November 17, 2025 • 3 min read
From the ground up:
Bowen’s journey in geoscience
“I started as a graduate and now I’m working on major tailings dam projects. The support, mentorship and trust here are real.”
When Bowen Ren talks about geotechnical engineering, his enthusiasm is unmistakable. “I wanted to be part of something bigger,” he says. “My dad worked on massive hydro dam projects in China. I remember being a kid, looking at his slope models and thinking: “This is how you keep people safe. This is how you build the future.”
Now, Bowen is doing just that, helping shape the future of critical infrastructure and lower impact mining practices as part of our Australian Geosciences team.
Growing with purpose
Four years into his journey, Bowen specializes in tailings dam design and general geotechnical work, covering everything from offshore pipelines to road and bridge foundations. He’s helped deliver projects in Australia and abroad, including a landmark tailings dam stability study in West Africa.
That work helped safeguard surrounding communities by reducing the risk of potential dam failure and ensuring the mine could operate safely. The team investigated the structure, confirm the presence of tailings, which led to a stability assessment which indicated reduced Factors of Safety. In consultation with the customer, they identified a nonessential nearby pond, which was cleaned out, infilled and the structure further buttressed to ensure appropriate stability. These changes supported safer operations and the site’s ability to adopt practices that reduced environmental risk in a high-impact mining region.
“It was challenging – remote collaboration, missing data, multiple time zones,” he recalls. “But in the end, we found a smart, cost-effective solution that helped protect people and the environment.”
A career shaped by support
Bowen's story is also one of growth. He joined us as a graduate and was quickly promoted to a level II engineer something he credits to strong mentorship from his team.
“I’ve learned how to manage complex projects, assess slope stability and even work across disciplines, from marine to mining,” he says. “The team has supported me every step of the way. They’re already helping me prepare for a senior role.”
Collaborating for the future
That culture of support runs deep in our geotechnical team. “We push each other, we learn together and we share the load. Especially when deadlines are tight. We work hard, but no one is left behind,” he says.
And he’s not alone, Bowen is part of a growing cohort of professionals in our team designing the infrastructure that supports energy, water and community resilience – one foundation at a time.
