Prof. Ventura is a Civil Engineer with specializations in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering. He has been a faculty member of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada since 1992. He is a registered professional engineer in British Columbia, California and Guatemala. He is currently the Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) at UBC, and is the author of more than 650 papers and reports on earthquake engineering, structural dynamics and modal testing. He is a member of several national and international professional societies and advisory committees. Prof. Ventura has conducted research for more than thirty-five years in the dynamic behaviour and analysis of structural systems subjected to extreme dynamic loads, including severe ground shaking. His research work includes experimental studies in the field and in the laboratory of structural systems and components.