2019 Conference Speakers

The 2019 Asia Pacific Turfgrass Conference features a broad range of Speakers, including leading Australian and International Turf Researchers, Sportsturf Managers and Superintendents.

Adding to the variety at the 2019 Conference in Brisbane, are indsytry-leading presenters from Elite Sporting Associations, Sports Governing Bodies and a few famous Leadership & Motivational keynote presenters to provide their insights into leadership in the Sportsturf industry.


		Damien Austin High Performance Manager, Brisbane Lions Football Club (Aus) Damien is the High Performance Manager for the Brisbane Lions Football Club, overseeing the Strength & Conditioning and Medical components of the AFL team. Damien has worked in all three major football codes in Australia, having previously worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the Sydney Swans, Sydney Roosters Rugby League and Queensland Reds Rugby Union teams, plus also worked as S&C with the NSW Swifts Netball Team. During his time he has also been involved in the success of teams from two separate codes, making it to respective Grand Finals. Damien has completed a PhD specialising in high-intensity activity profiles in professional rugby codes, having previously completed a Masters and Bachelors degree. He has presented at a variety of International conferences and seminars on developing High Performing teams, using his extensive background with high profile Clubs, teams and athletes, along with learnings from strength and conditioning and sports science.

		Dr Michael Battam Director, AgEnviro Solutions (Aus) Mick receveid Doctorate in Agricultural Science (Soil Science) in soil water movement, and has over 20 years of practical experience consulting in the fields of soils, irrigation and landscape assessment As principal author of the Sydney Water Love Your Garden program, the Watersmart Garden Centre course, the Footprint Calculator app for sports field managers and the Sydney Water Best Practice Guidelines for Holistic Open Space Turf Management, Mick is a licensed urban irrigation contractor, a certified irrigation designer and a certified irrigation agronomist. In 2014 he was presented with an award by AORA for 'Outstanding contribution to organics' and is head of AgEnviro Solutions, a multi-disciplinary Environmental Consultancy Company

		Gilly Brooks Capability Development Manager – Syngenta Australasia (Aus) Gilly has considerable experience in people and organisational development, encompassing learning and development, organisational development and talent acquisition and management. Her experience covers areas such as setting direction and building strategy, implementing initiatives aligned to strategy, shaping organisational culture and driving commercial outcomes. Throughout her career, Gilly has led a wide range of projects, ensuring deliverables are met aligned to the company strategy, including roles in Project Management Office (PMO), implementation of corporate strategy, driving business results and change. More recent expereince, has seen Gilly expand her leadership into new product development, business improvement initiatives across systems, processes, operations and logistics, new business development, business transformation, capability building and organisational change projects.

		Dr Peter Boutsalis Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Agriculture (Aus) Employed since 2005 for the University of Adelaide to conduct weed surveys across SA and Vic to monitor for changes in herbicide resistance, Peter is incredibly well respected in the industry and is in very high demand as an industry leader extending messages on best practice weed management and effective and sustainable herbicide use. Peter has been heavily involved in resistance testing and promoting the correct use of herbicides, herbicide resistance support and extension to growers, agronomists and the chemical industry. He has been enthusiastic in delivering rotation messages, providing best practice for managing weeds, and has been helping to develop management strategies to handle resistant populations. Peter has also pioneered the use of the ‘quick test’ for establishing resistance status as manager of Plant Science Consulting; conducting herbicide resistance testing for Australian growers

		Mark Carter Director, Glow (Aus) How do you go from being an industry trainer and leader across Europe for Contiki Holidays to being one of the most sought after keynote speakers and professional trainers in Australia and the Asia Pacific? That is the question asked often of Mark and the answer he says is simple, it is all about understanding people. Understanding how they behave, think and make the choices they do, both professionally and personally. It is this understanding that has seen Mark hold senior and strategic leadership development roles for major global players across the Asia Pacific and Europe and led to him to being invited to work on projects design and implement sales strategies and bespoke methodologies for billion dollar sales teams across the globe. Mark is an en expert in human behaviour and has built a professional reputation second to none, acquiring a catalogue of life experiences through his own journey that many people often only dream about. Drawing on experience working with blue chip brands in over 40 countries, Mark Carter leverages leadership, culture, sales and behavioural science expertise, along with his natural energy, creativity, and innate ability to relate to his audience, to deliver seriously wow factor keynotes.

		Jason Cunningham CEO, The Practice (Aus) Jason Cunningham is one of Australia's leading business growth and finance experts. In 1997 he left his Graduate Management Accounting position at Ford Motor Company and co-founded the business and personal wealth advisory firm The Practice. Jason is the author of the small business book Have Your Cake And Sell It Too (and runs regular retreats to help business owners implement the key learnings from the book), as well as the personal finance self-help book Where’s My Money? He is also an FCPA, media commentator, regular keynote speaker, and member of Channel 10's The Living Room and SEN1116's The Run Home.

		The Hon. Michael de Brenni Queensland Minister for Sport & Recreation (Aus) Michael de Brenni is has been the Labor member for Springwood in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2015. He served as the Chief Government Whip from the 19 February 2015 to 8 December 2015, prior to the announcement by the Palaszczuk Government that he would be taking over the portfolios as Minister for Sport, Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Digital Technology for Queensland

		Michael De Luca Technical Manager - Lawn & Garden, Syngenta Australia & New Zealand (Aus) Michael has undertaken research and development in a range of fields including turfgrass science and pest management. With a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Queensland and significant experience in Agronomy, Michael areas of expertise involve product research and soil science. As Technical Manager for Syngenta Australasia, Michael provides understanding into the research and development of products and their interactions in the field that supports customers with the best outcomes. Having spent time with the NZ Sports Turf institue and Sports Turf Research Institute, he has a breadth of knowledge in field development of products combining science with a practical approach to application and planning.

		David Doguet Founder, Bladerunner Farms (USA) David Doguet has over forty (40) years of experience in the turfgrass industry. He began his career as a manager for Milberger Turf Farms in Bay City, Texas in the late 60’s. He then started a new company, Quality Turf Grass in 1978 which grew to several thousand acres of St. Augustine and Bermudagrass production across Texas and worked with research on Zoysia and Buffalo grasses. He co-owned and operated that company until its sale in 1988. After the sale of CDT, David began a new turf farming operation, Bladerunner Farms, Inc. in Poteet, Texas south of San Antonio. Bladerunner would focus its production and marketing to primarily zoysiagrasses. David has continued to work with several university systems through different types of grants, along with participation in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the grass varieties he has developed.

		Dr. Rob Golembiewski Greens Solutions Specialist, Bayer United States (USA) Dr. Rob Golembiewski is a Greens Solutions Specialist for Bayer in the United States with the responsibility of providing technical expertise for the Golf and Professional Landscape Markets. Prior to joining Bayer, he served as the Turfgrass Specialist at Oregon State University. Rob received his B.S and M.S. from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Rob's career has included positions with Montana State University, Dow AgroSciences, Paramount Landscape, and the University of Minnesota

		Tim Fankhauser Environmental Agronomist, AGCSATech (Aus) Tim arrived at the AGCSA in December 2017, after more than 10 years as assistant superintendent at one of the Mornington Peninsula’s top golf courses – The Dunes. Tim’s career in turf management started when he joined the crew at The Dunes in 2002 after working for the previous 16 years on Mornington Peninsula apple orchards. He went on to complete a Certificate III in Sports Turf Management as a mature age apprentice and in 2006 was appointed Assistant Superintendent, at which time he undertook the Diploma in Sports Turf Management. He was named Chisholm Institute’s Outstanding Diploma Student in 2010 and went on to win the AGCSA Award for Academic Achievement at the 2011 Australian Turfgrass Conference in Adelaide. As part of his Diploma, he undertook a comprehensive research project studying the effects of ethephon on bentgrass

		Steve Isaac Director – Golf Course Management, The R&A (England) With an Honours Degree in Applied Biology, Steve joined the R&A in 2003. The R&A is the organiser of The Open, golf’s oldest and most international major championship. Steve is responsible for The R&A’s advocacy of sustainability and for the formation of GreenLinks, The Open’s sustainability programme, working closely with various governing bodies and Administrations around the Globe on environmentally sustainable Golf Course Management practices. Steve’s work has taken him to most European countries and to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the USA

		Dr John Kaminski Director - Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program, Penn State University (USA) John currently serves as the Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State. He served as the 1st Tombros Early Career Professor and is currently Professor of Turfgrass Science and Associate Department Head of the Department of Plant Science. John has extensive experience in the area of golf course turfgrass management and specifically in the management of turfgrass diseases. He has been responsible for or associated with the discovery of four new turfgrass diseases on golf courses. His research focuses on the identification of turfgrass pathogens and the cultural and chemical management of their associated diseases. In his role as Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program, John is responsible for mentoring future golf course superintendents in and out of the classroom. He also serves as Co-Advisor for the Penn State Turf Club.

		Dr Chris Lambrides Principle Research Fellow, Queensland University (Aus) Chris has been working in northern Australia agriculture for more than 30 years. He completed his Bachelors and Phd degrees from The University of Queensland and Master’s degree from North Dakota State University when he worked with the USDA. In the early part of his career he was involved in crop breeding/genetics and physiology in both the private (Pioneer seeds) and public (CSIRO) sectors with a major focus of developing drought resistant cultivars for northern Australia. In 2006 he commenced studying Turfgrass genetics and physiology again with a focus on drought resistance. He now leads the Turfgrass research team at UQ and has a passion for Turf Science education. He is course coordinator of two undergraduate courses in Turf Science given within the Urban Horticulture degree and has graduated many postgraduate students majoring in Turf Science. He also has a keen interest in tropical forages with the aim of minesite dewatering (Santos) and improved plant production under saline conditions.

		Bruce MacPhee Senior Agronomist, AGCSATech (Aus) Bruce has over 30 years’ experience in the turf industry and joined the AGCSA in June 2016. Bruce’s turf management career began as an apprentice at Patterson River Golf Club in the mid-1980s and after completing that had small stints at Dandenong Central Bowling Club and Devil Bend Golf Club. In 1993 he joined Peninsula Country Golf Club, rising to the role of assistant superintendent (five years) and superintendent (two years). Between 2002 and 2012 Bruce was a turf management lecturer at Chisholm Institute of TAFE where he taught the Certificate II and III Sports Turf Management and Parks and Gardens courses and was also responsible for the development and delivery of the Diploma in Sports Turf Management. In 2012 he joined Evergreen Turf as a project manager where he was responsible for the successful development and implementation of large scale construction projects, including the new $72 million Pakenham racecourse.

		Jacinta Mulholland Practice Leader, ASG Group (Aus) A Senior Leader with a 20 year career in customer experience and the value of Culture in building and leading high performing teams. Jacinta has spent a number of years working on design and implementation of Net Promoter System (NPS) at industry-leading organisations throughout Australia & New Zealand, and is sought out for her abilities to implement sustainable change to teams in facilitation, leadership development and cultural change program development. Leading both small teams and international organisations, Jacinta's focus remains on the ‘voice of the customer’, and experience extends across product strategy, analytics, and operational management

		Renata Mundim Business Development Manager, Bernhard (UK) Renata Mundim is a Biologist passionate about grass. She started her career in turf working as a research assistant at The Ohio State University. She has a Masters Degree in Horticulture and Crop Science and studied Golf Course Management, both at OSU. After working in agricultural marketing and teaching, Renata was chosen as one of the USGA Interns. As part of Bernhard and Company, Renata specialises in developing education on turf health subjects.


		John Neylan Director, Turfgrass Research & Consulting (Aus) John Neylan has a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne and has worked in the turf industry for over 35 years. John has extensive experience in undertaking research and consultancy with a wide range of clients including golf, sportsfields, racetracks and local government and has expertise in soils, drainage, water management and turfgrass selection and evaluation. In recent years, John has been undertaking education and training in India and has been pursuing his interest in the biology, herbicide resistance and control of Poa annua. He has also been undertaking research into; sands for greens construction, benchmarking playing surfaces for golf and the relationship between sportsfield use, maintenance practices and budgets.

		Dr Shela Ngyuen Executive Director of the Sports Environment Alliance Inc (Aus) Dr Sheila Nguyen is committed to industry work and research evidencing the influence sport has as a change agent for social and environmental good. Sheila has a PhD in Sport Management from Florida State University (USA), specialising in corporate social orientation and stakeholder management with ongoing research interests including corporate social responsibility, environmental responsibility, measurement and research design. She has had experience working with licensing/marketing (PGA Tour, USA), corporate consulting (William Morris Agency, Beverly Hills, USA), and she worked as part of the broadcasting team at the 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou, China) with clients such as NHK, Al-Jazeera, KBS, and CCTV. Sheila is a member of Baseball Victoria's Board of Directors and is an alumna of both the Committee for Melbourne's business leadership program and Cranlana's Executive, Colloquia.
		Mark O’Sullivan Superintendent - Roseville Golf Club (Aus) Winner of the 2018 AGCSA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award, O’Sullivan was appointed Course Superintendent at Sydney-based Roseville in 1984 and worked tirelessly to re-develop and maintain the golf course in outstanding condition. During his time as superintendent, O’Sullivan has trained and mentored many current Superintendents nationally and internationally, and has implemented many major projects which have consistently demonstrated excellence in Sportsturf management. These projects range from the installation of the first computerised irrigation system through to the construction of a 26-megalitre water storage dam, and was responsible for the design and reconstruction work to numerous greens, tees and bunkers at Roseville. His lengthy tenure as superintendent at Roseville is a testament to the dedication and commitment he has made to the Course during his career.

		Graham Quirk Lord Mayor of Brisbane (Aus) Graham Quirk is the 16th and current Lord Mayor of Brisbane, elected as Lord Mayor at the 2012 Brisbane City Council election. After graduating St James College, Graham entered Brisbane City Council when elected as Councillor for Rochedale Ward in 1985, aged 27. After three years he was appointed the city's Finance Chairman and was later appointed Works Chairman. Following, he served as Opposition Spokesman on Development and Planning, Opposition Spokesman on Finance and Opposition Spokesman on Transport and Traffic. He then spent time serving as both Deputy Opposition Leader and was Opposition Leader in 2004. Quirk was elected as Deputy Liberal Leader and was appointed to the role of Chairman of Transport and Major Projects (later known as Roads, TransApex and Traffic). From 2008 until 2011, he was Deputy Lord Mayor under Campbell Newman, succeeding the latter when Newman became the Premier of Queensland. Quirk has served as a Councillor in the City of Brisbane since 1985.
		Cameron Schwab CEO \| Leadership Mentor & Strategist (Aus) Cameron Schwab is an experienced CEO, leadership coach and organisational specialist. He works with Boards, management teams, and groups to build leadership capability, particularly as it relates to organisational performance and transformation. He is a positive and creative thinker and communicator with highly developed strategic skills, and a track record of unifying organisations whilst navigating periods of genuine adversity and change. He holds an MBA and Master of Marketing from the Melbourne Business School. He has also completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at the Harvard Business School, as well as the Harvard program on Board Effectiveness. He is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow of the Centre of Ethical Leadership (CEL) at University of Melbourne.

		Dr Graham Stirling Biological Crop Protection (Aus) Dr Graham Stirling has 45 years experience in research, has published more than 70 scientific papers and is an Honorary Member and Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society for his services to the Society and to Nematology. He has extensive experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture and agriculture, having worked in Queensland, South Australia and California on both turf and crops. Dr. Stirling is recognised internationally for his work on nematodes, particularly biological control, and is also an experienced plant pathologist and soil biologist.

		Kate Torgersen Director at Environmental Golf Solutions (Aus) Kate has over 13 years of practical and academic experience in the golf course and conservation industries working on several highly ranked Australian golf courses. Her career began with an apprenticeship in Turf management where she soon discovered her passion for indigenous vegetation communities. After completing her apprenticeship Kate developed her knowledge of indigenous flora within the conservation industry as a Natural Reserves Ranger for a local Melbourne Metropolitan Council. Kate has worked on golf courses since leaving school, and has developed a strong passion for environmental issues on golf courses. Projects she been involved with include; habitat restoration projects, ecological burns, seed collection, propagation, EVC mapping, management plans and tree auditing.

		Dr Lukas Van Switen Principal Research Scientist, NSW Department of Primary Industries (Aus) Lukas Van Zwieten received a PhD from the University of Sydney in 1995. He is a senior principal research scientist with NSW Department of Primary Industries based at Wollongbar, and is an Adjunct Professor at both Southern Cross University (South Cross Plant Science) and Griffith University (Australian Rivers Institute). Lukas is a Program Leader (Integrated Solutions) for the Soils Cooperative Research Centre. His research focuses on soil processes including C and N cycling, and how these relate to greenhouse gas emissions, contaminants in the soil environment, and unravelling microbial and chemical processes in the rhizosphere. He is a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher (Thompson Reuters) with over 100 journal papers and 8000 cites. He received the 2016 NSW Premiers Award “Public Sector Science and Engineering” and sits on the Technical Advisory Board for a Global Environment Facility project on biochar technologies in Developing Countries, and is a member of Soil Science Australia.

		Jas Verdee Manager – Infrastructure, Planning & Strategy – Football NSW (Aus) Experienced background in Football with a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry, Jas works in the Facilities & Advocacy Unit overseeing Infrastructure, Planning & Strategy for Football NSW. Football NSW is responsibile for providing spaces to play and meet the ongoing challenges of ensuring there are sufficient facilities to meet growing demand for Football in NSW. Before joining the most registered participant Member Federation in Australia, Jas spent five years as manager of Active Opportunities Inc a charity sports organisation in Sydney. Prior to that he was a Regional Coordinator at the Australian Sports Commission coordinating the Active After School Program in Sydney and he continues to follow his passion as a football coach by coaching in a variety of projects with NIKE Football Australia. He started his professional career as an Ethnic Minorities Officer at Brentford Football Club whilst studying Sports Coaching Management at Buckinghamshire University, UK.

		Domenic Wall Director Asia-Pacific, The R &A (Hong Kong) Bringing over 25 years experience in the sports industry both in Australia and internationally, Domenic combines expertise in strategic planning, programme and club development with sports administration as the Director for the Asia Pacific Region for the R&A. Domenic was the first R&A employee to be based in Asia, underlining The R&A’s commitment to stimulating the growth of golf in the region. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Wall has more than twenty years experience in golf administration. Prior to joining the R&A, Domenic was the Tournament Director for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and has spent three years working extensively across the Asia Pacific region to develop golf strategies in partnership with, amongst others, the Chinese Taipei Golf Association, the Singapore Sports Council and the Indian Golf Union. Until 2006, Wall worked for the Australian Golf Union and Golf Australia in a variety of roles that included National Director of Coaching, Manager - Development and Acting Executive Director of the AGU and prior to 1990 was Development Manager for the Australian Coaching Council based at the Australian Institute of Sport.

		Paul Warren Author and Captain Australian Invictus Games Team (Aus) Paul Warren demonstrated courageous attitude and extensive determination when he lost one of his legs after an improvised explosive device detonated whilst he was based in Afghanistan. The young soldier’s life would be forever changed in that moment. Paul draws on his previous experiences to both inspire and motivate individuals. His presentations demonstrate his courage, determination and mental strength, and in 2015, he published his autobiography, “The Fighter”. “The Dust of Uruzgan” song covered by Lee Kernaghan details Paul’s story, and Paul continues to work with Wounded, injured and ill soldiers in delivering Resilience sessions and developing adaptive sports programs for rehabilitation. Paul has been involved with the NQ Cowboys NRL team as a prominent speaker on induction week, and was named Captain of the Australian Invictus Games Team in 2016.

		Pat Wilson Superintendent - Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club (Aus) Leading a varied career in Turf Management to date, including working on PGA courses in the US, the hallowed turf at Wimbledon, Pat Wilson is the Course Superintendent at Pambula Merimbula Golf Course in NSW. Wilson’s love and appreciation for the world of golf began as a junior member before taking on an Apprenticeship at the Pambula Merimbula course. After gaining his qualifications, Pat joined the Ohio program, working at a few courses in the USA and assisted with championship set up for a range of PGA events, gaining valuable experience. Pat then lef the USA and moved to England, working at Coombe Hill Golf club for 6 months, prior to joining the Grounds team at the all England lawn tennis club for the championships at Wimbledon. Pat returned home to Pambula Merimbula and has taken up the role as Course Superintendent where his career in Sportsturf Management began