Professor Michael C R Davies

I am deeply honoured to have been nominated by the British Geotechnical Association for the position of President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). I am also a member of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society, whose Management Committee has endorsed my candidacy. These nominations reflect the international nature of both my career and my commitment to serving our global geotechnical community.

Throughout my professional life, I have been strongly engaged with the ISSMGE through Member Society involvement, Technical Committee activities, and the organisation of major international conferences. This sustained engagement has been complemented by leadership roles at both national and international level, giving me a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our Society.

I have had the privilege of serving as Chair of the British Geotechnical Association and as a member of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society. Within the ISSMGE, I served from 2009 to 2013 as First Vice-President, Vice-President for Australasia, and Treasurer, and I currently serve as Chair of the ISSMGE Foundation. These roles have given me deep insight into the Society’s governance, finances, and global reach.

My motivation for standing for President is founded on a clear and forward-looking vision for the ISSMGE at a time of profound global change. Geotechnical engineering has a critical role to play in addressing the defining challenges of our era—most notably climate change, sustainable development, urbanisation, and resilient infrastructure. I believe the ISSMGE must be confident, visible, and proactive in demonstrating how geotechnics underpins solutions to these challenges.

Through senior leadership roles in internationally leading universities, I have developed strong professional judgement, technical authority, and the leadership and diplomatic skills needed to work constructively across cultures, regions, and disciplines. I am committed to leading the ISSMGE in advancing its mission: “to promote international cooperation amongst engineers and scientists for the advancement of knowledge in the field of geotechnics and its engineering applications”, while ensuring that the Society remains relevant, inclusive, and influential. If elected, my presidency will focus on three closely connected strategic priorities:

• Positioning geotechnics at the heart of climate change mitigation and adaptation, ensuring that our expertise informs global policy, practice, and public understanding.
• Removing barriers to participation, so that every member and every Member Society—regardless of geography, resources, or career stage—can participate fully, contribute meaningfully, and benefit equitably from ISSMGE activities.
• Strengthening governance and leadership, to ensure that the Society remains effective, transparent, financially robust, and resilient in the face of future challenges.

Through these priorities, my aim is to support a Society that empowers its members, strengthens international collaboration, and amplifies the global impact of geotechnical engineering.