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Meet The Team!

RGIK is guided by a dedicated team consisting of the Executive Committee and an Advisory Board composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds in rock glacier research. Their collective expertise supports the development, validation, and dissemination of rock glacier data for both research and applied purposes.

Executive Committee

RGIK is led by an executive committee consisting of two (2) co-Chairs and other members that are the governing body. Each term lasts two (2) years and the current executive committee serves up to 2026. After the co-Chairs, each member is listed in alphabetic order.

Cécile Pellet

Co-Chair, Switzerland

GTN-P Representative
Data Management Working Group (Primary)
Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group

Line Rouyet

Co-Chair, Norway

Scandinavia Regional Representative
Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group (Primary)
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Working Group

Francesco Brardinoni

Italy

Central Europe Regional Representative
Rock Glacier Inventory (RoGI) Working Group

Diego Cusicanqui

France

South America Regional Representative
Data Management Working Group
Machine Learning Working Group
Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group

Yan Hu

China

Asia Regional Representative
Rock Glacier Inventory (RoGI) Working Group (Primary)
Data Management Working Group

Kaytan Kelkar

USA

PYRN Representative
RGIK Social Media

Ben Robson

Norway

Oceania Regional Representative
Machine Learning (ML) Working Group (Primary)

Mishelle Wehbe

Canada

North America Regional Representative
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Working Group (Primary)
Rock Glacier Inventory (RoGI) Working Group
Webmaster & RGIK Social Media

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is the counselling body of RGIK, providing non-binding strategic advice and scientific expertise to the Executive Committee. Each member is listed in alphabetic order.

Lukas Arenson

Canada

Reynald Delaloye

Switzerland

LIN LIU

China

Shelley MacDonell

New Zealand

RGIK Governance History

Building on the foundational work of the Interim ExCom, the members of the 2024-2026 ExCom coordinated a period of significant operational expansion and advancement. The team successfully reactivated the RoGI and RGV working groups, introducing new initiatives and panels focused on further refining best practices and more equitable ways forward. To further the mission of RGIK, the ExCom also facilitated the creation of new working groups, Machine Learning, Data Management, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Beyond technical outputs, the ExCom has increased the visibility and accessibility of RGIK by launching a comprehensive website, a quarterly newsletter, and a YouTube channel. To foster a more connected global network, the monthly webinar series continued and also launched a special series for Early-Career Researchers. The groundwork created during this ExCom tenure for a summer school course through PermaCOST. The collective efforts of this ExCom ensured that RGIK transitioned into a dynamic and more connected scientific community, further establishing the framework for future ExComs.

Cécile Pellet, Switzerland (Co-Chair)
Roles: Data Management Working Group (Primary), Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group, GTN-P Representative

Line Rouyet, Norway (Co-Chair)
Roles: Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group (Primary), Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group, Scandinavia Regional Representative

Francesco Brardinoni, Italy
Roles: Rock Glacier Inventory Working Group, Central Europe Regional Representative

Diego Cusicanqui, France
Roles: Data Management Working Group, Machine Learning Working Group, Rock Glacier Velocity (RGV) Working Group, South America Regional Representative

Yan Hu, China
Roles: Rock Glacier Inventory (RoGI) Working Group (Primary), Data Management Working Group, Asia Regional Representative

Kaytan Kelkar, USA
Roles: PYRN Representative, RGIK Social Media

Ben Robson, Norway
Roles: Machine Learning Working Group (Primary), Oceania Regional Representative

Mishelle Wehbe, Canada
Roles: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group (Primary), Rock Glacier Inventory (RoGI) Working Group, Webmaster, RGIK Social Media

The Interim ExCom was a transitional body tasked with formalising RGIK from an IPA Action Group into a Standing Committee. During their term, this team established the foundational organisational structure and drafted the RGIK constitution, bylaws, and the addendum code of conduct on equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Interim ExCom also engaged in a through evaluation of RGIK’s operational framework, assessing existing structures to determine what was essential, what required modification, and where new gaps existed. This coordination ensured that each working group had clear objectives and goals to drive the respective initiatives forward. Their work provided the foundation for the current and future Executive Committees to continue the mission and goals of RGIK for years to come.

Francesco Brardinoni, Italy

Diego Cusicanqui, France

Yan Hu, China

Kaytan Kelkar, USA

Cécile Pellet, Switzerland

Line Rouyet, Norway

Mishelle Wehbe, Canada