Member Bios for 2024-2026
Ashe Cooper
Ashe holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Over the past decade, he has gained extensive experience working on diverse infrastructure and land development projects in the public and private sectors across the Asia-Pacific region. He has also dabbled in instrumentation and monitoring, an area that is increasingly becoming a critical component of engineering projects worldwide. Ashe has been with Beca for over 10 years as a valued member of their expanding geotechnical team. In 2018, he joined the YMPG core team and, in 2022, took on the role of Chair of the committee. Recently, he relocated to Sydney, Australia, after a rewarding stint working in the Pacific Islands.
In his free time, Ashe enjoys exploring new destinations on weekends, spending time on the water, traveling, and snowboarding.
Max Gabriel Barbosa
Max Gabriel Barbosa holds a Master's and a PhD in Civil and Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Brasília (UnB), with an exchange year at Heriot-Watt University. His research and professional work focus on soil improvement, grouting, retaining structures, tunnels, and design-build approaches in geotechnical engineering. Currently, he serves as the Technical Director at SCO Engenharia Geotécnica, where he leads geotechnical projects and construction initiatives. Max also serves as an ad-hoc director of ABMS (Brazilian Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering) and is an associate member of DFI (Deep Foundations Institute), DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America), and ITA-AITES (International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association).
As a Brazilian, Max is passionate about soccer and is a die-hard Palmeiras fan. He also enjoys spending his free time with his family, reading business and detective novels, and hiking.
Bridget Lokoe
Bridget Nana Ama Lokoe is a civil engineer currently working as a geotechnical engineer with WSP in the mining industry. She is based in Indonesia, within the Australasia region. She recently completed an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from Jain University. Bridget has extensive experience in construction projects within the roads, infrastructure, and mining sectors. In addition to pursuing her career and knowledge-building goals, Bridget defines success as the ability to balance family, social, and personal life.
Judy Eid
Judy Eid is Design Geotechnical Engineer at Tony Gee and Partners LLP. She earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. Driven by a commitment to enhance safety and sustainability in engineering practices, Judy pursued a Master of Science in Soil Mechanics and Environmental Geotechnics at Imperial College London, graduating with distinction in 2022.
At Tony Gee and Partners, Judy contributes to a diverse range of projects across sectors including railways, highways, power, and marine. Her responsibilities encompass the design and analysis of foundations, retaining walls, slope stabilisation, and earthworks. She is focused on integrating sustainable practices into geotechnical solutions, ensuring that designs not only meet technical standards but also promote environmental stewardship.
Judys efforts aim to foster knowledge exchange, connect young engineers globally, and facilitate communication between young professionals and established leaders within the ISSMGE.
Judy's international background, with roots in Lebanon and professional experience in the United Kingdom, enriches her perspective on global engineering challenges. She is committed to advancing the field of geotechnical engineering through continuous learning, collaboration, and the promotion of best practices that prioritise safety and sustainability.
Tong Zhu
Tong Zhu is a senior engineer at China State Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. (CSCEC). He obtained his doctoral degree from the School of Civil Engineering at Tsinghua University, subsequently conducting postdoctoral research at CSCEC for two years. He serves as the vice secretary-general of the Young Engineer Work Committee of the Chinese Institution of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. His research primarily focuses on earthquake engineering of urban underground structures, and he has conducted innovative research in the field of structure-soil dynamic interaction in liquefiable ground. His research findings have been incorporated into the China Standard for Seismic Design of Underground Structures and applied to the seismic design of several major engineering projects. As a member of Young Member Presidential Group (YMPG) of the ISSMGE, he aims to contribute to this group to facilitate exchanges between international geotechnical organizations and young scholars and engineers.
In his free time, Tong enjoys engaging in various outdoor activities, such as running, cycling, and traveling.
Jhih-Rou Huang
Jhih-Rou Huang earned her Masters and PhD degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Her expertise lies in geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering, and the application of remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for natural disaster assessment.
Jhih-Rou has extensive experience in landslide detection, infrastructure monitoring, seismic hazard analysis, retaining wall design, and failure analysis of dams and slopes. She currently serves as an associate at Exponent, where she contributes her skills and knowledge to solving complex engineering challenges.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Jhih-Rou enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling to discover new cultures, and hiking in scenic landscapes.
