CHAIRS’ CORNER | BTS & BTSYM
world case studies have built bridges between industry and education. We also strengthened our commitment to diversity
and inclusion, ensuring that tunnelling and underground engineering are recognised as open, welcoming spaces for everyone. In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time with a truly insightful and well-attended event at the ICE, where more than 60 participants discussed inclusion, visibility, and representation within our field. The session was both inspiring and empowering, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of creating environments where everyone feels seen and supported. In July we celebrated our first-ever BTSYM Pride
Celebration, which marked another historic moment. Co-organised with InterEngineering, the BGA Early Careers Group, the Geological Society, and the ICE-EDI Group, professionals came together to celebrate and build a more inclusive and more welcoming profession. I went into the event thinking my focus on inclusion
BTSYM CHAIR: ARABEL VILAS SERÍN As the BTS Young Members (BTSYM) closes the 2025 term and I complete my term as Chair, I find myself reflecting on an extraordinary and deeply rewarding year. The BTSYM Conference, on 24 October 2025, was the culmination of a full year of efforts. It was an incredibly insightful day, full of presentations that showcased the enthusiasm, creativity, and expertise of young members, both from the UK and from across Europe. It captured exactly what our group stands for: collaboration, curiosity, and the drive to shape the future of tunnelling. When I began my term as Chair, I set out five key
objectives: engage younger engineers; foster a sense of belonging; create mentorship and safe spaces; expand our presence beyond London; and, strengthen national and international collaboration. We have achieved every one of those goals, and much more. Each was designed to make tunnelling more accessible, more inclusive, and more connected, proving that BTSYM is a truly national and international network. One of the standout successes of 2025 was the
incredible work of Solomon Ekperuoh and the Youth Outreach & Education (YO&E) Subcommittee. From engaging sessions at Harris Academy Crystal Palace to interactive STEMFest activities with HS2 and Queens Park Rangers FC, and careers events in Peterborough and Lincolnshire, the team reached hundreds of students across the UK. The team also fostered international collaboration through a webinar with the Nigerian Tunnelling Association Young Members and a presentation at Cambridge University with ETH Zürich. Their creative use of VR tunnelling simulations and real-
was purely professional and about wanting to help others bring their best selves to work and make our industry an open, welcoming environment - we wanted to show that there is space for LGBTIQ+ professionals and allies within tunnelling. But when I, unexpectedly, joined the panel, I realised there was also a deeply personal element to it. I understood better than ever the importance of visibility and representation, especially in the times we are living. That moment made me reflect that there is not one
“look” or “type” of tunnelling or geotechnical engineer. Great engineers come from every walk of life. During the discussion, we also touched on what it means to navigate conversations about sexual orientation in professional environments, whether on site or in the office, and how those interactions can sometimes influence how people show up at work. Many shared how being open about who they are can still feel daunting in environments that have historically been less diverse, and how personal identity can be perceived as something separate from professional capability. We also spoke about the subtler, day-to-day ways our identities shape our experiences - like how we approach small talk about our personal lives, or even how we decide where to travel for work or leisure, depending on how comfortable or safe we might feel being ourselves in different places. I have always been quite reserved about my own
experiences as a gay woman, but that conversation reminded me that visibility truly matters – and that, as the first openly gay chair of the BTSYM, I have the responsibility to be open and honest about who I am and to create space for others in the LGBTIQ+ community to truly be themselves, and to have a safe space to be able to openly speak about themselves and their families. When we are able to speak openly, it not only normalises differences but helps us feel seen and supported. Looking back, I realise how much it would have meant to me, a few years ago, to see someone like me represented and confident in their role.
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