IRENE CHAN

Principal Geotechnical Engineer at PSM with over 20 years’ experience in a wide range of geotechnical-related fields. These include civil and hydrologic design and construction, geotechnical and tunnel design and construction, as well as mining design, construction and operation. Irene’s breadth of experience gives her a unique insight into how water, soil and rock interact with many types of infrastructure.

Since joining PSM, Irene has been involved in major mining projects such as Waihi (New Zealand) and Lihir (Papua New Guinea) gold mines, as well as coal mines in the Hunter Valley and in Victoria. She has also been involved in major tunnelling projects in Sydney, such as WestConnex (M4 East), Lane Cove Tunnel, Epping to Chatswood Rail Link, and miscellaneous civil projects in Sydney.

Between 2014 and 2015, Irene co-authored a coal industry guideline for the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. In the past few years, she has specialised in the delivery and management of major projects, in both mining and construction (tunnel) spheres.

In 2008, Irene completed her Masters in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She has also undertaken postgraduate studies on construction arbitration and has a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is a member of the Institute of Engineers Australia.

Irene’s fields of competence include:

• Open-pit slope design (soil and rock slope stability, remediation and operation)
• Rock tunnelling projects, design and management
• Assessment and management of slope instabilities
• Deformation impacts to infrastructure, design and remediation monitoring and instrumentation
• Design of retaining structures and excavation support
• Foundation engineering, construction earthworks
• Geo-environmental site investigations for civil and infrastructure projects.