Paola is a Director and the Geotechnical Discipline Leader at Robert Bird Group in London. She is a chartered geotechnical engineer with a doctorate in Geotechnical Engineering and over 20 years of technical and managerial experience gained working on multidisciplinary projects in Italy, the UK, Middle East and Australia. Paola started her career lecturing and researching at universities in Italy and the UK, before joining the industry to work for specialist geotechnical consultancies in the UK and Australia. Paola has gained extensive technical experience in the field of soil and rock mechanics and geotechnical design solutions and managerial experience working as geotechnical lead and design manager on large residential & commercial projects, as well as major infrastructure projects, including Crossrail, Battersea Power Station iconic redevelopment, Audley Square, 1 Leadenhall, St John’s Wood, One Waterloo, Lots Road, Stratford Waterfront, Here East and Park Crescent West in London; NEO Pafilia and Blu Marine in Cyprus; Harvard Allston Life Science and La Cienega in the United States; Expo 2020 Sustainability Pavilion, Red Sea, Neom, Qiddiya and Midfield Terminal Building in MENA; Brisbane Cross River Rail, Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct, Pacific Highway Upgrade, North West Rail Link, Northern Sydney Freight Corridor, and Sydney Light Rail Inner West Extension in Australia. Paola has a detailed knowledge of most areas of geotechnical design and specialises in providing engineering solutions for complex urban projects with deep basements close to sensitive structures, providing professional advice and ensuring efficient project delivery, aimed at achieving high standard technical deliverables and cost and programme savings. She has considerable experience of using numerical modelling to solve complex geotechnical challenges and to deliver integrated design solutions. Her technical skills include delivering advanced design solutions, routine and advanced laboratory testing, data interpretation and site soil geotechnical characterisation, physical and numerical modelling, design of foundations, deep basement and retaining structures, slope stability, prediction of ground movements and effects due to tunnelling excavation in urban areas, utility and building damage assessment, instrumentation and monitoring requirements, 3D finite element soil-structure interaction modelling, third party interface management. Paola has been authoring publications in International Journals and Conference Proceedings.