Flash flood control reservoirs in Rio de Janeiro

Alberto Ortigao

Alberto Ortigao, PhD, FICE, CEng is an experienced geotechnical consultant with a career spanning over five decades. His expertise encompasses many projects, including tailings and water dams, slopes, embankments, foundations, excavations, structures, and tunnels.

A Fellow and Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, Dr Ortigao earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 1971, followed by a PhD in 1980. He combined a successful academic career at UFRJ (1978-2003) with industry experience as a researcher at the Building Research Establishment, UK (1982-1984) and offshore foundation designer at Fugro UK Ltd.

His international career has included visiting professorships at UBC, City University of Hong Kong, and the University of Western Sydney, as well as projects work across South America, the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and northern Africa. This global exposure has cultivated fluency in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and French.

Dr. Ortigao is a prolific author with over one hundred technical papers to his credit. His expertise is further reflected in his published works: Soil Mechanics in the Light of Critical State Theories (Balkema, 1995) and Handbook of Slope Stabilisation (Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, 2004).

Dr. Leighton Ellis

Dr. Leighton Ellis is a civil and construction engineer, academic, and industry consultant with over 15 years of experience in civil engineering practice across the Caribbean. He is the Managing Director of LNZ Designs and Development Co. Ltd. and a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies, where he teaches courses in construction engineering & management. His expertise spans the design and supervision of reinforced concrete and steel structures, project delivery systems, and engineering education with a regional focus. Dr. Ellis is widely respected for his contributions to capacity building in engineering and his passion for mentoring the next generation of professionals.

In addition to his technical and academic roles, Dr. Ellis is the founder of the Institute of Technology, Engineering and Management (ITEM), a training platform designed to bridge industry skills gaps across Small Island Developing States. He has hosted numerous professional development workshops, webinars, and training programs tailored for engineers, project managers, and construction professionals.