Stephen Niven

CEO Sport Group, Asia Pacific

Stephen has been in the sports industry for over 19 years and was appointed CEO of the Asia-Pacific region in July 2014. He has full responsibility for all activities of Sport Group and its businesses across the Asia-Pacific region. Major achievements of Stephen include the integration of Team Sports which was acquired by Sport Group, followed shortly by Sport Grass, Louds, Pro Grass, New Turf and Fairmont Industries.

Prior positions of Stephen include Managing Director of Sport Group Asia Pacific and Managing Director of Sports Technology International (STI) with worldwide responsibility. He Joined STI in 2004 when he sold his own construction business, Service Ace Tennis Courts, to STI.

Stephen has extensive skills and experience across International business, corporate strategy, production planning, business development, team management, and high-level problem-solving.

Tania Fountain

REGIONAL MARKETING MANAGER, SPORT GROUP ASIA PACIFIC

In March of 2018, Tania was appointed Regional Marketing Manager for the Asia Pacific region and became responsible for the various marketing operations for Polytan, APT and SYNLawn. Operating on a regional level, Tania now leads the development, implementation and management of various marketing plans to support the entities across both local and national levels.

Tania is the central point of contact for all marketing requirements and effectively manages strategic partnerships, athlete sponsorship agreements, public relations, digital platforms, trade shows, corporate events, budgets and provides support to the groups agent network.

Tania first started with Polytan in 2016 in a sales and marketing role, where she managed and coordinated the marketing activities for Polytan and provided support to the National Sales Manager and engineering team. Bringing with her a variety of skills from a successful career in local government, event management and business administration, Tania’s skills quickly brought value to the group with strong managerial and coordination skills, marketing flair and creativity.

Tania has qualifications across Business Administration, Hospitality and Tourism Management along with a Bachelors of Business and Sports Management.

Anthony Kelly

Project Manager

Bachelor of Engineering, Civil
Master of Science, Sustainable Design

Anthony leads the engineering team providing integral design and technical involvement with the Construction team for all major projects. Based in Melbourne, Anthony oversees the delivery of all projects within Victoria, working closely with the Construction team ensuring the successful delivery of each project.

Recent Project Involvement

Monica Reece

Project Administrator

Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Sports Entertainment
Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety

Monica is responsible for project administration support direct to the Operations Manager and assistance to Project Managers across Australia. Monica’s background within the sport surfacing industry enables her to support the delivery of projects from commencement through to handover, resource scheduling and logistics.

Recent Project Involvement

Brett Davison

Business Development Manager

20+ years Hockey surfacing knowledge

Brett is directly involved in all hockey projects across the Asia Pacific region for Polytan. With extensive experience in hockey industry, Brett brings a highly developed technical knowledge of the design, construction, installation and servicing of synthetic hockey fields. With over 100 hockey field projects under his belt since 1997, Brett’s hands on approach has been an integral part in the successful delivery of new and resurfaced hockey facilities

Recent Project Involvement

Lachlan Graham

Project Engineer

Bachelor of Engineering, Civil
Bachelor of Business (Management)

Lachlan joined the team with a background in Civil Engineering & experience in local government. Lachlan provides integral support & involvement with the Construction team for all major projects helping to secure works from the initial design & tender stage through to ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality.

Recent Project Involvement

Steve Heaps

Project Manager

10+ Years project management experience
20+ Years synthetic sporting surface and
construction industry experience.

Steve specialises in the construction and installation of premium athletic facilities. Steve’s combined experience in civil construction, project management and IAAF certification has supported the growth of Polytan’s athletics projects across the Asia Pacific region. Steve brings a solid foundation of experience that is highly regarded within the industry.

Recent Project Involvement

Greg Heaps

Operations Manager

20+ Years project management experience
18+ Years synthetic sporting surface and
construction industry experience.

Greg has been involved in the construction of over 50 major sporting field projects since 2005. Expert knowledge and experience within project management, client liaison, building and construction has been developed through his involvement over the last almost 20 years. Greg supports the delivery of various high profile sports field projects across Australia.

Recent Project Involvement

Rob Kirkwood

National Sales Manager, Polytan

Bachelor of Engineering,
25+ Years Synthetic Sports Surfacing Industry Experience
in local and international locations at the elite and
regional sporting levels.

Rob is directly involved in all Polytan major projects in his role as National Sales Manager. His engineering qualification ensures he has an understanding of both sales and construction activities and to ensure Polytan is represented in the highest possible standard. Rob’s understanding of client expectations, excellent industry knowledge and customer service skill provides smooth project delivery from concept to completion and beyond.

Paul Kamphuis

General Manager

Bachelor of Engineering, Civil
Bachelor of Sciences – Earth Science
Almost 15 years project management experience in local
and international locations at the elite sporting level.

Paul is responsible for all Polytan projects in his role as General Manager. As a Civil Engineer with more than 15 years industry experience in the design and construction of synthetic sporting facilities. Paul offers leadership to Polytan across all international sporting body standards. Paul has delivered specific construction and project management for all of Polytan’s major projects, which most recently includes the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and with involvement for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Janine Kilmartin

Sales Administration

Certificate IV WH&S
Certificate IV Logistics
20+ Years in Administration

Janine provides a critical support role to the Polytan sales and service team across Australia, utilising her extensive experience gained in business administration. Whilst primarily supporting the sales team, handling direct sales and service enquiries, Janine also assists in marketing activities such as coordination of promotions and events, social media and the upgrading of Polytan documentation.

Shaun Goudie

General Manager Asia Region

Shaun is responsible for all Polytan and APT agents across the Asian region and actively oversees the construction operations for all major projects that require his extensive knowledge and experience of project management and surface installation.

The former owner of Action Sports NZ, Co-owner and Managing Director of Sports Technology Int NZ Ltd, Shaun provides extensive experience and expert knowledge in the delivery of elite competition and training facilities, including the construction and installation of a wide range of local and international synthetic sporting surface projects including numerous Olympic and Commonwealth Game facilities.

Shaun has a Certificate of Mechanical and Auto Engineering, 27+ Years Project Management Experience in the Construction of elite Sporting Facilities and is white card certified.

Melissa Edwards

CFO – Sport Group, Asia Pacific

Melissa has been with the company since 2003 and was appointed CFO, of Asia Pacific in 2014. She has full responsibility for the finance and administration activities in the Asia Pacific region, covering both the production and construction activities of the group. Additionally, Melissa is the Human Resources Manager for APT and Polytan and has been involved in the due diligence and subsequent acquisitions of a variety of organisations to join the APT and larger SportGroup team.

Prior positions within the Group include Finance Director and Financial Controller.

Melissa is a Chartered Accountant, previously with Price Waterhouse (Sydney & Birmingham, UK). After obtaining her qualifications and returning from a secondment in the UK, she left to join the National Foods corporate office in Sydney. After 12 months, she took up a position in the newly formed Dairy Foods Division and moved to Melbourne. Melissa then joined APT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, which at the time was known as Balsam Pacific Pty Ltd.

Jim Tritt

Group Value Chain Manager, PU Applications, SPORT GROUP

Jim started his career in 1995 with APT USA as a research chemist. Over the past twenty years, Jim has held a variety of positions including Laboratory Manager, Product Manager, Business Development, Technical Sales, General Manager and, most recently, Director of Operations, Asia Pacific. In his current role, Jim is responsible for R+D for the Asia Pacific Region as well as optimisation of all PU, acrylic, and EPDM manufacturing sites globally.

Throughout his career, Jim has been responsible for the development, manufacture, and distribution of a wide range of products that include polyurethane CASE applications, acrylic coatings, polyurethane intermediates, and synthetic turf for virtually every commercial application.

Jim has degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Ohio Wesleyan University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honour society.

FIFA

FIFA Quality certified surfaces must adhere to strict quality requirements which are applied to improve the game and protect players, clubs and associations.  These standards are based on scientific research into many disciplines such as players needs, aspects of safety, performance, durability, quality assurance and player comfort.

Criteria has been developed to meet players needs and essential playability requirements.

The development of artificial grass surfaces (designated ‘Football Turf’ by FIFA) that replicate the playing qualities of good quality natural grass has led to the rapid acceptance of the surfaces by the football world and FIFA.

To ensure these playing surfaces provide a environment that will not increase the risk of injury to players; are of adequate durability (providing they are adequately maintained) FIFA developed the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf.

Launched in 2001 the FIFA Quality Programme is a rigorous test programme for Football Turf that assesses the ball-surface interaction, playersurface interaction and durability of products and allows successful manufacturers to enter into a licensing programme for the use of the prestigious FIFA QUALITY marks.

FIH – Preferred Supplier

FIH – Preferred Supplier – Get your next pitch FIH certified

The FIH is the international governing body of field hockey worldwide. FIH certified hockey fields are tested and approved as meeting the current International Hockey Federation standards.

Polytan is the Official Global Partner and Turf Supplier of the FIH. Our hockey surfaces are used at all major FIH hockey sporting events around the globe including events such as the Women’s and Men’s Champions Trophy, Women’s Hockey World Cup, Hockey Pro League and more. Polytan surfaces have also been used for Olympic and Commonwealth Game hockey events, having provided the surfaces for the last 5 Olympics.

The FIH ensures all certified hockey pitches are manufactured and installed with the highest quality in mind for hockey players. Polytan is one of the select few companies who are a preferred producer, who can meet the requirements set out in the FIH quality programme for hockey turf.

In addition to meeting FIH Certified Manufacturers and Field Builders criteria, FIH Preferred Suppliers are also required to comply with a global commitment to providing high quality hockey pitches suited for international, national and community based clubs all around the world. Additional FIH facility guidance resources can be found here.

ITF

ITF recognition is an acknowledgement that a tennis court meets the recommendations provided in the ITF Guide to Test Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces. (http://www.itftennis.com/technical/courts/court-testing/overview.aspx)

ITF is targeted at those venues where the standard of play demands the specification of precise playing characteristics, e.g. at international tournaments as well as national and regional tennis centres.

ITF Recognition is retained until the court is resurfaced or for 10 years, whichever is the sooner, however, the results are only valid for the day of testing. Properties of the court may change, due to factors such as ambient conditions, use and maintenance.

ITF Recognition is not mandatory, nor does it imply any form of ITF approval or endorsement.

ITF Recognition

AFL

The AFL/Cricket Australia “Approved Synthetic Turf Product” mark is awarded to those products that have been subject to a series of stringent laboratory tests. These tests include those for durability, joint strength, resistance to weathering, ball roll and bounce, hardness, traction and abrasion.

In addition, the AFL award a “Preferred Supplier”status to a select number of companies to maintain quality control. Certified ovals must meet a second stage of testing that occurs on site once the project is complete. Once the synthetic surface is laid and infilled, the final playing surface will:

• Have similar playing characteristics to excellent natural turf,
• Offer quality and durability of the product, and
• Maximise playing comfort and safety for players.

Testing is undertaken on a variety of points on the field to ensure compliance across the facility. Once an oval has met all the requirements of the field testing it will be issued with official certification that the oval complies with AFL/Cricket Australia Standards. These fields need to meet specific criteria set in the AFL / CA Handbook of Testing for Synthetic Turf – March 2018.

Rugby Football League (RFL)

The development of synthetic turf surfaces to replicate the playing qualities of excellent natural turf for Rugby League is overseen by this standard.

Introduction of the standard is to allow fields to sustain much higher levels of use and increased participation in the game of Rugby League.

The Rugby Football League Limited has commissioned the development of performance and construction standards for synthetic turf Rugby League pitches.

This governance ensures these new forms of surface provide a satisfactory playing environment that offer durability and will not increase the risk of injury to players. The standards have been prepared by an independent laboratory specialising in the testing of sports surfaces.

Click the link to view the full Performance and Construction Standards for Synthetic Turf Rugby League competition and training pitches.

Cricket Australia (CA)

The AFL/Cricket Australia “Approved Synthetic Turf Product” mark is awarded to those products that have been subject to a series of stringent laboratory tests. These tests include those for durability, joint strength, resistance to weathering, ball roll and bounce, hardness, traction and abrasion.

In addition, the AFL award a “Preferred Supplier”status to a select number of companies to maintain quality control. Certified ovals must meet a second stage of testing that occurs on site once the project is complete. Once the synthetic surface is laid and infilled, the final playing surface will:

• Have similar playing characteristics to excellent natural turf,
• offer quality and durability of the product, and
• maximise playing comfort and safety for players.

Testing is undertaken on a variety of points on the field to ensure compliance across the facility. Once an oval has met all the requirements of the field testing it will be issued with official certification that the oval complies with AFL/Cricket Australia Standards. These fields need to meet specific criteria set in the AFL / CA Handbook of Testing for Synthetic Turf – March 2018.

World Rugby

World Rugby is the governing body of rugby union and rugby sevens around the world.

Rugby Union has historically been played on natural grass. There is recognition by the World Rugby Board that it is necessary in some parts of the world for rugby to be played on synthetic turf, where climatic conditions often result in natural grass surfaces becoming badly worn and unsuitable in winter. A World Rugby Handbook has further information about the use of artificial rugby turf requirements.

As a result, World Rugby has produced the ‘Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification’. This document sets a minimum standard for synthetic turf playing surfaces which may be used in rugby, offering a solution to those parts of the world where climate or resources make good quality natural grass pitches difficult or impossible to achieve.

For fields to be certified by World Rugby, they must comply with these high standards.
Polytan guarantee our surfaces meet Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification requirements every time.

IAAF

IAAF – Get your athletics track certified

The International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international governing body for athletics tracks across the world. The IAAF set special requirements for athletics tracks to be measured, tested and certified to ensure competitors experience the best surface performance.

The IAAF has established the requirements for synthetic athletic tracks to be measured, tested and certified many years ago. When testing and assessing an athletic facility, the detailed process requires a solid understanding of every project and design element to meet Certification.

In addition to the surface performance, there is a construction compliance across the entire track at different locations to confirm the facility conformance. View the track and runway synthetic surface testing specifications.

IAAF has accredited a network of laboratories around the world with the requisite experience and expertise to interpret and determine the results and observations made on site correctly. This experience and expertise protect the interests of all the parties involved, including the manufacturer of the synthetic surfacing system, the installer, the main contractor, the designer, the owner and the importantly the athletes.

ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION

Polytan operates a Quality Management system based on ISO9001:2015, with emphasis on management involvement, structured processes & procedures and customer satisfaction.

Polytan recognise that no two projects are the same, but to ensure quality outcomes on every project we have developed thorough processes and procedures to ensure consistency in performance and deliverability. It is this emphasis on “following the right process” which has enabled Polytan to build an international reputation for delivering high standard, high quality outcomes for our clients.

Polytan develops a project specific Quality Management Plan for each project based on the procedures documented within our organisational Operations Manual. Each project specific QMP documents the key, specific project quality objectives and the procedures to be followed to achieve those objectives.

Polytan develop and implement Inspection & Test Plans (ITP’s) for all project work phases, which stipulate the necessary requirements for the works, including witness points, hold points, quality record requirements and relevant references for the quality objectives stipulated. All project witness points and hold points will clearly identified on our works programme to ensure that they are incorporated into the project when required as efficiently as possible.

Polytan Surfaces are backed by Australian Manufacturer – APT Asia Pacific

You can have confidence that APT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (APT) synthetic surfaces will comply with the current national and international standards, including all environmental requirements when installed by Polytan.

We can ensure compliance with all the relevant certificates of international sports associations, such as FIH, World Rugby, ITF, RFL, AFL/CA, FIFA, IAAF. As a result, you gain peace of mind that your surface materials are coming from a team of proven, reliable and experienced hands.

All of our material manufacture complies with the current national and international standards, including all environmental requirements. Consistent high quality is ensured 100% by final inspection and testing according to our ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Add to this our Dandenong manufacturing facility being inducted into the Victorian Hall of Fame, and awards such as Exporter of the Year, and you can see how we are successful with manufacturing the elite competition surfaces of the last four Olympic Games, various World Cups, Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophies and elite Athletics facilities globally.

Cody Linton

General Manager, NZ – Polytan

Diploma of Engineering, Civil

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management

3 Years engineering experience as a Civil Site engineer for a construction and asphalt company prior to 4 years experience with STI in the current role directly overseeing major sports facility construction.

Cody’s experience with hands-on project and construction site management has instigated many testimonials for clients expressing their extreme satisfaction with their project handling.

Project Manager for a large number of STI’s key projects, including;

Michael Isaac

Project Engineer

Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Diploma Engineering Practice (Major Construction)

Michael is responsible for the onsite project management and construction of Polytan projects. Providing expert knowledge and experience that is well supported from an engineering and major construction background, Michael supports the Polytan team through all stages of our projects including tender response preparation, onsite project management, engineering design, civil construction, client liaison, project hand over, maintenance and aerial photography. Having worked on multiple major projects within the Polytan portfolio, Michael is highly skilled across all Polytan synthetic sport surfaces.

Projects

Tina Ivanovski

Project Administrator

Diploma Business Administration
Diploma of International Trade

Tina is responsible for all project administration requirements and provides support to the Operations Manager and onsite Project Engineers. Tina’s background within the construction industry enables her to support the delivery of projects from site establishment through to completion including logistic coordination, accounts, cost analysis, budgeting, equipment procurement, purchasing, extensive travel and accommodation bookings, work crew scheduling and invoicing. Since joining the team in 2012, Tina has supported the delivery of multiple major projects across the Asia Pacific region.

Projects