Dr Hannah Seligmann is a Civil Engineering researcher at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) specialising in the geotechnical performance of reactive soils. Her current work focuses on expansive black clay subgrades, addressing a primary driver of Queensland’s $1 billion road maintenance backlog. Working closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Hannah evaluates the use of non-standard waste materials, such as Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) ,recycled glass and biochar as viablesolutions for soil stabilisers. Her research integrates laboratory characterisation with practical application to provide evidence-based data on how these waste materials can match or exceed the performance of traditional practices.