The impact of geotechnical risks on projects is often not well understood by non-geotechnical professionals. In many cases, the risks can be underestimated, and on rare occasions grossly overestimated. The impact of failing to appreciate geotechnical risks by non-geotechnical professionals is also highlighted through recent case histories where their poor perception of the risks taken has resulted in poor project outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to gain an understanding of how risks are perceived by these professionals to be able to target geotechnical risk communication more effectively. Research has been undertaken through interviewing a range of construction professionals to gauge the understanding of geotechnical risk by those who work in the geotechnical field and those in other disciplines. These include those from construction companies, government, and consultancies and cover a broad range of experiences. Views of geotechnical engineers and the profession were obtained as well as the participants' perception of the impacts of geotechnical risks on projects.