Arnold Dix Prof

Ever wondered how emergency responders feel when no one has been hurt. Join me with Uttrakhands SDRF Police Rescue unit as we celebrate our successful rescue from the tunnel. #UttarakhandRescue #UttarakhandTunnel #TunnelRescue #ArnoldDix

A special thank you to ITAs executive director Helen Ros & from IAEA Stefan Mayer, Gerald Niederwestermann, and the wider IAEA team for their support — and to all panel contributors for an inspiring and technically rich session. Many peoples - just one world - pursuing the circular economy end game of secure nuclear waste disposal. #GeologicalDisposal #GDF #Tunnelling #IAEA #ITA #NuclearWaste #UndergroundSolutions #WMSymposia2026

Our panel brought together several of the world’s leading national programmes to share where they are on that journey. We heard from: • Sanna Mustonen – Posiva Oy • Sebastien FARIN – Andra • Stefan Engdahl– Svensk Vårdbemanning Kärnbränslehantering AB • Toivo Wanne – BGE, Inc. TECHNOLOGY GmbH My involvement underscores my commitment to the geological disposal community and to advancing underground solutions of nuclear waste for a better world.

 12 March – Phoenix, USA It was my honor to co-chair the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) session on securing high level nuclear waste underground alongside IAEAs senior expert Stefan Mayer, Team Leader – Radioactive Waste Disposal at the IAEA. Monbulk was so far away

#Highlights: Conversations are always enriching for an ideas’ person like me! Fascinating interactions with diverse voices- Dr Charlotte Wood AM, Sandhya Mridul, Isha Sharvani, @Arnolddix, @johnkampfner @amoghavarshajs & @MichaelKugelman -as part of my in-conversations this year.

Proudly Australian, grieving for those that died at Bondi yesterday. Mass anonymous killing can never be justified. In a world divided by stupid words, socials, dumbed news-let’s unite as civilised humans.This blood is on the soil of my country - my shame. Many people-one world.

It was a great joy to be named one of the Victorian Finalists for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards. I’m just a bloke who helps keep people safe underground and tries to get everyone home. This recognition belongs to all the good people — miners, tunnellers, rescuers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, police, and volunteers — kind people, polite people, you and your neighbours — who quietly join us doing decent things every day. My heartfelt thanks to my fellow finalists — each one inspiring, kind, and making Australia and the world a better place in their own unique ways. Congratulations to Carrie Bickmore OAM, who was ultimately awarded Victorian Australian of the Year, for her brain cancer fundraising and awareness. Nice is the new black. 💛 #AustralianOfTheYear #Victoria #KindnessMatters #Teamwork #NiceIsTheNewBlack #ausoftheyear rangestrader.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-11-0…

Dare to dream big in Jakarta-the Indonesian Tunnelling Association’s launched! Rocks rebel, red tape piles high, but here’s the vision: high-speed rails stitching Jakarta to Bandung, metros easing rush-hour hell, and YES -tunnels beneath the Malacca Strait, linking Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore like one giant heartbeat. It’s not sci-fi, it’s Southeast Asia-five hundred million souls, freer, safer and closer. Who’s with me?

@juchkuduk I appreciate your kindness.

@Arnolddix You are a hero. Respect and love from India.

Thrilled and deeply humbled to be named a Victorian Finalist for the 2026 ‘Australian of the Year’ Awards alongside three extraordinary Victorians. Carrie Bickmore, for your fearless advocacy for brain cancer research is changing lives and saving futures – pure inspiration. Leila Sweeney-McDougall, for your storytelling through film shines a light on stories that need to be told. And Hugh van Cuylenburg, for building resilience in our kids through The Resilience Project is laying foundations for generations. I'm just a bloke who keeps us all safe underground , helps dig tunnels and tries to get people home alive and safe. To be in this company is an absolute honour. Grateful to everyone who has believed in the work. Nice is the new Black Keep it Real 🇦🇺 #AustralianOfTheYear #Australia #Teamwork #Grateful #tunnelrescue

@1amsidhant Yes, they had to dress up as a superhero and this young girl chose me, so I made a special trip to meet her. So blessed.

@Arnolddix This pic from India?

@the_ajitsingh Thank you ☺️

@Arnolddix Congratulations. India owes you

The 2026 VIC nominees answer that in remarkable ways. From a scientist and disability advocate, to an Indigenous justice campaigner, wildlife rescuer and rural mental health advocates — these 18 extraordinary Victorians show us the power of resilience, innovation and heart. 💛

60 years of Nuclear Energy: What Will Future Generations Say about our Waste Disposal? It is my greatest professional honor to have been entrusted as inaugural chair of the Special Interest Group on Geological Disposal Facilities for higher-activity radioactive waste. Our generation holds one of humanity’s greatest responsibilities: to safely, securely, and scientifically dispose of 430,000 tonnes of existing accumulated spent nuclear fuel and vitrified high-level nuclear waste - the legacy of 60 years of nuclear energy. The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association ITA-AITES (ITA), after consulting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna has launched a Special Interest Group on Geological Disposal Facilities. The IAEA delegation, was led by Olena Mykolaichuk , Director of the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, — together with Gerald Niederwestermann, IAEA Officer and Scientific Secretary; Karina Lange, Scientific Secretary for the IAEA’s Underground Research Facilities Network; and Stefan Mayer, Team Leader of the Waste Technology Section, whom met with Daniel Garbutt, myself (Arnold Dix) , Helen Roth, and Pigorini Andrea from ITA and explored future collaboration in the development of Geological Disposal Facilities (GDFs) for higher-activity radioactive waste. 🔗 Read the full press release here: about.ita-aites.org/files/Doc2025/… Trusted, secure deep Geological high level nuclear waste disposal is our generations responsibility. Many Peoples - One World #IAEA #ITA #NuclearWaste #GeologicalDisposal #IntergenerationalResponsibility #intergenerationalEquity

@IlIlIlIlIl911 And I, it.

@Arnolddix Welcome Arnold. India loves you

Seeing is believing. India 6am, I dropped in to Sandvik’s Jumbo factory in Pune to check it out. It was everything Scandinavian with the magic of Indian spice and emotional intelligence. Mandated PPE, strong process controls, a safety briefing, and then the emotional and cultural bonus’s of being in India. Proudly all staff are known not just by name, but with pictures. From safety performance awards to quality tracking this was a workplace of great personal, national and international pride. I conducted an inspection of the production lines too – nothing to fault. I then closely inspected that DT820, a handsome orange Jumbo, ready for #Jaypee groups Hydro projects in Bhutan. I could not fault it – right down to the terminal endings on hydraulic hose safety mesh!. Technology transfers and co-operations between countries are evidence of how civilised peoples co-operate internationally to achieve great things together. Seeing is believing at Sandvik’s factory Hinjewadi, Pune, India A big thank you to #Prabhat Mittal, VP - Tunnelling and Mechanical Cutting #Ashwin Bhatangale and #Raghavendra Bhatt and the team at #Sandvik – thank you for making me so welcome. Congratulations for what you are achieving in international co-operation. The ancient Indians have a saying for this: सह वीर्यं करवावहै। (Saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai) “Together, may we accomplish great strength” And the Scandinavian’s say “Många bäckar små gör en stor å.” (Mon-ga beck-ar små gör en stor oh) “Many small streams make a great river.” We peoples of the world are stronger working together – and that’s what is happening in Sandviks factory in India right now. Many Peoples – One World” (Music by Nordic Raga: – Swedish Indian Fusion Band)

@chittukuruvi4 I always do.

@Arnolddix Enjoy your visit to India 🇮🇳❤️

@MudrasRajesh It made me so happy.

@Arnolddix And who better than you to grace the occasion. The Tunnel Man

Dream Comes True: Inauguration of India's First Centre of Excellence for Tunnelling and Underground Construction. Something historic just happened in Pune. Indias first Centre of Excellence for Tunnelling and Underground Construction was inaugurated. Visionary Beginnings: In 2017, Dr. Rahul V. Karad envisioned a world-class Master's program in Tunnel Engineering at hashtag#MIT World Peace University, Pune. International Collaboration: A delegation led by Prasad Khandekar visited Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria, under Robert Galler, and signed an MoU between MITWPU and hashtag#Montan University. Dedicated Efforts: Over 7 years, Prof. Dr. Sandeep Potnis worked tirelessly to realize Dr. Karad's vision, culminating in the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Tunnelling and Underground Construction on June 23rd 2025. •⁠ ⁠State-of-the-Art Facilities: - Jumbo drill simulator (Sandvik) - Tunnel instrumentation - Digital modelling - Core competency-based skills equipment •⁠ ⁠Competency-Driven Approach: - Emphasis on practical skills and competency-based training - Fast, cost-effective, and safe underground space creation - Addressing the global shortage of competent professionals in tunnelling and underground construction •⁠ ⁠Inauguration by Nitin Gadkari ji: Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari ji, marking a significant milestone in India's tunnelling and underground construction sector. This milestone highlights the key aspects of the centre’s establishment, its state-of-the-art facilities, and the importance of competency-based training in tunnelling and underground construction for Tunnelling in India and the World India now joins just a handful of countries with dedicated competency training centres in the world. Im proudly part of Australias Victorian Tunneling Centre of Holmesglen- its great to see the competency initiatives spreading around the world. Many Peoples - One World