Barry Clarke has over forty years’ experience in geotechnical engineering. He worked in ground investigation before joining the University of Cambridge to undertake research into pressuremeters. This led to the formation of a company specialising in pressuremeter testing which worked internationally. He is currently a Professor in Civil Engineering Geotechnics at the University of Leeds after a time at Newcastle University where he was Head of Civil Engineering. He is an active member of the geotechnical and civil engineering communities having been Chair of the British Geotechnical Society and President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.