Emeritus Professor Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster听is a Professor of Structural Engineering at The University of New South Wales, Sydney, and the former Dean of Engineering (2020-23). He received his PhD from the University of New South Wales in 1993 and has over 40 years鈥 experience as a structural engineer in practice and in teaching.
He is a member Australian Standards Committee BD2, Chairman of sub-committee BD2/1 鈥淪trength and Analysis, "BD2/6 鈥Fibre Reinforced Concrete鈥 and BD2/9 鈥Geopolymer Concrete鈥. He is a member of Australia Standards Committee BD90.5 鈥Bridge Design 鈥 Concrete鈥, chaired the BD90.5 working group on 鈥Fibre Reinforced Concrete鈥, a Member of Canadian Standards Association Task Force on 鈥Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code Ultra High Performance Concrete鈥 (2016-2025) and Working Group (2026-present) and is Chair of Standards Australia Committee BD90.10 for the development of Australian Standard "Bridge Design Part 10: Ultra high performance concrete".
He was the elected President of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib) (2023-24) and a member of the fib Presidium (2011-2026).
Stephen has over 430 publications in structural concrete and concrete materials, including textbooks on Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Concrete. His main research interests are in the fields of bringing new materials technologies to the design of concrete structures, including fibre and ultra-high-performance concrete, low-carbon construction materials such as Geopolymer and alkaline-activated concretes and high-strength reinforcing steels.
He chaired the committee that developed the first national Standards Australia Technical Specification 鈥Design of geopolymer and alkali activated binder concrete structures鈥 (SA TS199:2023).
While Prof Foster remains actively engaged in research and continues to pursue his research interests, he is not currently accepting new PhD or Master's research students as Primary Supervisor.
Awards
Joint-winner, 2006, Faculty of Engineering prize for teaching excellence for the development of ENGG1000 鈥淒esign and Innovation鈥.
Honorary member听of the Concrete Institute of Australia, 2015, 鈥淚n recognition of outstanding contribution to the development and use of concrete in Australia鈥.
Honorary life member,听International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib), 2018, 鈥淚n recognition of significant personal contributions to the work of the fib鈥.
As a member of the Australian Standards Committee BD2: Standards Australia 2023 National Innovation Award.
John Connell Gold Medal 2024, Engineers Australia, in recognition of "A significant national and international contribution to the structural engineering profession".
Education
PhD, The University of New South Wales, 1993.
M.EngSc., The University of New South Wales, 1987.
B.E. (Civil) (Hons), New South Wales Institute of Technology, 1983.
Fellowships and Honorary Titles
Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
Fellow, Institution of Engineers Australia
Fellow, International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib)
Honorary President, International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib)
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