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Joe Wadkins, one of the world’s leading synthetic turf experts, has been announced as a keynote speaker for the 2023 National Conference of the Sports and Play Industry Association (SAPIA).

Known for his 'Ask JW' Vlog, during which he shares synthetic grass installation tips and techniques, Wadkins' presentation at the SAPIA Conference - being held in Sydney on Friday 1st September - will draw on his over 30 years of experience and extensive synthetic grass knowledge.

Wadkins (pictured) is sought after around the world to consult, design, train and install football, American gridiron and baseball fields as well as smaller projects such as putting greens and pet facilities.

Based in Nevada, USA, his expertise has seen him work for many high-end Las Vegas resorts including Caesars Palace, City Center, Wynn Hotels, Encore, Hotel Beverly Hills, Ritz Carlton Hotel and Palazzo and he has been twice awarded for the impeccable synthetic turf installation on the famous Las Vegas Strip medians.

He has been instrumental in engineering, designing, and constructing commercial playgrounds including H.I.C and GMAX Testing and has secured several patents for his ‘TURFBRUSH’ and ‘Superseam Tool’, a proprietary process that revolutionised this Industry teaching undetectable seam integration.

With a passion for sharing his experience and knowledge, Wadkins is also an instructor with the Synthetic Turf Council’s CTSI Certified Synthetic Turf Installer accreditation program.

He explains “my mission is to help contractors build their businesses by offering training, education and technical support in the most recognised problems in the synthetic turf industry today."

While details of Wadkins presentation are still being agreed, it will run for two hours and will include time for questions audience.

Its working title is ‘Awareness in Synthetic Turf’.

SAPIA National Conference Presenters
With a program is suitable for both sports and play facility installers as well as landscapers.

Other presenters include:

Professor David Eager
SAPIA Honorary Life Member David Eager is Professor of Risk Management and Injury Prevention at University of Technology Sydney.

An internationally recognised expert on the safety aspects of trampolines and playgrounds, play surfacing and sports and recreation equipment, Professor Eager sits on Australian and international Standards committees.

In 2022 Standards Australia acknowledged his 25 years of dedicated service in standards development as a 'Centenary Hero'.

He will address the conference on the topic 'Some Interesting Facts about Impact Attenuating Sands and Barks'.

Lauren Coates, Michael Blomer and Brett Pettersen
Lauren Coates, Infrastructure & Planning Lead, Tennis NSW
Michael Blomer, Facilities Development Manager, Tennis Queensland
Brett Pettersen, Infrastructure & Planning Manager, Tennis NSW

 The future of where community sport is played and the quality of those environments is becoming an increasingly acute issue of planning and funding for the sports, asset managers and government. Coates, Blomer and Pettersen will discuss the innovative approaches that their sport is adopting to inform and influence outcomes on the ground, including:

• Venue sustainability through improving asset renewal and financial planning
• Helping tennis venues get Project and Investment Ready
• Working with local and state government on network planning, facility funding and project planning (specifications, standards, design)
• Challenges and opportunities of multi-sport and complementary formats as a solution – in particular the rise of Pickleball, Padel and POP Tennis
• Challenges in procurement, contracting, project delivery and specification – and opportunities for the industry to help foster stronger outcomes for everyone

James Tritt
Since graduating with a degree in Chemistry, Jim Tritt has spent more than 25 years in the design, development, production, and distribution of a wide range of surfacing materials, with a particular emphasis on sports applications such as athletic tracks, tennis courts and gymnasium floors, as well as protective coatings for concrete.

He is familiar with a wide range of adhesive systems including liquid applied one and two component polyurethanes as well as reactive hot melt adhesives. He also has extensive knowledge in the design, manufacture, and distribution of synthetic turf systems of any description, including the elastic layers, infill materials and adhesives required to ensure compliance and durability.

Tritt is currently Chief Operating Officer of Sport Group Asia Pacific, and Director of SAPIA's National Conference Gold Sponsor APT Asia Pacific.

In his presentation he will announce major breaking news on Innovations in Temperature Reduction Court Surfacing.

Kim Forester
Kim Forester has been in the sports surfacing industry for over 10 years, and is currently Business Development Manager with Grassports Queensland. Kim's presentation will focus on Sports Surfacing for the Colour Blind.

Colour blindness, also known as Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) affects more than one million Australians.

Forester will outline the different types of colour blindness, the difficulties faced by those who are colour blind and what we in the sports and play industry can do to enhance their experience and increase their participation.

Grant Humphreys
SAPIA Professional Services member, Grant Humphreys of Acousto-scan and Play Test, has years of experience in the testing and performance of synthetic sports surfaces. He is a Field Test Engineer, Playground Inspector and Impact Tester, accredited for FIFA, FIBA, ITF, WR, AFL/CA, FIH, WB.

His presentation will update delegates on new compliance requirements for sports equipment suppliers and manufacturers, as well as 'What's New in the SAPIA Code of Practice for Playgrounds' released in May 2023.

Copies of the Code will be available at the conference.

Martin Sheppard
SAPIA Professional Services member, Martin Sheppard of Smart Connection Consultancy, has been in the sport and recreation industry for more than 40 years, both in the UK and Australia.

Managing facilities, parks and open space, museums and leisure services has provided him with insights to planning and facilities that are practical and realistic. Sheppard has in recent years specialised in using synthetic sports surfaces to encourage the community to be more active and is recognised as being one of the predominant advisors on surfaces in the world.

He will expand on the NSW Chief Scientist's recent Report on Synthetic Turf in Public Open Spaces.

Jaiden Connell
Jaiden Connell, Product Manager with FieldTurf Australia, presents 'From Global to Local'.

Founded in Australia in the late 1970s, Grassman’s owners were one of the pioneers of the artificial turf industry, building a proud history of manufacturing right up to the acquisition by FieldTurf in February of 2018.

Locally manufactured in NSW, FieldTurf Australia delivers high-performance artificial turf systems for sport, landscape and commercial applications, supplying synthetic turf into some of the most prestigious arenas, colleges, homes, resorts and schools.

Wade Lynch
Wade Lynch, Director of Precision Sports Lighting + Electrical is an expert in the design, installation and maintenance of specialised lighting for sporting fields and public spaces.

Recent installations include 44 metre high lighting towers for broadcasts from Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe for the NRL's new club, the Dolphins.

He will discuss the steps required to ensure successful sports lighting installation, and how best to overcome challenges when presented during each project.

Play Surfaces Forum
Six of SAPIA's specialist playspace surfacing installers - Mark Cunningham, Mark Weber, Brett Evans, Arun Kosh, Spencer Wallace and Nathan Weber - will participate in a question and answer forum to answer commonly posed questions regarding wet pour and other Impact Attenuating Surfacing Systems for playgrounds.

Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industy Calendar.

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