SAPIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025
2025 is the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of the national peak body for sports, recreation and playspace construction. Join us for our silver anniversary conference – all welcome.
Date: Thursday 18 September – Friday 19 September 2025
Venue: Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Nearest airport: Newcastle Airport, NSW
OVERVIEW: Click Announcement – Oaks Cypress Lakes to see all the activities we have prepared for members, supporters and friends.
DELEGATE REGISTRATION FORM: Click Delegate Registration Form 2025 to register.
If you are involved in sports, recreation, leisure or playspace design, construction, installation, testing or maintenance, you should attend the annual National Conference of the Sports & Play Industry Association. Our conferences provide members and interested parties with the opportunity to learn about new techniques and ways to reduce or overcome issues in their working lives, meet sports governing bodies’ key personnel and hear about their organisations’ plans for the future, acquaint themselves with suppliers and manufacturers of products and services to the industry, converse with the SAPIA Board of Directors who are experts in their fields, form new business relationships, have fun and enjoy the company of their peers. Whether you are new to the industry or an old hand, you cannot afford to miss the SAPIA National Conference.
MEET THE PRESENTERS:
Manda Duffy – Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association
A conference in the Hunter would not be complete without discussing the vineyards. Manda is Senior Business Development Specialist with the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. HVWTA represents the region across all visitor economy channels. Located just a 2-hour easy commute from Sydney, this established wine and tourism destination is the birthplace of Australian world-class wines. Visitors enjoy numerous superior and unique accommodation choices, surrounded by stunning natural and special attractions. The area offers a vast range of culinary, adventure, golf, wellness and cultural experiences, making it a memorable getaway.
Professor David Eager – University of Technology Sydney
David Eager is the Professor of Risk Management and Injury Prevention at University of Technology Sydney. He is an internationally recognised expert on the safety aspects of trampolines and playgrounds, play surfacing and sports and recreation equipment. David chairs a number of Australian Standards committees in these areas. In 2024 Engineers Australia acknowledged his outstanding service to mechanical engineering when they awarded him the AGM Michell Medal. David will address the conference on the topic ‘Risky play: A tool to measure benefit-risk’.
Ben Krzewina – Geofabrics Australasia
Ben Krzewina has been part of the Geofabrics team for over five years—recently returning to take on a national role focused on sporting and coastal applications of geosynthetics. Ben will speak on the subject ‘Unlocking the Value of Geosynthetics in Sport & Recreation’. While geosynthetics have long been a trusted solution in civil infrastructure—used in roads, rail, tunnels, and containment systems—their potential in the sports and recreation industry is only just beginning to be realised.
George Devenish – iDwala
George Devenish is a leading outdoor sports facility designer with over 30 years of experience in the civil construction and sports infrastructure industries. Renowned for his innovative and practical design solutions, he has played a pivotal role in shaping high-performance community sports surfaces and facilities across VIC and NSW. His expertise spans conceptual design, technical advice, and construction oversight, ensuring that projects are both functional, sustainable and executed to the highest standards. George’s deep understanding of materials, engineering principles, and sporting body compliance standards allows him to deliver designs that optimise performance, safety, and longevity. His ability to integrate creative design with real-world construction knowledge makes him a sought-after specialist in the industry. His topic is Game-Changing Design: Unlocking the Potential of Underutilised Spaces’.
Matt Cronin – Pat Cronin Foundation
The Pat Cronin Foundation was created to honour Pat’s life by helping young Australians make wise decisions so we can end the senseless violence that devastates families and communities. Pat went out on Saturday 16 April, 2016 for a few quiet drinks with mates. He wasn’t a fighter, it just wasn’t his scene. But when a brawl started to build outside the pub, being the loyal and caring mate he was, Pat stepped in to pull a friend away. It was then that Pat was punched in the head from behind. He stayed on his feet, checking all his mates were ok, but soon after he started to develop symptoms, had a seizure and was taken to hospital unconscious. Two days later, his parents made the agonising decision to turn off his life support.
Lynnel Crockart – Playground Safety Inspectors Australia
Certified for Safety: The Competence of Inspectors in Ensuring Playground Compliance through Inspection and Testing
Founder and Director of PSIA, Lynnel is certified as a national trainer and assessor in the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and EPS (Outdoor Fitness, Skateparks, Parkour) Course. She has also co-written industry courses such as the Shade Sail Inspector Course and Surface Impact Tester Course, demonstrating her commitment to advancing safety standards and education within the field. Lynnel’s presentation explores the critical role of certified inspectors in ensuring playground safety compliance through thorough inspection and testing protocols. Highlighting the competence and expertise required, it delves into key standards and best practices essential for maintaining safe play environments. Attendees will gain insights into effective inspection strategies and the importance of compliance to enhance playground safety nationwide.
John Rebecchi – Mainsailz
Playground Shade Sails: Inspecting the Past to Safeguard the Future
John Rebbechi is a highly experienced professional in the shade sail and flexible fabric structure industry. He founded Port Douglas Sailmakers, initially focusing on yacht sails and awnings before transitioning to shade sails, a move that transformed the business into the leading provider of high-quality shade solutions in Far North Queensland. In 2017, John founded Mainsailz, a consultancy firm specializing in insurance assessments and shade sail inspections. John and Lynnel’s shared presentation will focus on playground shade sail inspections and the scope of works that needs to be included when writing a report, the importance of inspecting playground shade sails on a regular basis and the hidden dangers that may cause safety issues if not identified early.
Craig Nicholls – Smartlux
Sports Lighting Technologies
As Managing Director of Smartlux, Craig is the Australian Distributor for Abacus Lighting. Craig has been involved with the Outdoor- Sports lighting market segment since 2013, and established Smartlux in 2016, with the encouragement and support of Abacus Lighting UK.
Prior to this, Craig had extensive and broad executive management within Caltex Oil, Fosters Brewing Group (CUB) and as General Manager at Queensland Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Craig will discuss the advantages and opportunities for lowering poles on sports facilities – Courts and Sports Grounds; reducing risk, costs savings on installation and Opex Costs v Capex Costs…. The discussion to be had up front pre tender developments; provide a brief update on the progress of sports lighting technologies in Australia: What’s new, and the challenges ahead.
Joe Wadkins – Ask JW
SAPIA Honorary Member, Joe is a global authority in the synthetic turf industry. For decades, JW has been a prominent figure in the industry, earning a global reputation for his vast knowledge and unwavering commitment to fostering trust and integrity within the field. His expertise is in high demand worldwide, spanning consultancy, design, training, and installation services across a diverse range of applications, including landscape projects, football, soccer, baseball, golf greens, pet facilities, rooftops, bocce courts, playgrounds, tennis, and the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. Joining us via vlog in 2025, Joe will bring us up to date with the latest global innovations in synthetic turf development and installation.
Grant Humphreys – PlayTest and Acousto-scan
The Evolution of the Playground; Standards Australia Updates
Grant explores the evolution of playgrounds since 1993, drawing on over three decades of industry experience and inspection data to evaluate progress and identify areas for future improvement. While significant advancements have been made—particularly in the testing and certification of impact attenuation surfaces—the rate of playground-related hospitalisations has plateaued. This suggests that while current safety standards and inspection protocols, such as the triannual testing of surface compliance, have contributed to injury reduction, further innovation and refinement are necessary. By reflecting on past practices and improvements, this paper aims to inform a safer, more effective future for playground design, maintenance, and regulation.
Michael Blomer – Tennis Queensland/Court-Tech
Tennis – QTC Expansion Plans for 2032
Mick Blomer, Facilities Development Manager with Tennis Queensland will outline preparations being made for the best facilities and results at the Brisbane Olympic Games 2032.
James Tritt – APT Asia Pacific
More to come… watch this space!
If you would like to become a member of SAPIA prior to the conference, please visit our Member Info page.
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