1 February 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Summary

  • Australian Professor Arnold Dix has been elected President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) for his ambitious Many Peoples, One World sustainability agenda.
  • ITA is the peak scientific and engineering body overseeing the annual estimated US$1 trillion global underground industry.
  • Dix is one of the world’s foremost experts on tunnel safety. His unique communication style and ambitious platform will see ITA, a traditionally conservative organisation, take a significant new direction.

Body

In December 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland, Professor Arnold Dix was officially appointed as the President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA). Dix is one of the world’s foremost experts on tunnel safety and succeeds Jenny Jan from the People’s Republic of China in the role.

The first Australian to be elected to the position in the organisation’s 50-year history, Dix’s charisma and drive, combined with his ambitious platform of Many Peoples, One World will see ITA, a traditionally conservative organisation, take a significant new direction.

The ITA is the world’s peak independent scientific and engineering organisation focused on the underground, an industry with investments exceeding $US 1 trillion per year. The ITA has enjoyed consultative status with the United Nations for more than 30 years and comprises technical organisations from 79 member nations, including all the world’s superpowers.

Dix has committed the ITA to aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and placing sustainability considerations as a key criterion for all ITA activities. He has also committed the ITA to governance transparency and anti-corruption initiatives for the global sector. Activities already underway include the creation of new objective sustainability indexing tools, contractual reform, insurance reform and strategic alliances with development banks and other water, sewerage, energy, transportation and waste organisations.

President of ITA, Professor Arnold Dix:

“As a species and as a planet we are facing several unprecedented threats that the underground is uniquely placed to help redress. These include sanitation, clean water, clean energy, transportation and, in the future, perhaps even food security.”

“I’ve seen corruption and the scourge of modern-day slavery in underground projects. I’ve seen unnecessary project cost and time blow-outs. My mission is to wipe those issues out while repositioning the underground as a beacon of sustainability that can vastly improve the lives of billions of people. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited.”

“Underground projects are forever – it’s no accident that the most vibrant civilisations since ancient times invested wisely in the underground.”

“I’ve already met with political, legal, financial and technical leaders around the world to discuss new possibilities for clean water, sewerage, energy and transportation and I’m working with Dr Harry Asche, President of the Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS), and his senior board to promote even better underground solutions and the professions here in Australia too.”

“Australia must embrace the realities of the climate emergency, and the necessary sustainability and adaptive infrastructure needed to protect and enhance our lives and the environment into the future. I’m looking forward to meeting all the Australian Premiers and the Prime Minister to share the global perspective and opportunities the underground presents.”

“It’s a volunteer role I’m honoured to have, as a scientist, as a lawyer, as a husband, father, Australian and citizen of the world. This is about place, about our land, about country – what we do underground joins us to our wonderful planet that has nurtured us forever – now that’s something special. Bring it on – I’ve waited my lifetime to do this.”

 

President of the Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS), Harry Asche:

“Australian tunnelling has historically been well regarded globally, with pioneering rock mechanics from the Snowy Scheme, and the development of disk cutter technology in Tasmania for the Tunnel Boring Machines now used worldwide. But recently, Australia’s commitment and achievements in tunnelling for infrastructure has been noticed around the world, with mega-projects in every mainland state.”

“Arnold’s International Tunnelling Association Presidency is due to his unique talent and vision, underpinned by Australia’s reputation for these projects. Improvements in infrastructure, including for passenger rail, critical road links and pumped hydro are necessary for our future. The Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS) strongly supports Arnold’s focus on sustainability, both in the planning and justification of these projects, and also during the construction and operational phases.”

“The ATS is an industry body associated with Engineers Australia, which exchanges and promotes improvements in planning, procurement, construction and operation of tunnels and underground structures. The opportunity exists with Arnold’s Presidency to embed best practice from the world into Australian infrastructure.”

 

About Professor Dix

Dix grew up in the shadow of Australia’s famous Snowy Hydroelectric project and tunnels and has been a passionate advocate of the underground from a young age. He studied science at Monash University and started his career working as a scientist in association with the Office of the Supervising Scientist at Ranger Uranium mine. This prompted a change of direction towards environmental law with him taking articles at Blake and Riggal Lawyers (who then became Blake Dawson Waldron, Blakes, and then Ashurst). A former of both Madocks and Phillips Fox and a longstanding member of the Victorian Bar, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia as a practitioner in 1989.

Dix has worked on most Australian tunnelling projects, notably as the coroner’s special investigator in the Burnley Tunnel Disaster. Internationally Dix works on projects all around the world, ranging from technical subject matter expertise on the peak international road authorities organisation PIARC, to the KATS and TRANSTUN initiatives on chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear related events. Legally he appears in international disputes as an advocate and as a judge, as well as enjoying Professorships in Engineering at QUT in Queensland, and Science Mental Health and Adversity at the University of Western Sydney. He currently holds a visiting Professorship in Engineering at Tokyo City University in Japan.

In 2011 the ATS awarded him the Allen Neyland Tunnelling Achievement Award. In the United States, Dix was appointed to the USA’s peak fire and life safety standards for Tunnels in the 1990s–NFPA 130 and 502. In 2022 he was awarded the USA’s Committee Service Award for dedicated service over many decades. The USA does not routinely award foreigners.

Dix’s professional independence, reputation as a straight shooter and highly ethical approach gives him a real edge when ‘speaking truth to power.’

 

About the International Tunnelling Association

Founded in 1974 by the initiative of nineteen nations, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) currently has 79 Member Nations and 266 Corporate or individual Affiliate Members. It represents more than 45,000 subject matter experts on the underground and aims to:

  • Encourage the use of the subsurface for the benefit of public, environment and sustainable development; and
  • Promote advances in planning, design, construction, maintenance and safety of tunnels and underground space.

Professor Dix would be only too pleased to share how he plans to change the global face of underground development, so please feel free to reach out to him directly:

 

International Tunnelling Association

Professor Arnold Dix
President – International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
Of Counsel, White & Case
Barrister, Scientist & Professor of Engineering
arnold@arnolddix.com
Ph: 0419 688 890
Arnold Dix | LinkedIn

Australian Tunnelling Society

Penny Jones
ATS Communication Coordinator
pjones@engineersaustralia.org.au
Ph: 0420 565 546

At Official Office Canton of Geneva, Arnold Dix President ITA with Olivier Vion Executive director ITA on occasion of official registration of Arnold Dix as ITA President

 

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