CHAIRS’ CORNER | BTS
After Covid, I noticed a drop in attendance at BTSYM events, and I wanted to change that. We want young engineers to know that there is a group of us meeting at the ICE and other parts of the UK every now and then, creating opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. For that purpose, and since many tunnellers are
based outside of London, another priority was to expand our reach across the UK. We are fostering a sense of belonging and we wanted to make sure everyone felt an integral part of the BTSYM community. For that, I appointed representatives in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester under the Industry & Partnership Committee and we have already hosted several successful events in the north—with more to come. Though, as Dr. Donald Lamont jokingly reminded me, we may need to push further, because “Leeds isn’t north enough!” We all, including the main BTS, share a common
belief: fostering the next generation of tunnelling professionals is crucial. Our Professional Development & Mentorship
BTSYM CHAIR: ARABEL VILAS SERÍN Hello everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m Arabel Vilas, a
Tunnel & Geotechnical Engineer with a background in Mining Engineering—officially turned tunneller when I moved to London in 2018. The past five months as Chair of the British Tunnelling
Society Young Members (BTSYM) have been an exciting and intense journey, filled with energy, collaboration, and impactful events across London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Our Committee has been working tirelessly to expand our reach and bring fresh perspectives to the tunnelling industry. One of my key objectives was to strengthen our
collaboration with the main BTS, aligning our goals while also pushing boundaries to create a more inclusive, forward-thinking, and engaged community. This term, I wanted the BTSYM to be a welcoming space where all young professionals from all over the UK— whether members or non-members—are encouraged to bring fresh ideas forward and can take an active role in shaping the future of our industry from the early years of their career. To achieve this, I refreshed the structure of the
main BTSYM Committee to emphasise sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity by creating new dedicated committees: Innovation & Sustainability, Diversity, Inclusion and Women in Tunnelling, and Industry & Partnership. My main objective for 2025 has been clear from
the start: focus on people, and the numbers speak for themselves—attendance at our events is growing, and our Committee is incredibly engaged with our mission and goals. One of our key goals was to increase in-person participation at lectures, workshops and social events.
Committee is dedicated to addressing today’s challenges while also engaging with students and young engineers to understand their concerns and aspirations. To strengthen this connection, we have been actively collaborating with Imperial College, Cambridge University, UCL, and Leeds University. As part of our Youth Outreach & Education Committee, we now have two official Committee members who are current students, ensuring that their perspectives are heard and that BTSYM remains a bridge between academia and industry. Also, we are collaborating with Harris Futures to
arrange school activities with the BTSYM; we have assisted in recruiting volunteers for STEMFest 2025 as they collaborate with professional clubs and charitable partners to promote STEM in local communities and we are also collaborating in the upcoming Inspire Education Group at Stamford and Peterborough Colleges. One of our main objectives is to create an
environment where young engineers feel encouraged to present their work and seek mentorship in a supportive and welcoming environment. I have to say, our first lecture of 2025 was a great example of this in action. Strabag’s presentation was delivered by three engineers in the early years of their careers, with two presenting in person at the ICE and one joining remotely from Yorkshire. To ensure a seamless experience, we adapted the audio-visual setup at the ICE to accommodate a hybrid format, allowing the remote presenter to participate while also celebrating the Chinese New Year. The lecture was broadcast at Arup’s office in Birmingham with an attendance of 25 people—a small but meaningful example of how we can make professional development more accessible and inclusive. Our Sustainability and Innovation Committee has
been incredibly busy coordinating workshops and lectures, ensuring that we continue driving important conversations in the industry. We have also collaborated closely with the British Geotechnical Association Early
April 2025 | 29
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