Join an ISTT committee for 2026

Each year, ISTT updates its committees to include diverse expertise and fresh perspectives from our global trenchless community. We are pleased to announce the Call for 2026 Committee Members now.

This year, we have updated our committee structure to better serve the evolving needs of the trenchless technology community. The seven standing committees for 2026 are:

International No-Dig Committee
Affiliated Societies Committee (formerly Membership and Regional Support)
Technology and Education Committee
Outreach and Marketing Committee
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Young Trenchless Professionals Committee (Newly established)

The following are the purposes of the respective committees. The current members can be found on this webpage for your reference.

International No-Dig Committee (INDC)

Chair: Ian Ramsay

The International No-Dig Committee provides guidance and direction for the ISTT International No-Dig Conferences and Exhibitions. The committee is dedicated to continually improving the International No-Dig Conference by reviewing current practices and identifying areas for improvement. The committee has a number of initiatives, including the development of best-practice guidelines for hosting the International No-Dig Conference, and has prepared criteria used to select the host country for the annual conference.

Affiliated Societies Committee (ASC) – Renamed

Chair: Thorsten Schulte (Formerly Membership and Regional Support Committee)

The purpose of the Affiliated Societies Committee is to support the growth and stability of the ISTT network by assisting existing Affiliated Societies and associated regional committees. The committee is responsible for recruiting and approving applications from potential new Societies (groups) to expand ISTT’s reach. Additionally, it establishes and manages new ISTT partnerships with other organizations, acting as a bridge to link these strategic alliances with existing Societies.

Technology and Education Committee (TEC)

Chair: John Matthews

The purpose of this committee is to provide strategic planning support and policy oversight on various technology issues on which ISTT takes a position. The committee promotes trenchless technology education through webinars, seminar programs and other certified courses at different levels. The committee administers ISTT professional recognition, including the ISTT Fellows Program.

Outreach and Marketing Committee (OMC)

Chair: Carlos Munera

The Outreach and Marketing Committee undertakes activities to grow and promote ISTT and the trenchless industry at large. The committee engages in marketing initiatives/strategies/communications, strategic alliances, and partnerships that will help strengthen the ISTT brand and generate more awareness for trenchless worldwide.

Finance Committee (FC)

Chair: Borje Persson (New)

The Finance Committee was established to oversee the financial planning, operation, and administration of ISTT. The committee develops annual ISTT budgets, reviews current financial statements and reports regularly to the Board of Directors.

Governance Committee (GC)

Chair: Sam Efrat

The Governance Committee has a responsibility to oversee the administration and governance of the ISTT including review and modification of ISTT core documents such as bylaws and operating procedures.

Young Trenchless Professionals Committee (YTPC) – newly established

Chair: Pertti Leppänen

The Young Trenchless Professionals Committee is ISTT’s newest committee, created for No-Dig professionals aged 18–35, from construction sites to management. The committee provides the new generation with an opportunity to join ISTT’s activities and contribute to ISTT’s development. It works independently with support from an ISTT Board member, aiming to share knowledge about trenchless technologies and inspire young people to take part in the world of trenchless technology.

Note: The Support Fund Committee (SFC), which previously managed the grant program, has been dissolved, and its responsibilities are now handled by the Board of Directors. We appreciate the SFC members who dedicated their time and effort to help this committee achieve its goals. We would be delighted if this commitment could be brought to one of the other committees.

The committees operate under “Operating Procedure (OP) 10,” the latest version of which was approved by the Board of Directors on July 16, 2025. Please read this document carefully before applying.

OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 10 ISTT STANDING COMMITTEES (PDF)

Here are some of the key items from the Operating Procedure:

Committee participation is limited to ISTT members in good standing unless an exception is granted.
Applications are limited to two members per committee per society, with a single vote per Affiliated Society.

Schedule

Closing date for applications: 9th January 2026
Board of Directors to approve: Middle of January 2026
Starting date: January 2026

Submission Requirements

The online application requires you to provide the following:

Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Proof of Approval from your Affiliated Society (e.g., an approval email).
Relevant Experience Summary or Statement of Interest.

Note: If you have no relevant experience, you must submit a statement explaining your motivation for joining.

How to Submit

Committees form the heart of ISTT. We encourage you to consider volunteering to join international colleagues in promoting and developing trenchless technology.