The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) is pleased to announce that Chris Raison has received the 2025 John Mitchell Award. He will give the BGA John Mitchell Lecture at the ICE in London in January 2026.
The John Mitchell Award is presented annually by the ICE, based on a nomination from the BGA, for significant contributions in the field of geotechnical engineering. The award was instituted in 2008 in memory of the prominent geotechnical engineer John Mitchell of Arup, who was killed while observing piling works at a central London site in 1990.
The award criteria considered by the BGA include the following:
- In reflection of John Mitchell’s career, selection will favour practical applications of up to date geotechnical concepts or models (rather than advanced theoretical academic practice).
- The BGA will consider individuals, like John, who in the course of their careers via incremental works have made significant contribution to geotechnical practice.
- Notwithstanding the above, the BGA will in addition consider any contemporary practitioner who has instigated a major advance in the geotechnical field, thus opening the award up to the innovative, regardless of age or incremental contribution count.
Chris Raison graduated for the University of Sheffield in 1973 after a period working in industry, he completed a postgraduate qualification at the University of Birmingham in 1977.
Chris works as an independent consulting engineer who founded his own company in 1997 after having worked for a site investigation contractor and consulting engineers (Arup and Peter Frankel) before joining Keller Ground Engineering as their Chief Engineer in 1987.
Chris is a very well-respected member of the geotechnical community who has always expressed views on various subjects backed up with a sound understanding of fundamental principles. His extensive experience in several roles has given him a wide-ranging knowledge of the geotechnical industry although his interests relate to retaining structures, piling, ground anchorages and ground improvement. As such his interests align with those of the late John Mitchell.
He has been actively involved in professional activities throughout his career including giving technical presentations at British Geotechnical Association (BGA) and Midlands Geotechnical Society (MGS) meetings and symposiums. He has been a member of the Executive Committees of both bodies and is a former chair of the MGS. In addition, he has been involved in the production of CIRIA’s guidelines related to treated ground and served on the Geotechnique Advisory Panel. He currently serves on the British Standards technical committee B/526 and the Eurocodes TC250/SC7/WG3/TG3 working group dealing with the development and revision of BS EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7 in relation to pile design.
Chris is a worthy winner of the John Mitchell Award.