An internationally recognised expert with almost 40 years’ experience of setting quality standards for sports surfaces and sports facilities. During my career I have participated in the development of all leading international and UK standards including the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, IRB Performance Standard for Synthetic Turf Rugby Surfaces, Rugby Football League Performance and Construction Standards for Synthetic Turf Pitches, European and British Standards, World Bowls Board Performance Standard for Artificial Flat Green Bowls Surfaces, The International Tennis Federation Initial Study on Performance Standards for Tennis Surfaces, The All England Netball Association Performance Requirements for Netball Courts, UEFA Requirements for Artificial Football Surfaces (2004), GAA Performance and Construction Standards for Synthetic Turf Pitches and the ECB Performance Standard for Non-turf Cricket Surfaces.

I am currently Facilities and Quality Programme Manager at the International Hockey Federation (FIH), advising on all aspects of facilities infra-structure and hockey equipment. I also provide technical support to the England Netball, European Synthetic Turf Organisation (ESTO) and the UK's Sport and Play Construction Association (SAPCA). I also chair the European Standards working groups dealing with standards for outdoor sports surfaces and test methods for sports surfaces.

During my career I have provided consultancy services to FIFA, UEFA, The Football Association, Football Association of Wales, Football Association of Ireland and Rugby Football Union (RFU), Lawn Tennis Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). I am privileged to been elected to serve two terms on the Synthetic Turf Council (USA) executive board.

He joined FIFA in 2019 as Quality Programme Manager for the Playing Surfaces. Prior to joining FIFA, he spent ten years at Labosport in France, Canada, and Colombia.

His current position at FIFA is to manage and develop the playing surfaces programmes (Futsal, Football Turf and Natural) taking into consideration the needs of the football players, the needs of the member associations and the possibilities of the industry. He graduated a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Physics Measurements from the University of Maine-Le Mans-Laval in France.

Colin Young has over 20 years’ experience in the synthetic turf industry, he received an PhD from Loughborough University, UK investigating the performance of synthetic turf. Since then he has worked in research, testing, regulation and now product development within the sports surface industry.

His employment history is as follows:

Loughborough University – Post Doctoral Research Associate

The Sports and Play Construction Association – Technical Manager

Labosport Ltd – Operations Manager then Managing Director

TenCate Grass - Research & Development Director

Eric O'Donnell, MPhil, is a Global Synthetic Turf Consultant and the Managing Director of Sports Labs Ltd. With over four decades of experience, Eric's journey began as a civil engineer involved in the testing of highways, geotechnical investigations and remedial works on environmentally challenging sites. His journey into synthetic sports surfaces started in 1988. He founded Sports Labs Ltd, in 1998 a renowned global entity specializing in the evaluation, research, and testing of sports surfaces and technology now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Eric's invaluable contributions extend to shaping international standards, including pivotal roles in contributing to the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf, FIH Handbook of Performance Requirements for Synthetic Turf Pitches, and World Rugby Performance Standard for Synthetic Turf Rugby Surfaces. He also lends his expertise to EN norms and guidance documents, and serves on the board of the ESTC as chair of the Technical Committee and in particular chair of the End of Life interest group for synthetic turf and shock pads.

Melanie Taylor is the president and chief executive officer of the Synthetic Turf Council, dedicated to leading, educating, and advocating for the synthetic turf industry. For more than two decades, Melanie has devoted her career to managing national and international trade associations, including 15 years in the synthetic turf industry.

Melanie joined the Synthetic Turf Council in 2008, where she served in roles of increasing responsibility while overseeing membership, meetings, education, and other projects. She was named as the STC’s first female president and CEO in 2021.

Melanie is a member of the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) and chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE).

Melanie received her B.A. from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA and lives in Jupiter, Florida.

I have a background in Geotechnical Engineering with over 30 years experience in associated research and practice. My industry experience is broad and includes many aspects of site engineering, field testing and site investigation. My own PhD developed a novel field testing method to measure the stiffness behaviour of highway foundations. 

Through my research I have published over 150 refereed articles and supervised 21 PhD students to completion in the general areas of geomaterial behaviour, novel (field) testing methods, soil-structure interaction, computer simulation, and more recently in polymeric material behaviour, and specialist laboratory and field testing (including with human subjects).  

My research, enterprise and consultancy themes are focussed on two primary areas: Transport Infrastructure: design, construction and performance, including specialist monitoring and field testing and methods to enhance performance evaluation of component materials and systems; and since 2002 I lead a new area of Sports Surface Science working with colleagues across related disciplines: innovations in base design, sustainable drainage, innovative pitch testing, biomechanical performance, injury risk, player perception of comfort and risk, and optimising maintenance practice and effectiveness. 

With over 13 years’ experience in PR and communications, Rob has demonstrated how developing and executing great content across a variety of media channels can educate, build trust, drive sales and enhance the customer experience. Having managed the PR for some of the best building products manufacturers in the business, including a leading synthetic turf manufacturer, Rob and his team at WPR are now responsible for handling external communication for ESTC.

Head of the Technical Team at the Football Foundation.
Experienced in the design and construction of sports facilities and infrastructure.
Specialties: Design and construction of Artificial Grass Pitches, Natural Turf Pitches, Changing Facilities and Stadia.

Product and Technical Manager at Amorim Cork Composites. Masters in Chemical Engineering, currently pursuing an MBA and leading the infill group of the ESTC.

• Education: Master’s degree in Textile Sciences and Engineering @ HoGent

• Started as R&D Engineer in the textile and automotive industry for 15 y

• Further growth as Project Manager in chemical/paper and automotive industry for 15 y

• Since September 2023 new as Application Engineer in the synthetic turf industry which is a dynamic business

Lars Solberg is a highly dedicated sustainability advocate who has spent the last two decades tirelessly focused on reducing environmental impact, increasing sustainability, and promoting circular business models to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. Born and raised in Norway, Lars has always been deeply passionate about preserving the natural beauty of his home country and the planet as a whole.

Lars holds a Master's degree in Engineering Cybernetics from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Prior to joining the turf industry, he worked for 15 years within the oil and gas sector, gaining invaluable experience and insights into the environmental challenges faced by various industries.

Currently, Lars leads as the founder and CEO of TeBe Sport and All Sports Recycled. Under his leadership, these enterprises strive to lower the long-term costs associated with artificial turf, ensure environments that are safe for sports and recreational activities, and promote the sustainable recycling of end-of-life turf. Lars's efforts are characterized by a blend of innovation, practicality, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Duncan has been with Notts Sport since 2002 after completing his university degree in Sports Science with Honours.  Duncan has worked in a variety of roles in the 20+ years he has been at Notts Sport, working his way to becoming Managing Director in 2015.  Duncan’s main area of expertise is implementing strategy and growth and also leading the research & development of new products, as well as managing multi sport projects and the business in the sports sector.

Francis Baud has been working for Avient for now 30 years. Hi experience has always been dedicated to the Fiber industry, with a global reach, bringing value via superior spinning performances  and functionalities to man made fibers. This includes and not limited to polyamide, polypropylene and polyester fibers, for applications such as BCF for carpets, POY FDY for garments, upholstery and technical textile, spun bond / melt blown and staple fiber for nonwovens, and monofilaments for nets, and artificial grass. Over the last years, his focus has been in bringing further innovative solutions to the European and Middle East fiber value chain together the Avient extended team.