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The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) announced in an April 26 press release its three keynote speakers for the International Conference on Deep Foundations, Seepage Control and Remediation — DFI’s 41st annual conference Oct. 12-15, 2016, at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City.
The release noted that the 2016 conference introduces a new technical track featuring seepage control and remediation for dam and levee projects worldwide, in addition to the technical program on deep foundations and earth retention.
The announced speakers are:
Satoru Ueda, lead dam specialist of the World Bank, is the conference keynote speaker. The press release said he will address the World Bank’s strategy, policy, challenges, and lessons learned, as well as the need for technological development with reference to several World Bank funded projects and programs.
Since 1985, Ueda has been involved in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of large dams, barrages, and levees. He joined the World Bank in 1998 and has been providing technical support for more than 60 projects involving construction of new dams and rehabilitation of existing dams for nearly 50 countries in the world.
James C. Dalton, P.E., chief of the Engineering and Construction (E&C) Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), is the keynote speaker for the Seepage Control and Remediation track. The press release said that he will speak about remediation and rehabilitation efforts at the Mosul Dam, the largest dam in Iraq.
As chief of the E&C Division, Dalton is responsible for policy, program, and technical expertise in the execution of multi-billion dollars of design and construction programs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, other federal agencies and more than 60 foreign nations.
George J. Pierson, president of The Pierson Advisory Group and former president and CEO of Parsons Brinckerhoff, is the keynote speaker for the Deep Foundations track. His talk, “A Career Built upon the Foundation of Risk Management, Mitigation and Resolution,” focuses on the experiences and lessons learned of a career oftentimes driven and shaped by risk management, risk mitigation, and the resolution of complex problems.
Pierson has spent his career leading and advising organizations through challenges. The release noted that with his background in engineering, operations, law, business, and leadership, Pierson not only sees and focuses on the “big picture,” but also has the knowledge and experience needed to dive into the details of issues, which is often where their solutions lie.