Panel Discussion

Dr. Andreas Benardos is a Professor at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). He holds a Diploma in Mining Engineering and a Ph.D. in risk assessment for underground construction projects from NTUA. His research interests are focused on the topics of underground space development and mine design, risk assessment in underground construction, ventilation and evacuation or underground space, project cost estimation, feasibility and management as well as on applications of artificial neural networks in geo-engineering.

He has participated in more than 25 research projects awarded by European, National bodies and private firms, he has published more than 90 papers in scientific journals and international conferences and has been reviewer in more than 25 journals and the co-editor in 3 international conferences. He has also been working as external consultant and technical advisor in various mining, construction and consulting companies, as well as an expert for the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Technology – GRST, the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the European Commission – EC.

He has also been the former Director of the Interdisciplinary Postgraduate studies program of “Design and Construction of Underground Works” in NTUA, while he is currently the President of the Greek Tunnelling Society (GTS) and the Assistant General Manager of ACUUS.

A tunnel engineer with over 23 years of experience in design, construction and supervision, Toni has been involved in tunnel projects in Greece and Romania since 1993. The works he has been involved in include highway tunnels, hydrotechnical tunnels, railway tunnels, and pedestrian tunnels, from pre feasibility through to detailed design and site supervision. Toni’s desire is to form a new team of tunnel specialists at Consitrans, to deliver underground projects across Romania and beyond, also re-establishing the Romanian Tunnelling Association. Toni is currently involved in the development of over 45 tunnel projects and the adaptation of various tunnelling norms in Romania, relying on the European Union investments in transport infrastructure for the Southeastern Europe, specifically in Romania.

Prof. Dr. Zvonko Tomanović is a full professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro, and CEO of the engineering company “GeoT” based in Podgorica. His research is primarily focused on time-dependent rock deformations -specifically, the creep of soft rock around tunnel openings. He earned his PhD on the topic of time-dependent deformations in rock surrounding tunnel excavations.

With over 30 years of professional experience in geotechnics and tunnelling, he specializes in ground-support interaction, excavation stability, and rock mechanics. He has contributed to more than 500 engineering projects, including numerous tunnels and underground structures throughout the region. He is the author of over 75 scientific and technical papers, including 15 published in international journals. He has led several national research projects in geotechnical engineering, currently leads two active projects, and is supervising two doctoral dissertations. He was also a member of an international research team in China working on geothermal reservoir stability.

Prof. Tomanović has completed research stays at leading institutions such as TU Aachen, EPFL Lausanne, Imperial College London, TU Graz, and TU Wien. Since 2012, he has served as President of ITA Montenegro and continues to actively contribute to the advancement of tunnelling science and practice in Southeastern Europe.

Prof. Dr Zlatko Zafirovski is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, North Macedonia, with over 20 years of academic and professional experience. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering and specializes in railway infrastructure and transportation, transport planning and urban mobility, economy of transport, infrastructure project assessment, and tunnelling. In addition to his academic work, Prof. Zafirovski has participated in numerous national and international expert projects in the field of civil and transport engineering, providing consulting and technical support for the planning, design, and evaluation of major infrastructure initiatives. He is the author and co-author of a large number of scientific and professional publications, and his research has been presented at leading international conferences. As President of the Macedonian Association for Tunnels – ITA Macedonia, and an active member of several national and international engineering societies, he plays a key role in promoting knowledge exchange and professional standards in the region. He has also served as Vice Dean for Education and as a visiting professor at the University of Montenegro, bridging academic leadership with practical expertise in sustainable infrastructure development.

Dr. Slobodan Radovanović is a Research Associate and Head of the Department of Civil Structures at the Jaroslav Černi Water Institute, Belgrade. He holds a Diploma in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. in Rock Mechanics and Underground Structures.

His research interests center on underground space development, geotechnical and hydrotechnical structures, and dams. Dr. Radovanović has contributed to the realization of numerous complex infrastructure projects involving underground structures, tunnels, dams, and hydraulic systems, taking roles as project contributor, project manager, and chief designer.

He has authored and co-authored scientific papers published in international and national journals, as well as presented at international and national conferences in the fields of rock mechanics, underground structures, and dams.

Dr. Radovanović serves as Vice President of both the Serbian Tunnelling and Underground Structures Association and the Serbian Rock Mechanics Society.

Angelo Žigon graduated in 1989 from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Ljubljana. He began his career as a structural designer with a focus on cultural heritage renovation, before co-founding Elea in 1991. Today, the company-now Elea iC, part of the Vienna-based iC group- employs more than 140 experts, the hole group over 700 experts.

Over the past 35 years, Mr. Žigon has worked as an engineer, designer, and project manager on many of Slovenia’s most important infrastructure projects, including the majority of the country’s modern tunnels.  His most demanding assignment was the Šentvid Tunnel, constructed under highly challenging geological conditions.  More recent projects include the Divača-Koper railway and the Karavanke Tunnel.

A recipient of several engineering awards, Mr. Žigon also served for ten years as president of ITA Slovenija, the country’s ITA representative, and continues to be actively engaged in professional organizations. A designer at heart, he is guided by his lifelong motto:  “A person must build.”