João Tiago Simões is a lecturer covering the subject of reinforced and prestressed concrete bridges. He combines his lecturing role with practical experience, co-managing a design engineering office and leading a variety of projects, including interventions on existing bridges and the design of new ones. With a solid academic background, including a PhD and postdoctoral positions at EPFL, he aims at reinforcing the link between academia and industry. His research interests include models for the ultimate limit state of new and existing structures. João T. Simões is also the Convener of both the TaskGroup 2.2 – Ultimate Limit States and of the Working Party 2.2.3 Punching and shear in slabs of the International Federation for Structural Concrete.