Ann Williams (WEG Chair)

Ann is a technical specialist in the fields of engineering geology and hydrogeology based in Auckland, New Zealand. As a consultant she has scoped directed and reviewed projects across New Zealand and in Australia, Pacific and South-East Asia, from concept design through investigation, modelling, consenting, to construction. As a manager of some 630 people, a Board Member of Engineering New Zealand, past Chair and Life member of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society Inc., and past Vice President of the IAEG, Ann has significant first-hand experience of the opportunities for women in the discipline. Ann was the recipient of the 2022 NZGS Geomechanics Lecture Award. Ann was the first female and/or first Engineering Geologist to take on most of these roles or recognition awards. She is somewhat dismayed at the number of firsts still to be had for women in Engineering Geology in 2024.

Anika Braun (Germany)

Anika is a senior lecturer at the Department of Engineering Geology at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. She teaches various classes from Engineering Geology 101 to GIS and Machine Learning. In her research, Anika works on landslides, using a wide range of field, modelling, and remote sensing techniques. She did a Post-Doc at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and has worked on international research projects (including with Colombia, Cameroon, and Indonesia), and many more. Since 2020, Anika has served as the secretary of the German National Group of IAEG. She has worked in the early career chapter of the German Geotechnical Society from 2018 to 2022 and is currently the country representative of YEG in Germany. She is also a member of the GeoUnions Standing Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction representing INQUA. Anika is somewhat puzzled as to why despite the high rates of successful female Engineering Geology students there is still a lack of female representation in national and international boards and conferences.

Anjila Malla (Nepal/ Japan)

Anjila Babu Malla holds an MSc in Engineering Geology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and an MSc in Earth and Geoenvironmental Science from Shimane University, Japan. She is currently an Engineering Geologist at Geotech Solutions International (GSI), contributing to both national and international projects. Presently on study leave, Anjila is pursuing her Ph.D. at Shimane University, where her research focuses on land subsidence mechanisms in marine and lake sediments. She has led geotechnical labs at GSI, working on projects related to landslides, expressways, and land subsidence. Additionally, she has played a key role in developing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans for several local governments in Eastern Nepal. Currently, Anjila is the Coordinator of the Women in Engineering Geology (WEG) group of the Nepal Society of Engineering Geology (NSEG).

Felicia Weir (Australia)

Dr. Felicia Weir is a Director and Principal Engineering Geologist, who specializes in geotechnical open pit slope design and operational support. Her recent work has focused on rock fall risk, discrete fracture networks and management of unstable slopes in both Australia and Southeast Asia. Beyond her professional achievements, Felicia is passionate about earth science education. She is also a strong advocate for both the support and promotion of women in STEM, particularly in the field of open pit mining.

Helen Reeves (United Kingdom, North Europe VP IAEG)

Helen is an Engineering geologist over 20 years’ experience: leading multi-disciplinary ground engineering project teams, engineering geological mapping, rock mass characterisation, geohazard mapping & geomechanics. At Jacobs she is currently a Director & Head of Discipline for Geoscience & Engineering Geology, where she is helping to shape and mentor Geoscientists and Engineering Geologists. She is currently an IAEG VP for Europe.

Jean Hutchinson (Canada)

Jean is currently Professor of Geological Engineering at Queens University in Canada. Jean’s research and consulting work over the past 40 years has focused on various aspects of ground support as well as instrumentation and monitoring, under the umbrella of risk-based assessment. She teaches field courses exploring the opportunities to integrate closure planning, reuse of waste and progressive decommissioning within the mining cycle.
Jean is passionate about promoting inclusivity, helping students and early career professionals to thrive both technically and emotionally in often challenging work environments.

Martha Whitney (USA/ France)

Martha is an engineering geologist specializing in QA/QC and Client Representation for geotechnical site investigations to support design of linear infrastructure and offshore renewables. Martha has worked in the Pacific Northwest, Australia, Europe, East Africa, Papua New Guinea, the North Sea, and the northern Atlantic Ocean. Through these primarily male-dominated experiences, she gained an understanding of the challenges women face in our profession and is interested in getting more women in the field and ultimately taking on supervisory roles. She lives with her geologist husband in Montpellier, France and enjoys food, wine, hiking, cycling, climbing, and rock and roll.

Salome Waziri (Africa)

Salome is an Engineering Geologist/ Hydrogeologist who has been practicing for over thirty years. Her expertise in design and construction of boreholes has helped to solve potable water problems in many rural communities in Niger State, Nigeria. Salome is the first female Nigerian PhD holder in Engineering Geology and is very active in NAEGE (Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment). As an Associate Professor of Geology, she has continued to train both undergraduate and postgraduate students especially in the field of engineering geology. Salome is the Vice President of NAEGE (North) and the president of the women’s wing of NAEGE.

Countries with National WEG Groups

Nepal
Coordinator: Anjila Malla

Nigeria
President NAEGE: Salome Waziri
Vice-President NAEGE: Attah Fakeye