The AGS Annual Conference returned to the Barbican Centre, London on 27^th April 2023 with just shy of 200 delegates in attendance.

Chaired by AGS Chair, Sally Hudson and AGS Chair Elect Vivien Dent, the event featured six guest speakers covering a range of geotechnical and geoenvironmental topics, alongside the AGS Working Group Leaders who provided updates on activities and focuses from the past 12 months.

Keynote speaker, Nick Sartain (Head of Geotechnical Engineering, HS2), started the proceedings with an informative presentation outlining what is necessary for excellent communication of digital information. This was followed by Luke Deamer (Group Sustainabiltiy Manager, Keller) who provided the forum with information on the wider opportunities of sustainability to geotechnical companies. AGS Chair Elect, Vivien Dent (Technical Specialist: Green Growth and Delivery, Environment Agency) also took to the stage to give an update on Environment Agency issues, projects and guidance.

After a busy lunch of networking with industry colleagues and the 17 event sponsors, Joel Carson (CEO Executive Director, Geoprofessional Business Association), who had travelled from USA to attend the Annual Conference, presented on how the industry can learn from other people’s mistakes. This was followed by Chaido Doulala-Rigby (Chief Civil Engineer and Business Development, Tensar International) who gave a brief historic review from the origin of stabilised earth concept to today’s use of polymer geogrids in construction. Finally, guest speaker, Edd Lewis (Data Standards Lead, British Geological Survey) gave an interactive presentation on Subsurface Data Sharing and The Geospatial Commission’s Construction Playbook.

It was a great event and a brilliant opportunity for the industry to gather, network and exchange ideas.

The AGS would like to take this opportunity to thank of our speakers, sponsors and exhibitors including Soil Engineering, Geosense, Geotechnical Engineering, In Situ Site Investigation, Seequent, SOCOTEC, Groundsure, Dunelm Geotechnical & Environmental, Equipe, BAM Ritchies, Concept Consultants, AFITEXINOV UK, Envirolab, British Geological Survey, Fugro, Brimstone and 1^st Line Defence.

If you missed the AGS Annual Conference 2023, you can download the majority of the speaker presentations HERE.