Geoff McKay, leading the way in geotechnical engineering and tunnelling

Geoff’s journey into geotechnical engineering began with a desire for hands-on problem-solving and the opportunity to apply professional judgement in complex environments. “I was drawn into the field of geotechnical because it required a bit more judgement and was less formulaic than structural engineering,” Geoff reflects. “Geotech is more hands-on and involves greater use of professional judgment.”

Geoff’s early career was shaped by formative experiences in the Newcastle region, where he contributed to major projects between Sydney and Newcastle. His first significant exposure to tunnelling came with the Parramatta Rail Link - now part of the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link.

“That was probably the first major tunnelling project I worked on directly, going through detailed design,” Geoff recalls. “It was technically challenging and required a lot of consideration and judgement. There’s a real sense of achievement when you get to the end and see what you’ve created.”

Throughout his career, Geoff has contributed to a diverse array of projects, not all of them limited to rail and tunnels. One of his most memorable experiences was working on the Thredbo landslide investigations and subsequent reconstruction in the late 1990s. “I effectively lived in the village for over two years during the reconstruction,” Geoff shares. “It was as much a technical challenge as it was an emotional one, living within a small community that had been badly affected.” The project left a lasting impact, both professionally and personally.

Geoff’s recent work has focused on Sydney Metro projects, including Sydney Metro West and Central Station main works. “I’ve been on metro projects for about eight years now,” he notes. “Seeing the completion of Sydney Metro West is quite satisfying. When I walk through Central Station, I can visualise what went into those facades and how it all links in. For a commuter, it’s just a facade, but I know what it took to get those built.”

Throughout his career, Geoff has witnessed significant changes in the geotechnical industry. “The fundamentals stay the same, rock is still rock, soil is still soil, water is still water,” he observes. “But the extent of codification has changed extensively. When I started, very little was codified; most of it was based on published references or judgement. Now, it’s much more codified and referenced to standards and prescribed levels of performance.”

Despite these changes, Geoff believes that professional judgement remains at the heart of geotechnical engineering. “No matter how many codes you put in place, it’s still very much down to applying the right judgement and how you apply your designs,” he says. “Projects have continued to get bigger, and the demands have grown. What used to be a large project is not such a large project anymore, it’s considered standard.”

Within GHD, Geoff works closely with colleagues across disciplines. “The geotechnical, structural, and tunnels teams are working much more closely together,” he says. “Federated models bring all the information into one space, so you can see all the clashes and how everything fits in.”

This integrated approach delivers tangible benefits to clients. “Fundamentally, things work,” Geoff asserts. “You’re not getting out on site and finding that something doesn’t fit. It increases efficiency and reduces rework because everything is considered from the start.”

Geoff’s attitude toward the industry was shaped by his early experiences during a downturn in the building sector. “Never take opportunities for granted,” he advises. “Those initial experiences really flavoured my attitude towards the industry.”

On the topic of high speed rail in Australia, Geoff sees the landmark project as an interesting but challenging opportunity. “If we’re going to get high speed rail running, Sydney to Newcastle seems the logical step. It has the population density and existing commuter base, but there are big challenges from a geotechnical perspective along the route.”

Geoff’s work increasingly involves collaboration with teams across Australia and internationally. “We often draw on people from all across Australia and internationally, and we have strong capabilities there,” he says. “Recently, I’ve been working on review projects in Canada and tenders in New Zealand. It’s fairly routine these days to reach out across the world and bring people in.”

He believes that familiarity breeds confidence when it comes to global collaboration. “The opportunity is that we can bring in people from all over GHD and elsewhere. The challenge is building commitment and buy-in for the team and keeping everyone focused,” Geoff concludes.