Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 3 September 2026
IPA Board Meeting 2026 and Technical Visits in the Netherlands
IPA Secretariat
On 29 June 2026, the 20th Board Meeting of the International Press-in Association (IPA) was held in Delft, the Netherlands. The meeting brought together 19 directors who participated either in person or online, with additional proxies submitted to meet the quorum requirement.
Following the Board Meeting, IPA directors participated in a series of technical visits in the Netherlands, including the research facilities of Deltares, the laboratory at TU Delft, the Boskalis facilities that will host ICPE2027, and the KIJK Project (Dijkversterking Krachtige IJsseldijken Krimpenerwaard).
These visits provided valuable opportunities for technical exchange and professional networking, further strengthening collaboration between IPA and leading organizations in the fields of geotechnical engineering, infrastructure development, and water management.
IPA Board Meeting 2026
The 20th IPA Board Meeting was chaired by Prof. Kenneth Gavin, IPA President. Held in a hybrid format at TU Delft in the Netherlands, the meeting opened with a confirmation of quorum and brief introductions from directors who had recently changed affiliations.
Key agenda items included the election of the President and Vice Presidents for the 2026–2027 term, the appointment of the Executive Director, and the approval of chairs and co-chairs of the Standing Committees together with the confirmation of committee members. The Board also approved the formation of the Steering Committee and discussed the establishment of the Nomination Committee, which is scheduled to be formed around November. These appointments and committee formations were confirmed in accordance with the IPA Constitution.
The Standing Committees presented their FY2026 activity plans and discussed key activities and priorities for FY2026.
The Research Committee introduced several candidate research themes currently under consideration for future Technical Committee initiatives and discussed the framework for establishing new Technical Committees.
The Development Committee reported progress in expanding technical resources through the further multilingualization of the Press-in Handbook, including the preparation of an Italian edition and preliminary planning for future revisions of the Japanese and English editions. Preparations for the Seminar on Press-in Technology, scheduled to be held in Mumbai, India, were also reported, together with discussions on expanding future seminar activities through IPA's regional initiatives.
The Publicity Committee highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen communication through the quarterly publication of the IPA Newsletter and preparations for a special 20th Anniversary Series commemorating this important milestone.
The Awards Committee reported on promoting the visibility of the IPA Awards Program and improving accessibility and user experience in the nomination process, as well as supporting preparations for the ICPE2027 Awards in coordination with the ICPE2027 Organizing Committee.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to supporting the successful delivery of ICPE2027 and further strengthening IPA’s global presence in its 20th anniversary year.
Technical Observation Tour at Deltares
Following the Board Meeting, the directors visited Deltares, an independent knowledge institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface, located near the TU Delft campus. They were introduced to ongoing research activities and advanced testing facilities relevant to geotechnical and hydraulic engineering. Particular interest was drawn to the GeoCentrifuge, a unique geotechnical test facility capable of generating up to 150g and recognized as one of the top three facilities of its kind in Europe.
More information about Deltares:
https://www.deltares.nl/en
Lab Tour at TU Delft
The directors also visited laboratory and research facilities at TU Delft, guided by students working under the supervision of Prof. Gavin. During the tour, they were introduced to a variety of projects and experimental activities. The students’ work attracted considerable attention from the directors, who actively engaged with them through questions and discussions, providing a valuable opportunity for technical exchange and academic interaction.
More information about TU Delft:
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/
Visit to Boskalis's Facilities
On 30 June, the directors visited the Boskalis facilities that will serve as the venue for ICPE2027. The visit provided an opportunity for representatives of IPA and Boskalis to meet in person for the first time and discuss preparations for the conference. Discussions focused on how the venue could be utilized for various conference activities, including technical sessions, networking events, and related programs.
The exchange of ideas and the site visit marked an important step in the planning of ICPE2027 and helped strengthen collaboration between IPA and Boskalis.
More information about Boskalis:
https://boskalis.com/
KIJK Project Site Visit
The directors also observed construction activities of the KIJK Project (Krachtige IJsseldijken Krimpenerwaard), a major dike reinforcement project in the Netherlands, where the works are being carried out by KIGO, a joint venture of Boskalis and Van Hattum en Blankevoort. As part of the Dutch government's Delta Programme, the project reinforces existing river levees along the Hollandse IJssel River using combined walls consisting of tubular piles and Z-shaped sheet piles.
The site visit, conducted from a project vessel, offered valuable insight into large-scale flood protection works and the practical application of advanced construction technologies.
More information about the KIJK Project:
https://www.vhbinfra.nl/nl/projecten/krachtige-ijsseldijken-krimpenerwaard-kijk
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