Conference Chair

Prof David Williams

University of Queensland

Professor David Williams is Professor and Director of the Geotechnical Engineering Centre within the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. David obtained a BE with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering from Monash University and a PhD in Soil Mechanics from Cambridge University. He worked for the Victorian State Road Authority and for Golder Associates before joining The University of Queensland in mid-1983. He has an international reputation in the application of geomechanics principles to mine waste management and mined land rehabilitation, and associated issues. He has made important contributions to the development and implementation of pumped co-disposal of coal mine washery wastes, store and release covers over potentially contaminating waste rock dumps in semi-arid climates, capping soft tailings, the hydrology of waste rock and tailings storage facilities, the settlement of high coal mine spoil piles, understanding problematic clay-rich coal mine tailings, and risk assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis applied to mining.

The Geotechnical Engineering Centre, which David initiated in mid-2012, was initially funded by Golder Associates, Rio Tinto, AngloGold Ashanti and BHP Billiton, with matching funding from The University of Queensland, to a total of $6 million over 5 years. Under this Centre, academic staff numbers have increased to eight, with currently six supporting Postdocs, and two dedicated laboratory staff, plus eight Adjunct Appointments from industry. The Centre initiated and supports the unique and highly successful Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Programs for Civil and Mining Engineering students, with graduations of up to 70 per year. Postgraduate research student numbers are approaching 40, supported by research funding of over $2 million per year.