About Us

Edge Geotechnical is a small business with the sole director and experienced Chartered Professional Geotechnical Engineer, Karen Allan, running all aspects of the business.

Edge’s purpose is to provide high level geotechnical engineering advice to all areas of the design and construction industry, targeting the local Blue Mountains community. Edge utilizes Karen’s experience to work collaboratively with other local engineering and design professionals, such as structural and civil engineers, design architects and landscape architects.

Karen stared her career in Brisbane with large consulting companies such as Coffey and Golder.  She moved to Sydney in 2003 to build the Golder Sydney operations and worked with the Golder Sydney team until 2017.  Karen now brings her depth of knowledge to the Blue Mountains with aim of supporting the local community as well as continuing to provide high level advice to larger Sydney projects.

Karen completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane (QLD) at the end of 1994, graduating with First Class Honours.  In 2013, Karen also formalised her many years in industry pavement design by completing a Graduate Certificate in Pavement Technology through the Centre for Pavement Engineering Education (CPEE).

Edge can provide you with sound and practical consulting engineering advice during any project stage from planning, implementation, engineering design, and reporting.  Major areas of practice currently include foundation investigations for new developments including residential to small commercial, foundation and retaining wall design advice, pavement design and slope stability analysis.

Edge aims to be responsive to your needs in a cost effective environment.

Karen is a member of Australia’s preeminent engineering body, Institute of Engineers Australia.

She is also a member of the local NSW Division of the Australian Geomechanics Society.