Our Team
Technical Teams
Automation
Tunnel excavation requires machines to operate in various geological condition with precision, they have historically required a lot of manual supervision for safety and success.
The Automation Team aims to change this. They are responsible for automating the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) to reduce manual operation labour and allowing it to be operated remotely.
Propulsion
Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) require a complex articulating and navigation systems accounting for differing underground terrains to effectively dig.
The Propulsion Team leads the development of these systems, researching advanced AI and control systems to push the boundaries on efficient and sustainable tunnel digging.
Structure
Bringing together the TBMs requires careful fabrication and assembly of materials, utilizing various digital modelling technologies.
The Structure Team is responsible for managing the assembly and disassembly of the lining structure. We manage the prototyping and designing of every component to ensure sustainable TBM construction.
Executive Team
At Monash BEST, our executive team is comprised of industry experts who bring a unique blend of skills and knowledge to the table. Each member is in charge of overseeing critical components of our boring tunnel operations. Together, we ensure that both innovation and safety remain our top priorities.
Chief Executive Officer
Sankaran Pramod Kumar
Chief Technical Officer
Mark Kozlovski
Chief Operations Officer
Jessica Dam
Operation Teams
The Operations Team is responsible for various administration tasks such as event planning alongside linking our team with industry connections to source and enhance BEST's research.
Industry
The MBEST Industry Team leads the team’s external partnerships and commercial-facing work. This includes coordinating with current and prospective sponsors, managing sponsor communications and deliverables, and formalising engagements with technical advisors and industry mentors. The team ensures relationships are maintained professionally and that external support is aligned with MBEST’s technical goals and timelines.
Marketing
The MBEST Marketing Team is responsible for shaping and communicating the team’s public presence. This includes creating content for social media and other channels, maintaining consistent branding across team materials, supporting sponsor visibility through promotional deliverables, and producing updates that showcase technical progress, events, and achievements. The team works closely with other sub-teams to translate complex engineering work into clear, engaging communications for students, sponsors, and the broader community.
IT
The MBEST IT Team manages the team’s digital infrastructure and core tooling to keep day-to-day work reliable and well-organised. The IT team also coordinates with other student teams on the design, build, and deployment of a NAS-based storage solution to improve capacity, accessibility, and long-term data management for MBEST.