Bio: Troy is the CEO of HERA, an impact-led independent research association based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is also the Co-Chair of Hanga-Aro-Rau (the Workforce Development Council for Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics) and a Director of the Sustainable Steel Council, Steel Construction New Zealand and HERA Certifications. She is an Impact Assessor for the Endeavour program and holds advisory board roles for the Ministry of Innovation, Business and Employment (Building System Performance), Auckland University of Technology and the University of Auckland. She is the Impact Leader and creator of HERA’s $10.3 million funded Construction 4.0 project and is passionate about impact-led research, with a particular focus on sustainability, indigenous knowledge, diversity and inclusion, and industry transformation.

Abstract: Engineering research intersects with societal and industrial demands, making it foundationally impact-led.  This presentation will explore how to identify impact-led research opportunities, build research capability and sectoral impact. HERA, a small independent research association in Aotearoa New Zealand, will be used as the case study to show that even small teams can have meaningful research impact.

Bio: Guo-Qiang Li is a distinguished professor of structural engineering in Tongji University, the director of Research Center of Education Ministry of China for Steel Construction and the director of National Research Center of China for Pre-fabrication Construction.  He is also a vice-chairman of Chinese Society of Steel Construction and a vice-chairman of Chinese Association of Construction Standardization.   In addition, he is a foreign member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, a fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers in UK and a fellow of the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Abstract: The unexpected collapse of burning buildings has been a major killer of firefighters, since current techniques are very hard to accurately evaluate the collapse risk of a real building in fire. Developing a practical approach for early-warning fire-induced collapse of steel buildings in real-time is an urgent need, as these buildings account for a large part of collapse accidents due to severe degradation of steel mechanical properties at elevated temperatures in fire. The uncertainties of a burning building, such as load levels and heating conditions which differ from designed values, and the real-time acquisition of its structural responses to fire are two challenging issues need to be addressed. Through parametric analysis of collapse mechanisms considering uncertainties in real fire, the limited potential collapse modes of steel portal frames and steel trusses porpularly used for steel buildings are identified. Displacement responses of the burning building at key positions of the building structure, identified as Key Physical Parameters (KPPs), are selected for early warning fire-induced building collapse, as these displacements exhibit unique variation patterns for each collapse mode. Three-level early-warning strategy is proposed based on evolution laws of KPPs during the process of the building collapse. As some KPPs are hard to be measured directly in fire scene, especially for those located on the roof or inside the building, real-time acquisition method of the hard-to-measure KPPs through easy-to-measure data are investigated. Considering the close correlation between rotations and displacements at structural nodes at definite temperatures, pre-embedded thermocouples and inclinometers, which are easily employed in practice, are proposed to facilitate the real-time acquisition of hard-to-measure KPPs. Real fire tests have been conducted to verify the effectiveness of the approach for early-warning fire-induced collapse of steel portal frame and steel truss buildings.

Bio: Brian Uy is Scientia (Distinguished) Professor of Structural Engineering in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales. Brian has delivered over 100 plenary/keynote/invited lectures and has been involved in research in steel and composite structures for over 35 years. He has co-authored over 700 publications including over 300 refereed journal articles. Brian is Chairman of the Standards Australia Committee BD-032 on Composite Building Structures and BD-090-06 on Steel and Composite Bridge Structures and Chief Editor (Asia-Pacific) of Steel and Composite Structures. He is currently President-Elect and Vice President of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and will become the 105th President of IStructE in 2026. Brian is also the Australian Chairman and Vice President of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). Brian is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Engineers Australia, Royal Society of NSW, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineering Institute and the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers.

Abstract: This keynote paper reflects on the key foci in the area of the mechanics of structures and materials in the past, present and future. The paper commemorates the First Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM) at The University of New South Wales from August 21-23, 1967. The paper then reflects on the key issues in the area of the mechanics of structures and materials at present and posits what will be some of the key issues for the future. Using the area of steel-concrete composite construction, the issues of the mechanics of structures and materials will be further highlighted in relation to real applications in the past, present and future.

Bio: Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype is an Associate Professor in Dynamics and Seismic Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. He leads the department’s efforts in earthquake engineering, and is actively involved in teaching, specialist advisory work, and guiding a diverse research group focused on emerging structural technologies. His research interests span structural testing, computational modelling, AI, and the assessment of structures under extreme conditions—from earthquake-prone regions to extra-terrestrial environments. Christian serves as an Associate Editor for two international journals, sits on several other editorial boards, and contributes to multiple code committees involved in international standards development and the advancement of engineering practice. His work has been recognised with several awards, including the Best Research Paper Prize from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Tso Kung Hsieh Award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Unwin Prize from Imperial College London.

Abstract: This lecture explores how controlled rocking, rolling isolation, and rotational inertial devices are reshaping dynamic control strategies for building structures, with special focus on their application to modern timber systems. It examines how stepping away from traditional fixed-base assumptions, embracing motion, and harnessing inertial forces to our advantage can enable efficient, low-damage solutions for seismic protection. The talk will delve into the fundamental mechanics and emerging engineering concepts behind rocking and rolling systems, highlight the role of inerters as force amplifiers and "size shifters," and demonstrate how their integration enhances seismic performance. Special emphasis will be laced on how these strategies are unlocking the seismic potential of engineered timber structures. Drawing on recent advances in numerical modelling and experimental earthquake engineering, this lecture invites you to view seismic control not as a battle against motion, but as a carefully choreographed rock ‘n’ roll performance allowing timber to play a starring role in the next generation of resilient, sustainable structures.

Bio: Costantino Menna is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II (Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture). His research focuses on advanced materials and structures, finite element modeling in civil and biomedical engineering, digital fabrication, and sustainability in construction. He has extensive experience in numerical simulation of complex structural systems, with applications ranging from civil infrastructure to biomechanics. He has carried out research at leading international institutions, including Penn State University (USA), École Polytechnique (France), and École Polytechnique de Montréal (Canada). He has authored more than 60 scientific publications and holds 10 patents on innovative structural materials and systems. Prof. Menna’s work explores the mechanics and modeling of 3D-printed concrete, particularly addressing structural performance, durability, and design integration. He led the design and realization of the first 3D-printed earthquake-resistant structure in Italy, developed in collaboration with Enel Green Power. He also coordinates several national and European research projects on non-linear behavior of biomaterials, life-cycle performance, and low-carbon construction technologies.

He serves as Chair of the fib Task Group 2.11 on Structures made by Digital Fabrication, Leader of the fib Special Activity Group on Sustainability (TG.SAG.1), and Member of RILEM Technical Committees on 3D printing in concrete construction, as well as of the EAEE (European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE) Working Group 15. He co-authored the Italian Civil Protection (ReLUIS) national guidelines on integrated seismic and energy retrofitting. In 2021, he was appointed External Expert for the European Parliament’s pilot project on seismic and energy upgrading (Joint Research Centre, European Commission), and was included in the Stanford–Elsevier global ranking of the world’s top scientists in both 2023 and 2025.

Abstract: 3D concrete printing (3DCP) is rapidly transitioning from experimental technology to a viable construction method, yet its structural reliability still depends on a deeper understanding of the multiscale mechanics governing printed materials. Unlike conventional cast concrete, 3D-printed components exhibit direction-dependent behaviour, interlayer interfaces, and process-driven heterogeneities that directly influence their stiffness, strength, fracture patterns, and long-term performance. This keynote presents an integrated experimental–numerical framework aimed at characterizing and predicting the behaviour of structural 3D-printed concrete across multiple scales. At the material and meso-scale, the talk will examine the role of interlayer bonding, printing path, and interface geometry on mechanical anisotropy, crack initiation, and failure mechanisms. Experimental results from coupon, wall, and panel tests will be combined with finite element simulations, including interface-based simulations capable of capturing the layered nature of printed elements. At the structural scale, the keynote will focus on the validation of unreinforced 3D-printed panels, combining analytical modelling, nonlinear FEM simulations, and full-scale testing. These panels were later used to design and construct the first 3D-printed earthquake-resistant structure in Italy. Insights from this project illustrate how material characterization, interface modelling, and structural design can converge toward reliable digital construction workflows.