Clif Kettle to Receive John Mitchell Award

The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) is pleased to announce that Clif Kettle of Clif Kettle Consulting Limited will be awarded the 2018 John Mitchell Award. He will receive it at an Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Awards Ceremony later in the year and will give the BGA John Mitchell Lecture on 23 January 2019.

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.

Clif has made significant contributions to geotechnical engineering in the fields of grouting and ground treatment.

Clif Kettle has 45 years’ of specialist geotechnical contracting experience, including 7 years with Colcrete-Keller, 6 years with Rodio Milan and 29 years with Bachy Soletanche. His experience includes 12 years of site-based working experience overseas, on projects in Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Honduras, Turkey, Cyprus, Australia, and the USA, and he has also supported many projects through short term technical missions to over 20 countries. Clif has played a key role in developing grout injection technologies and processes over the last three decades. He is internationally recognised as a leader in both fields, having worked on major UK infrastructure projects such as the Thames Barrier, Jubilee Line extension, Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Crossrail, Lee Tunnel, and currently, Thames Tideway. In addition he has worked on more than 25 dams world-wide in the roles of technical manager and/or contractual/planning manager.

Clif is a worthy winner of the John Mitchell Award.

Clif Kettle