IASS 2024 Keynote speakers have been chosen to reflect the symposium theme of Redefining the Art of Structural Design. Through their work, contributions to academia and practice, and as leaders in the topics relevant to IASS, these keynote speakers embrace the characteristics of Efficiency, Economy, Elegance, Environment and Ethics.
David Campbell P.E. is this year’s Honorary Member of the IASS. David is an established American Engineer. He began his career as an engineering consultant at Geiger Berger Associates in New York City and was one of the founding members of Geiger Engineers, an engineering consulting firm in Suffern, New York. David led the company as Chief Executive Officer from its inception in 1988 until 2022. The firm specialises in long-span structures, tensile membrane structures, and structures and mechanisms for sports and live entertainment venues and events. David holds engineering licences in eighteen states, including New York, and is registered in three Canadian provinces. A specialist in sport facilities, he has authored numerous technical papers on long-span, tensile, and sports structures and is a member of various engineering associations in addition to IASS. Read more about David’s Campbell’s work here.
Sarah Springman DBE, FREng, is the Principal at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. Sarah was educated at Wycombe Abbey, and then went on to read Engineering Sciences at Girton College, Cambridge. After five years working on civil engineering projects around the world, she returned to Cambridge to read an MPhil (St Catharine’s) and a PhD (Magdalene) in Soil Mechanics. Sarah was the first female Research Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge, before going on to become a university lecturer in 1990. In 1997, Sarah moved to ETH Zurich, Switzerland, becoming the first female Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in Western Europe and the first female Professor of Civil Engineering in Switzerland. Her expertise lies in soilstructure-interaction and geotechnical aspects of natural hazards. Sarah was Rector of the university from 2015-2021. Read more about Sarah Springman’s work here.
John Ochsendorf is an American structural engineer. He was educated at Cornell, Princeton and Cambridge University and is known for his creative research at the interface between civil engineering and architecture. Since 2002, he has been Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Read more about John Ochsendorf’s work here.
Anupama Kundoo has spearheaded an architectural approach that places people at the forefront of design, harnessing spatial and material explorations to mitigate environmental impact and cultivate socio-economic advantages. Rather than dwelling on scarcity, she advocates for abundance and for investment in human resources. Read more about Anupama Kundoo’s work here.
Mariam Issoufou is an architect from Niger. In 2014, she founded atelier masōmī, an architecture and research practice that tackles public, cultural, residential, commercial and urban design projects, and is guided by the belief that architects have an important role to play in creating spaces that have the power to elevate, dignify, and provide a better quality of life. Read more about Mariam Issoufou’s work here.
Laurent Ney is a structural engineer and architect trained in Belgium and Germany and founder of the engineering firm Ney & Partners, a team of engineers and architects working on the conception, materialisation and engineering of structure and infrastructure. Read more about Laurent Ney’s work here.
Neil Thomas MBE is a British Structural Engineer. In 1989 he founded the renowned Atelier One, a creative studio based in London, United Kingdom. In his work, Neil believes in a holistic approach to structural design, with active engagement throughout the design process. Read more about Neil Thomas’ work here.