Mr Serge Varaksin, TC211 member, Apageo Scientific Advisor, Menard retired Deputy General Manager

Serge Varaskin was admitted to a work–study program at Northwestern University in Evanston, USA, after completing his civil engineering degree. He earned his master’s degree under Professor Jorj Osterberg and published his research on relative density below the groundwater table in ASTM STP 523.

He joined Menard in 1973 and subsequently dedicated his career to building the company’s global network, advancing the concepts of Louis Menard and Jean Marie Cognon. Serving first as Overseas Manager and later as Deputy General Manager, he played a central role in the international development of the Menard group. Since retiring from Menard in 2014, he has remained scientifically active through contributions to TC211, TC102, the French national project ARSCOP, and through his work as an advisor, expert, and lecturer in ground improvement.

Author of more than 100 international publications, Serge Varaskin has specialized in ground improvement techniques including Dynamic Consolidation, Dynamic Replacement, Vacuum Consolidation, CMC, and Stone Columns, and has advanced the understanding of man made fills that are not normally consolidated. His expertise spans major harbour and airport projects worldwide, and he has delivered numerous keynote lectures at international conferences as well as touring lectures. In 2006, he was appointed Co Chair of ISSMGE TC211 on Ground Improvement. In 2010, he was reconfirmed as Chair and, together with Professor Jan Maertens and Noel Huybrechts, organized the International Symposium on Ground Improvement (IS GI 2012) in Brussels.