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We are glad to announce one of our keynote speakers, Dr Natalie Wride.

Dr. Natalie Wride is a Chartered Principal Geotechnical Engineer in the UK and Australia and Registered Ground Engineering Professional at Mott MacDonald. Since completion of her PhD examining cyclic loading of soft soils subjected to traffic loading, Natalie has pursued a career with a focus on advanced numerical modelling solving complex ground-structure interaction problems.

She is passionate about delivering added value to projects to achieve improved societal outcomes, with experience on projects in the UK, Middle East and Australia on new and heritage projects including Doha Metro, High Speed Two and Hammersmith Bridge. Recently, her work has focused on the application of the Observational Method (OM) and the use of near-real-time back analysis. At the 2021 Ground Engineering Awards, Natalie was ‘Highly Commended’ for the Rising Star Award and in 2024 was elected as a trustee for the British Geotechnical Association in 2024.

In parallel with her PhD, Natalie undertook higher education teaching with a focus on inclusion and widening participation in learning within the engineering curriculum. She has continued this involvement as a Social Mobility Foundation Mentor, featuring in the Ground Engineering Magazine and several podcasts discussing the importance of social mobility and industry inclusivity. Natalie has also volunteered as a UN Women UK delegate for the UN Commission on the Status of Women since 2024.

 In 2026, Natalie was announced as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering by the Ground Engineering Magazine.

We are glad to announce the keynote speaker, Dr Ken Vinck.

Dr Ken Vinck is an Assistant Professor in Geotechnics at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ. With seven years invested in geotechnical practice, he advanced his studies at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ, securing both an MSc and a PhD. After his doctoral achievements, Dr Vinck dedicated a year at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ as a post-doctoral researcher, subsequently joining as a Lecturer in 2022.

At the heart of his research is a passion for experimental geotechnics, with a pronounced focus on advanced laboratory testing and site characterisation – all aimed at enhancing offshore foundation system designs. His roles include key contributions to the lab testing components of the ALPACA project, for which he was awarded the BGA medal in 2022.

Dr Ken Vinck is presenting the investigation entitled "Chalk characterisation for driven pile behaviour at chalk sites."