Meet the IVMP Technical Team

The IVMP Team comprises representatives from the project partners, combined with suitably experienced and qualified person from Industry, Government and Research Institutions. The members of the Technical Team have been selected based upon their knowledge and expertise in vegetation management.

Mr Steve Hampton
Project Manager
Consultant, Grow Solutions Pty Ltd

Steve is a qualified horticulturalist with 21 years industry experience across Vegetation Management, Landscape Construction & Maintenance, and Public Spaces & Facilities Management. Steve has formal qualifications in Business Management, Horticulture, Workplace Training, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Contract Management, and Workplace Health & Safety.

As Project Manager, Steve is responsible for the overall success of the Project. Steve's role includes identifying, tracking, managing and resolving project issues, proactively disseminating project information to all project partners, and proactively managing scope to ensure that what was agreed to is delivered, unless changes are approved through scope management.

Dr Henk Smith
Australasian Technical Services Lead
Syngenta Turf, Australasia  

Dr Henk Smith brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the project team, providing increased technical focus and vast scientific information.

Joining Syngenta's legacy company, Zeneca, as a Field Biologist in 1999, Henk had previously worked with the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, as Chief Pathologist for subtropical crops.

Prior to his appointment with Syngenta Australasia, Henk held the position of Product Manager - Seed Treatment, Turf and Ornamentals for South Africa. During this time he developed a strong global network within the turf industry.

Dr Fred Yelverton
Associate Professor, Department of Crop Science
North Carolina State University

Dr. Fred Yelverton is a noted turfgrass weed expert and lecturer from North Carolina State University in the United States. Dr Yelverton has been a principal researcher on a number of projects in the United States exploring seed head suppression, new herbicides (such as the sulfonylurea's), Vegetation Management Under Guardrails, Low Maintenance Turfgrass and Management Systems to name but a few.

Dr Yelverton will provide an invaluable link with the US, where significant trial data information is available. This trial data will be reviewed.  Where potential is identified for Australia the trial work will be replicated as part of this project.

Dr Travis Gannon
Research Scientist
North Carolina State University

Working with Dr. Fred Yelverton since 1999, Travis has coordinated projects in all facets of turf, including sports turf, amenity turf, golf courses and roadsides.  A major focus for Travis has been his work with North Carolina¡¯s Department of Transportation (NCDOT) developing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) programs for roadsides and other non-crop areas.  This work has included strategies to convert existing roadsides to low maintenance species and application placement technologies for herbaceous vegetation management, utilising both herbicides and PGRs.

Mr Jyri Kaapro  
M. Agr. Sci. (Turf Management)
Research & Development Specialist
Bayer Environmental Science
 
Jyri is responsible for the research and development of Bayer's new and current chemicals in turf and related industries. This is done by conducting field evaluation and development trials.  The data generated is required for new product registrations, label extensions and product promotions.

In addition he provides technical support to Bayer staff and clients in such areas as product training, market development and demonstration trials.  Prior to joining Bayer, Jyri was the Research Manager at the Australian Turfgrass Research Institute.

 Dr Sheldon Navie 
 IVMP Project Research Scientist
 University of Queensland

Dr Sheldon Navie brings a significant amount of scientific knowledge to the IVMP project team, particularly in the fields of plant ecology, weed biology, and grass taxonomy and identification.

Dr Navie is based at the School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences at the St.Lucia campus of The University of Queensland, where he completed his PhD on the biology of parthenium weed. He has since undertaken various roles at the University in collaboration with numerous internal and external organisations. This has included teaching plant and weed identification to undergraduate students, the supervision of higher degree students researching the biology and management of weed species, and the development of interactive teaching tools for undergraduate students and the wider community.

The most significant outputs of his work to date are a range of interactive weed identification CD's and DVD's using the Lucid software system. These products, including Environmental Weeds of Australia and Declared Plants of Australia, were developed in conjunction with the Centre for Biological Information Technology (CBIT) and other organisations (e.g. the CRC for Australian Weed Management). In recent years, Dr Navie's expertise has also been utilised by Biosecurity Queensland, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Herbarium on projects involving the profiling and risk assessment of weed species.

Mr Rod Wood
Technical Consultant
Brisbane City Council

Rod has over 45 years experience in weed management and is widely considered as one of Australia's leading authorities and advisers on weed management.

Over the years Rod has written a number of extension papers on weed control and has earned recognition for value adding and finding solutions to difficult weed problems. In his role with Brisbane City Council, he has developed over 10 technological innovations, including the Sensor vehicle and the Aquatic Weed Harvester, to improve ergonomic, safety and operational efficiency. Rod was the recipient of the Weed Society of Queensland Award in 2007.

Back to news