> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://2026.istvs.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://2026.istvs.org/conference/committee.md).

# Committee

ISTVS 2026 | October 11-15, 2026  | Pretoria, South Africa

### Local Organizing committee

* **Dr. Schalk Els** | *Conference Chair, Deputy General Secretary for Europe-Africa, 2024 Bekker-Reece-Radforth Award Recipient, Editor for Journal of Terramechanics*
* **Dr. Herman Hamersma** | *Conference Co-Chair*
* **Dr. Cor-Jacques Kat** | *Program Committee*
* **Glenn Guthrie** | *Program Committee*
* **Massimo Martelli** | ISTVS *General Secretary*
* **Andries Peenze** | ISTVS *Student competition coordinator*
* **Dr. Lutz Richter** | ISTVS *President*

### Conference Scientific Committee

* **Massimo Martelli** (Italy)
* **Lutz Richter** (Germany)
* **Enrico Galvagno** (Italy)
* **Herman Hamersma** (South Africa)
* **Cor-Jacques Kat** (South Africa)
* **Andries Peenze** (South Africa)
* **Carl Becker** (South Africa)
* **Tokologo Komana** (South Africa)
* **Kersti Vennik** (Estonia)
* **Valentin Ivanov** (Germany)
* **Junya Yamakawa** (Japan)
* T**aizo Kobayashi** (Japan)
* **Genya Ishigami** (Japan)
* **Corina Sandu** (USA)
* **Sally Shoop** (USA)
* **Mike Parker** (USA)
* **Henry Hodges** (USA)
* **Brad Hansen** (USA)
* **Susan Frankenstein** (USA)
* **Heidi Howard** (USA)
* **Zeinab El-Sayegh** (Canada)
* **Jozsef Kovecses** (Canada)

### Conference Website Team

* Glenn Guthrie


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