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.

Martin has over 40 years’ experience in the sport and leisure industry and provides extensive sports management, programming, planning knowledge and insights into the design, procurement, management and maintenance of sports fields and facilities.

He is the CO-Chair of IAKS Expert Circle on Sports Surfaces and currently the Technical Consultant for Football Australia, the NRL, Rugby Australia and Hockey Australia, and has written numerous books on synthetic sports surfaces for the industry.

He has worked in local government in UK and Australia, and for the past 15 years has been integral to the adoption of synthetic sports surfaces in Australia and the improvements in quality.

These experiences influence the practical approach and pragmatic design, procurement and programming guidance he shares.  Understanding the use of synthetic sports field technology to cope with the demands that sports are now asking for in terms of number of hours and intensity that community fields being placed upon them.

Over the past decade he has seen small pockets of the community adopt a stronger voice to stop synthetic fields being installed in Australia and believes that we need to give the Government decision makers better advice and support for them to consider sustainability as more than climate change and environmental protectionism. We need to protect the health of our nations by getting more children active and synthetic surfaces can help in that strategy.  Hard decisions need to be made by our civic leaders and we need to empower them to be leaders by providing them with the best information to make decisions on behalf of future generations.

Martin will share his views and insights today on how by embracing the UN’s Sustainability Goals we can take our civic leaders on a journey that could protect our industry and place the community activists in a more balanced perspective.

Paul Fraser is the Head of Marketing & Strategy for Tarkett Sports Europe and the Chair of ESTC. Paul is also the Tarkett Sports representative for sports governing bodies FIFA and World Rugby’s preferred producer programmes. Based in Scotland, Paul has more than 20 years experience in the synthetic turf industry, specifically in yarn extrusion and turf production. Having worked in a variety of roles including marketing, business development, R&D and product management, Paul has significant international experience across Europe, South America, Australasia and Eastern Asia.

Managing Director of GUT/ECRA since 2023. More than 30 years experience in technical textiles (paper machine clothing, awnings, filter media). Study of Chemistry and Economy at RWTH Aachen, phD in Polymer Science, O1 visa holder USA for exceptional scientists.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Iman Taha studied mechanical engineering and obtained her Ph.D. in 2007 from the Technical University of Clausthal in the field of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Between 2014 and 2022 she headed the department Materials and Testing at the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology. Since 2021 she is Professor for Sustainable Materials in Polymer Engineering at Aalen University.

As a futurist, keynote speaker, and trendwatcher, Richard van Hooijdonk is an authority on new technology.
He has several chip-implants, because he wants to physically experience the future. His inspiration sessions have been attended by over 600,000 people. Richard is a regular guest at radio and television programs.

With his international research team, he researches many trends in the fields of artificial intelligence & generative AI, robotics, drones, self-driving systems, 3D & 4D printing, sensors, blockchain, quantum computing, neurotech, biotech, platforms and augmented & virtual reality. Combined with artificial intelligence, these technologies offer groundbreaking opportunities, but also lead to challenges and threats for people, organisations, and governments. (pictures can be found here: https://richardvanhooijdonk.com/en/about-us/

Born in 1972

since 1998 Landscape architect

until 2009 in various planning offices

since 2010 in public administration

since 2013 in district sports facility construction

since 2017 as head of department

The need for synthetic turf in urban areas naturally also applies to Hamburg - and in this respect also the quest for the best possible and most sustainable synthetic turf system. In recent years, we have therefore been looking for a suitable approach to identifying such systems (award processes, etc.). 

In addition, I have been involved in the national standardisation committees for outdoor sports surfaces for many years and have the honour of being involved in various research projects on the subject.

Since joining WPR in 2021, Joe has specialised in creating thought-provoking content for his clients and engaging with the media to generate traction on key topics of interest. In his time working with ESTC, Joe and the wider WPR team have delivered a mix of reactive and proactive content on subjects such as the European Commission’s microplastics ban and the newly introduced PEFCR, helping to provide clarification and guidance to the industry on major challenges and talking points.