to 20 people
that are currently up for grabs at the most, started the 2020
at the company. Training Day at Herrenknecht
About 200 young men and with a live presentation of two
women attended the event, large Tunnel Boring Machines
which took place at ten work (TBMs). On view were machines
and demonstration stations with impressive diameters of
across the factory complex. around 10 meters each, which
Fourteen experienced trainers are destined for a major new
and 50 apprentices and trainees railway tunnel project in the UK.
helped the guests familiarise On the subsequent tour
themselves with the industrial, of the training workshop, 10
technical and commercial clearly and practically designed
training occupations and related stations presented a wide range
opportunities at the company. of training possibilities. A total
In these unusual times, this of 12 different occupations
chance to get a first-hand view in the industrial, technical,
of the possibilities available was commercial and IT areas, as
well received. well as two options for joining
Professional training at the company while studying,
Herrenknecht is a high priority. were presented. For example, in
There are currently 200 young front of the visitors, apprentices
people completing training conjured up a rose from hard
or studies at the company. In steel and with the appropriate
July, the team around Head of welding skills. They also
Training Klaus Himmelsbach presented the modern interface
went all out to attract smart between IT and mechanics at
young men and women as the CNC workstation.
applicants for the 2021 training Apprentices and training
year: “We spared no effort, supervisors were on hand to
including strict implementation answer any questions as well
of the COVID-19 rules. We as queries about occupational
were rewarded with over 100 aspects – whether about
candidates who visibly had fun the application process, the
at the event and showed strong theoretical and practical content
interest in an apprenticeship at of the apprenticeships and
Herrenknecht.” degree internship programmes
Organisers planned the or the chronological sequence
event in Herrenknecht’s of the training process.
state-of-the-art training This opportunity to get first-
workshop with great precision. hand information was gladly
Relevant health and assembly and extensively used. “I liked
regulations were implemented it. I got a good insight and it
and strictly observed. Online was very informative. Everyone
pre-registrations for fixed was very friendly and open to
appointments, distance my questions,” said one of the
markings, tours in small young visitors at the end of his
groups, disinfectants and, of tour.
Breakthrough 13YM MEMBER NATION NEWS
Dutch YMs develop multiple networking opportunities
The Dutch Young Members to the recently completed
group was established in North/South metro line
2017 and has since organised in Amsterdam. Following
numerous activities. Every presentations on the project,
year in September a social a tour from North to South
event is held at the Delft started at the central railway
University of Technology station. The metro tunnel was
to bring together young constructed by immersing a
professionals and students pre-cast tunnel section in a
to create awareness of trench that had been dredged
the young member group, underneath the nineteenth
which students can join once century railway station.
they have graduated. Twice Anecdotes and stories were
a year a site visit is also shared by the contractors
organised to an underground involved while waiting on the
project somewhere in The platform. The metro then took
Netherlands. young members to the next
Visualisation of the North/South metro line works in Amsterdam
In addition to these station through an immersed
activities for young members, tunnel, pneumatic caisson and tubes providing 2 x 5 lanes + innovative solutions that had
our members are also free a bored section of the line. The an interchangeable rush hour been applied to make the
to join events organised by last stop was at station ‘De lane. The project will greatly tunnel as environmentally
the Department of Tunnelling Pijp’, which was constructed transform the Southeast of friendly as possible. The
and Underground Works with diaphragm walls, and – the Dutch capital, allowing walk through the tunnel was
(the Royal Dutch Tunnelling due to the narrow width of the easier commutes, improving very interactive and many
Association). At these events, existing street above – with air quality and providing questions were answered by
young professionals mix with both platforms situated on top 61,000m² of extra water our fantastic tour leader. The
experienced professionals of each other making it the storage, increasing resilience. day ended with a nice dinner.
and, since the creation of the deepest station on the metro The surface area above the Over the next year, the
group in 2017, the presence line. The day ended with drinks tunnel will become a park and Dutch Young Members
of young members increases in a pub somewhere in the will give back an enormous group is aiming to organise
every year. Both young and south of Amsterdam. amount of green space to the two collaborative events
more experienced members The second site visit took inhabitants of the capital. with Germany’s STUVA-YEP
are excited about this trend! place at the Amsterdam The young members young members group, to
In March 2019, the Dutch Gaasperdammer cut and cover enjoyed presentations and exchange knowledge and
Young Members group’s highway tunnel, in November a tour through the tunnel, grow networking at an
first site visit led them 2019. The tunnel has five which showed them all the international level.
Dutch young members visit the
Gathering for the Amsterdam metro tour Gaasperdammer highway tunnel in 2019
14 BreakthroughTunnelling Association of Kenya is established
The Tunnelling Association
of Kenya (TAK) aims to
promote sustainable use of
underground space in Kenya,
further education and training
on underground space and
to improve safety in tunnel
construction and operation.
The formation of TAK was
the result of a realization of
Kenya’s potential in tunnelling
and underground space use
and a desire to bring together
and build a local knowledge
base of all disciplines involved
in tunnelling.
Kenya’s quest towards
achieving the global UN Tunnelling projects in Kenya are on the rise
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) can be achieved through December 2018. Subsequently, for its members comprising programme to various other
proper planning, design and Kenya was incorporated of professionals from engineering institutions with
execution of development as a member nation of the various disciplines involved the view of sharing knowledge
projects and more so those that International Tunnelling in the planning design and and shaping future engineers
utilize underground space. and Underground Space construction of tunnels. in the industry. For more
In the water sector, Kenya is Association (ITA) at the 2019 TAK further intents to information on TAK visit:
currently implementing various World Tunnelling Congress, in engage in a rigorous outreach http://www.tak.or.ke/
projects that involve tunnels for Naples, Italy.
water transportation, such as TAK held its first training
the Northern Collector Tunnel
Project, the Itare Dam Project,
event on Underground Space
Use and Tunnel Project
Brazil launches ‘CBTym
the Karimenu II Dam Project,
the Thwake Dam and the
Management on the 6 and 7
December, 2018, and attracted
Talks’ pandemic initiative
Mwache Dam. over 75 participants. The event
The Northern Collector was facilitated by the ITACET
Tunnel (NCT) Phase 1 is a Foundation with trainers
11.7km long tunnel for bulk Tarcisio Celestino (former ITA
water transfer from three President), Olivier Vion [ITA
rivers in central Kenya to Executive Secretary] and Han
the Thika dam, which is the Admiraal [ITA Committee for
main reservoir for the capital, Underground Space Use].
Nairobi. The project comprises A second event ‘Introduction
mixed face ground conditions to Tunnelling – From Design
with six different support to Construction’ was held
classes and was excavated in on 5 and 6 December, 2019,
eight different drives. There also facilitated by the ITACET The Comitê Brasileiro de Túneis’ (the Brazilian Tunnel
were two tunnel adits and two Foundation with trainers Committee) Young Members group has launched ‘CBTym
50m deep shafts that provided Lars Babendererde, Gérard Talks’, an initiative to bring the tunnelling community closer
access for these drives. The Seingre and Maud Macary. This during the social restrictions imposed by the COVID-19
final tunnel breakthrough attracted over 90 enthusiastic pandemic. The virtual meeting series expands upon
between the 7th and 8th drive participants. CTB’s existing webinars (and ‘Conversa dos Tuneleiros!’
was successfully achieved on As there are a number of online pandemic meetings) and addresses different
the 9 December, 2019. tunnels underway in Kenya, as themes related to underground space. Talks are being
The complexity of the NCT well as many planned tunnels broadcast live on Youtube and participation is free. For
Phase 1 project led local for road and rail transport, TAK more information and links to future events visit the CBT
professionals to champion intends to hold many more facebook page.
the establishment of TAK in training and networking events
Breakthrough 15Diversity Matters
A new generation is changing the narrative when it comes to attracting
more women into the tunnelling industry – and keeping them there.
Kristina Smith reports.
In 2016, Breakthrough looked at the issue or Instagram, in company marketing message for women at the beginning of
of gender balance, as more tunnelling materials, even on billboards. And their careers. The wider Kiewit group
clients and companies were waking up though employing and photographing a holds two ‘Future Women in Kiewit’
to the value of diverse teams. One of the few ‘token’ women is not the answer to conferences a year, the first of which took
people interviewed was Erin Keogh, a making better-performing teams, these place in December 2018. New recruits
Field Engineer at Kiewit in the US who photos do help get the message out that and would-be recruits are invited along to
was starting her career, having graduated this is a career for women, as well as for hear from experienced female engineers
just two years earlier. men. about their working lives and what their
Today, Keogh, is still with Kiewit’s roles involve.
underground division, working as a
Superintendent. She is also heavily Role models
involved in a company programme aimed The industry has Jekaterina Jonsson, a designer at
at recruiting, retaining and developing Geosigma in Sweden and a member of
women, something she was instrumental accepted a woman the ITA Young Members’ Steering Board,
in setting up in 2017. “I was getting as the ITA president. believes that finding a good role model
frustrated with seeing women leaving the – whether female or male – is vital for
company and leaving the industry,” says I think that’s quite young women starting out in tunnelling.
Keogh. Rather than let that frustration positive. I am happy “On the first project I worked on after
demotivate her, she decided to do graduation, I had two strong female role
something about it. that my work and my models,” she says. “I think that gave me
As the International Tunnelling contribution to the the strength and the confidence to develop
and Underground Space Association and succeed. Women aren’t generally as
(ITA-AITES) celebrates its first female industry has been competitive as men and it can be easier
president, Jenny Yan, it is a good time to recognised. When to talk to another woman. Later on, I had
revisit the issue of gender, to look at some role models who were men too.”
positive trends – as well as some of the they see women being Keogh has also had some great role
remaining challenges. successful, more models, she says, although hers have all
“The industry has accepted a woman been men, since there were no women
as the ITA president. I think that’s quite women will join our around. Her mentors include Mike
positive,” says Yan. “I am happy that my industry. Jenny Yan Romero, a General Superintendent at
work and my contribution to the industry Kiewit, who encouraged her to pursue
has been recognised. When they see her mission to keep more women in the
women being successful, more women industry: “He pushed me to start the
will join our industry.” London’s ‘Tideway’ super sewer project programme,” she says. “He was a great
is a prolific publisher of photos showing advocate.” Keogh now looks to mentor
Visibility women in high-vis gear, following on younger women in her company and is
Diversity is big news. Ever since from its CEO Andy Mitchell’s commitment working with the US ‘Women in Tunneling’
management consultant McKinsey in 2014 to achieve gender parity in the (WIT) organisation to set up a mentorship
published its ‘Diversity Matters’ report owner and delivery partner teams by programme there.
in 2015, which showed that companies 2023. Tideway’s strategies to attract Jenny Yan, who herself has 35 years’
in the top quartile for gender parity more women have included changing the experience in the tunnelling industry,
performed on average 15% better than message about what the project is (an thinks that senior role models are
their peers, companies have been keen to environment saver, not a massive civil important. She holds up the example of
demonstrate how diverse their teams are. engineering feat), creating a returners Chinese Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
In tunnelling, and construction programme and introducing PPE that manufacturer CREG where both the
generally, one result of this desire to accommodates pregnancies. former CEO and the Chief Engineer are
appear diverse is that there are many Aside from attracting graduates into women. “That’s very impressive in this
more images of women at work on sites the industry, visibility of women in more industry,” says Yan. “But a successful
being published: online via LinkedIn senior roles sends out an important company is not about individuals, it’s
16 BreakthroughProfessor Jenny Yan,
President of the International
Tunnelling and Underground
Space Association (ITA)
Chrissi McCarthy,
Managing Director
Constructing Equality
Erin Keogh,
Tunnel
Superintendent,
Kiewit
Jekaterina Jonsson,
Designer and Project
Manager, Geosigma
Dr Patricia Galloway,
CEO, Pegasus-Global
Holdings
Breakthrough 17JOBS
DONE
WELL.
For more than 50 years, Kiewit has built some of the most complex tunneling and
underground projects in North America. We have the capabilities to self-perform soft
ground and hard rock TBM tunneling, along with conventional tunneling techniques such
as SEM and Drill and Blast. At the heart of these projects is a workforce dedicated to
industry-leading safety performance and unmatched quality excellence. From the unique,
complex projects we build, to the committed professionals who design, engineer and
construct them, Kiewit ensures the ordinary is always extraordinary.
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
1926 S 67th St., Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68106 | (402) 346–8535
| KIEWIT.COM
18 Breakthroughabout diverse teams. For any CEO to be homework and activities with running a to continent to work on major projects,
successful they have to be good at creating big project.” attitudes towards gender do vary between
teams.” With most societies still seeing women countries.
Women in Tunneling (WIT) has recently as the default carer in a family such In the US and UK, where percentages
begun to publicise senior women in the issues can make or break a career in of women in construction are generally
industry with its #WomenWhoTunnel construction. Yan points out that she has quoted at somewhere between 10 and
series. Among those featured is McMillen only been able to manage her long and 15%, the woman-as-main-parent attitude
Jacobs Principal Sarah Wilson and Erika illustrious tunnelling career, which has prevails. There’s also an ingrained
Moonin, Engineering Project Manager for taken her all over China and the world, perception that construction and
a huge intake project at Lake Mead for the because she has had support from her engineering professions are best suited
Southern Nevada Water Authority. parents-in-law and from her husband. to men.
Organisations in the UK are working “Women sometimes need to balance In China, there are more women in
hard to provide female role models in their career and their family. That’s more tunnelling now than there were, says Yan,
engineering too, says Ailie MacAdam, challenging,” she says. but they are mostly confined to design
Operations Manager, Infrastructure, with offices – which can limit their careers. It is
Bechtel. “Businesses and organisations, important for young engineers to get site
including the Institution of Engineering experience, insists Yan: “No matter what
and Technology, the Royal Academy of As soon as you start your job is, whether its design or research
Engineering and EngineeringUK, have to talk, and people or environmental, it’s very important to
been working hard to share female role get out to the job site and learn from the
models and normalise engineering as a understand that you job site.”
great career choice for women,” she says. are knowledgeable, Scandinavian countries tend to be
far more progressive when it comes to
Support attitudes change. parental leave. Norway, Sweden and
Whereas previous generations of female The older and more Finland offer fathers as well as mothers
tunnellers and engineers might have the chance to take several months off
been more inclined to try and blend in and experienced you work after their child is born. Gender isn’t
get on with it, younger women are being get, the shorter the
encouraged to discuss their differences
and the challenges they face. reaction time.
“You don’t have to act like a man,” Elisa Comis
advises Elisa Comis, an Associate at
McMillen Jacobs and Co-Chair of Women
in Tunneling. “Don’t lose your grace, use it
as a strength.” MacAdam urges young women to
Comis has plenty of personal experience grab opportunities and be more bullish
to draw on, working previously as a TBM about their achievements. “I advise
Engineer and often finding herself the my mentees to map out their ideal
only female on site. She has had to fight career path but be flexible and open
for respect, sometimes for equal pay, and to opportunities as they arise. Some
even to have a toilet on one project. “There of the best career decisions I have
is a learning curve and you have to live made deviated from plan,” she says.
with it,” she explains. “As soon as you start “I’ve found that while women are
to talk, and people understand that you forthcoming in taking ownership
are knowledgeable, attitudes change. The of their mistakes and praising
older and more experienced you get, the others, they can be reticent
shorter the reaction time.” to own their successes. It’s
One of the devices that Jacobs McMillen important to see our role
has introduced, as it works to improve its models taking pride in their
proportion of female engineers (which is personal achievements.”
already higher than industry norms) is a
resource group called the WISE Network Social norms
(Women in Science and Engineering) that Though the tunnelling
links women around the world who work industry is, by nature,
for the company. The group has a monthly global, with people often
conference call, open to any woman in moving from continent
the company. “We don’t open it up to
men, because we are very honest in it,”
says Comis. “We might be talking about Elisa Comis
pumping breast milk or how we are Associate,
feeling overwhelmed, juggling the kids’ McMillen Jacobs
Breakthrough 19an issue in Sweden, says Jonsson: “It’s hard to retain all their good people. “Here
quite different in Sweden compared to in the US, we have a pretty bad shortage
many countries. I feel that the industry
is very inclusive of women and female
The equal ratio of of engineers right now, especially in the
construction industry, so most companies
engineers, people don’t notice any females to males is an are trying to put retention strategies in
difference between men and women.”
Jonsson also notes that gender was
important measure place. Companies with core values that
cover ethics, sustainability, integrity,
similarly unimportant during her parents’ but, equality for expect all their employees to abide by
careers in the Soviet Union. Both worked
as engineers. “It did not matter if you
everyone is what we those core values. Those values feed into
the company culture and make it a fun
were a woman or a man or what part of should be aiming for. environment to work in.”
Russia you came from. As long as you put
in effort, you got rewarded.”
That’s our focus at MacAdam agrees: “The equal ratio
of females to males is an important
However, enlightened attitudes Bechtel – how to make measure but, equality for everyone is
towards equality do not necessarily
equate to more women in tunnelling
our industry more what we should be aiming for. That’s
our focus at Bechtel – how to make our
or engineering, according to research inclusive so everyone industry more inclusive so everyone can
by Gijsbert Stoet of Leeds Becket
University in the UK and David Geary
can participate. participate. We need people from a range
of backgrounds to feel included, so their
of the University of Missouri in the US. Ailie MacAdam ideas and insights are part of all decision
They found the opposite was true. For making.”
instance, Finland, Norway and Sweden Chrissi McCarthy, Managing Director of
are rated highly with respect to gender specialist UK consultancy Constructing
equality but also have the largest gender goals of its client Rail Projects Victoria. Equality, and an expert in equality,
gaps for STEM (science, technology, A CPBJH job advert for engineers says:
engineering and maths) subjects at “We are actively looking to attract and
degree level. promote women into non-traditional roles
Stoet and Geary also report that and putting support structures in place to
generally there are no differences in help them succeed.”
science ability between girls and boys
in secondary education. However, more Changing behaviours
boys identify sciences as their best One of the issues that Patricia
subjects, while girls see themselves as Galloway, an international
better in other subjects. arbitrator and CEO of
In several countries that are low in the Pegasus-Global Holdings,
gender equality rankings, proportions Inc. – who became the
of women in STEM careers are higher. first female President of
Researchers suggest that the attraction the American Society of
of a well-paying STEM career overrides Civil Engineers in 2004
the perception amongst girls and young – has highlighted in the
women that science is not their best past is retention, or
subject. rather lack of it, where
In Australia – which was ranked 44 women are concerned.
out of 153 for gender Equality by the Far more women study
World Economic Forum – the Daily Mail engineering than end up
suggests that it is good pay cheques working in it and women
that are attracting young women onto often leave after just a
tunnelling projects, including the Metro few years in the industry.
Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel. Last year, This isn’t necessarily
the Daily Mail reported that young women about women, it has
were moving into roles as construction more to do with company
site operatives, due to pay rates of over culture generally, says
Aus$100 (€62) per hour, four times that Galloway. She thinks
of the wage of a nurse or teacher. that companies
There is also a push to attract a more should be working
diverse workforce, including women,
from some of Australia’s major projects.
Ailie MacAdam,
On the West Gate Tunnel project Senior Vice
contractor CPBJH JV – CPB Contractors President,
and John Holland – is pushing hard to Bechtel
employ more women, in line with the Corporation
20 BreakthroughKiewit women on site
diversity and inclusion (EDI) has
observed that companies with poor
corporate cultures fail to retain women Thank you to our panel...
and other minorities. “You need an
inclusive environment, and then diversity Professor Jinxiu (Jenny) Yan became the president of the International
will be an outcome,” she says. “You Tunnelling and Underground Space Association in May 2019. Yan, who
can’t just recruit people from diverse has worked as an engineer on design, on construction projects and in
research for 35 years, is deputy general manager of the China Railway
backgrounds and expect there to be
Academy. She has worked on numerous tunnelling projects over her
immediate benefits. What seems to
career.
work is best is when a firm’s overriding
strategy for EDI ties into and feeds the Dr Patricia D. Galloway is CEO of the international management
organisation’s strategy.” consultancy Pegasus-Global Holdings and chairs the Nominating
One of the first – and most difficult and Governance Committee of the Granite Construction Board of
things companies can do is to work out Directors. An international chartered arbitrator, Galloway has worked
what the true culture and behaviours on tunnelling mega-projects including the UK’s Crossrail, Alto Maipo
in Chile, Casecnan in the Philippines and the Alaskan Way Viaduct
are within their organisation, says Mc
Replacement project in Seattle, USA.
Carthy. McMillen Jacobs’ all-women
group, for instance, creates a space Elisa Comis is an Associate at McMillen Jacobs, with over 14
where people can talk openly about years’ experience in mechanised tunnelling. She has worked on
challenges without risking damage to projects all over the world as an engineer for tunnel boring machine
their career. manufacturers, first for Italian contractor SELI and then for US
McCarthy, who has had many supplier The Robbins Company. She is co-chair of the Women in
conversations with women who have left Tunneling (WIT) group.
the construction industry, observes that Jekaterina Jonsson is a designer and Project Manager for consulting
most women did not feel able to voice engineer Geosigma, based in Sweden. With over six years’ experience
the challenges they faced at the time. in rock engineering, Jonsson worked for contractor BDX before joining
“If we cannot even talk about the issues, Geosigma. Jonsson joined the Steering Board of the International
how can we overcome them?” she asks. Tunnelling and Underground Space Association’s Young Members
Identifying – and changing – group in 2018.
behaviours is no easy task. But it is
Chrissi McCarthy is Managing Director of Constructing Equality, a
essential if tunnelling, and construction
consultancy that advises firms on achieving more diverse workforces.
more broadly, wants to hang on to the
McCarthy started her working career on site, working for a number of
women and other minorities it has, as contractors before leaving to set up her own business in 2007.
well as attract new people.
“Unfortunately, it may take decades Ailie MacAdam is a Senior Vice President of Bechtel Corporation and
to close the gender imbalance. That’s Operations Manager for Bechtel Infrastructure. During her 30 years
another reason why including the women with Bechtel, she has worked on major tunnelling projects including
we already have is so important,” says Crossrail and High Speed 1 in the UK and Boston’s Big Dig in the USA.
MacAdam. “Having their contributions in Erin Keogh is a Superintendent in Kiewit’s underground and tunnelling
decision-making will help us remove division. She joined the industry and Kiewit in 2014, having studied at
any blockers that may be preventing the Colorado School of Mines and is an active member of the Women in
people from thriving and staying in Tunneling group in the US.
the industry.”
Breakthrough 21You can also read
