Prof. Jenny Yan Jinxiu is the Chief Expert of China Railway Academy Group Co., Ltd. and the ITA Immediate Past President (2022-2025). With over 35 years of experience, she has made significant contributions to many of China’s major tunnel projects. Appointed by both government bodies and project owners, Prof. Yan has led research teams in overcoming complex challenges in the design and construction of railway tunnels, highway tunnels, metro projects, and major undersea tunnels.

Her notable projects include the 32 km New Guanjiao Railway Tunnel, the 18 km Qinling Railway Tunnel on the Xikang Line (the first railway tunnel in China to use TBM), the 18 km Qinling Zhongnanshan Highway Tunnel (the longest highway tunnel in China), the 13 km Yesanguan Railway Tunnel in Karstic geology, and various metro projects in both China and abroad. She is currently leading two research projects for the 15.36 km Daliangshan No.1 Highway Tunnel and the 14.37 km Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Second Undersea Highway Tunnel, the latter of which will become the world’s longest and largest undersea highway tunnel upon completion in 2027.

Prof. Yan has received five major awards for innovations in tunnelling. Recently, she has focused much of her energy on advocating for the enhanced use of tunnelling and underground space in urban development.