Professor Arnold Dix

Professor Arnold Dix became a household name in 2023 as the man who led the extraordinary 17-day rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in India, an operation widely regarded as the biggest feel-good story of that year. When the Chief Engineer of India and the Secretary to the Prime Minister of India reached out for help, Professor Dix dropped everything and rushed to the site. Known in the industry as “the tunnel guy” for his willingness to tackle anything complex underground, he made a personal promise that all 41 men would return home safely, and against long odds, he delivered on it. That leadership, calm under pressure, and technical mastery of an almost impossible situation later saw him named a 2026 Victorian Australian of the Year nominee, recognising the impact his actions had on the survivors and the communities watching around the world.

What makes Professor Dix’s story compelling on stage is the breadth of expertise behind it. He is both a barrister and a scientist, trained as a geologist with a specialisation in underground environments, and works internationally as an underground disaster investigator with recognised expertise in fire and life safety and the collapse of underground structures. His professional standing spans multiple disciplines and jurisdictions: he is a member of the British Institute of Investigators, a member of the specialist Underground Works Chambers, and a member of the Victorian Bar, while also holding a visiting professorship in tunnel engineering at Tokyo City University. He currently serves as President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, the peak body that advises the United Nations on all matters relating to the underground.

Professor Dix is a passionate advocate for the idea that the underground holds adaptive, resilient solutions to many of the challenges facing humanity, and he brings that conviction to every appearance with warmth and an ethical outlook. As he puts it: “It’s time the good people of the world claim the future for all peoples and our planet. The Silkyara rescue demonstrates that almost anything is possible when we unite and be nice.” Based in Melbourne, Professor Dix offers audiences a rare first-hand account of leadership, perseverance, and hope under the most extreme conditions imaginable.