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automation and positioning tech

Our Team

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Our unique, multi-skilled teams have expertise across the disciplines of surveying, hydraulics, electronics, GIS and IT to give you the best advice and support for your project.

As the exclusive national distributor for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of positioning and machine control systems, our sales and support teams are tapped into the very latest, state-of-the art developments.

Aptella senior management has more than 200 years of combined industry expertise, with contributions to various associations and Australian Spatial Industry initiatives. 

Our Board

Chairman

Ian Petherbridge

Having started his career as a surveyor, and then co-founder of a national IT company, Ian has an excellent technical background and understanding of business.

Ian has more than 30 years of senior executive experience and is skilled in growing businesses from small beginnings into highly successful national and international operations. An experienced Chairman with a comprehensive understanding of business management and sound governance practices, Ian works as Chairman for the Aptella group.

Chief Executive Officer

Martin Nix

Martin Nix is the CEO and Managing Director of Aptella. He practiced as a surveyor until 1984 and then joined Leica Geosystems where he held a number of management roles in Australia, Switzerland and USA until 2009 where he held a number of management roles in Australia, Switzerland and USA until 2009.

The roles included President Americas Sales and Service, Business Area Manager Mining and Agriculture Systems and Corporate Officer while Leica Geosystems was listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange.Martin has a Masters of Surveying (GIS) (’90) from UNSW and is a Member of the Institute of Company Directors.

He has participated in Working Groups that formed Australia’s space policy and National Positioning Infrastructure, including as Co-chair of the Department of Home Affairs’ Space Community of Interest,  supporting risk management of space-based critical infrastructure.

takahiko kato

non-executive Director

Takahiko Kato

Takahiko Kato is the General Manager of the Oceania & CIS Business Department in the Construction & Transportation Vehicle Solutions Business Division at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., effective as of July 2024. He has a comprehensive career background, starting in 2004 after graduating from Nagoya University’s School of Informatics and Sciences. Over the years, he has held multiple leadership roles, including Managing Director of Mitsui Bussan Automotive in Thailand, overseeing Hino Dealership Business, and First Vice President at Toyota Manila Bay Corporation in the Philippines.

Kato’s expertise spans business development, corporate planning, and administration, primarily within the automotive and machinery sectors across various regions, such as India, Thailand, and the Philippines. His career progression includes roles such as Deputy General Manager of the First Vehicle Business Division and Project Manager for Vehicle Parts and Business Development.

With nearly two decades of experience at Mitsui & Co., Kato continues to contribute to the company’s growth and expansion in global markets.

non-executive Director

Takahiro Sakai

Takahiro Sakai is the Divisional Operating Officer of the Mobility Division in the Asia Pacific Business Unit at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., a role he assumed in July 2024. A graduate of Meiji University with a degree in Political Science and Economics, Sakai has been with Mitsui & Co. since 1994. His career spans various senior positions across different sectors of transportation, infrastructure, and mobility.

Early in his career, Sakai was stationed in the U.S., where he served as General Manager and Vice President of MRC Rail Services, LLC. Over the years, he has held leadership roles such as General Manager of the Mass Transit Project Division, Deputy General Manager of the Project Development Department, and Deputy General Manager of the Investment Administration Department.

With over three decades of experience, Sakai’s expertise lies in project management, business development, and investment administration, particularly within transportation systems and vehicle solutions. His leadership continues to drive Mitsui & Co.’s mobility and transportation initiatives across the Asia Pacific region.

Executive Management Team

Executive Manager Services

Josh Allan

With customers always front of mind, Josh brings a wealth of business development and technical capability to his role leading the services business at Aptella.

His strong working relationships with key partners including Topcon, enable him to advocate for customers and the industry through innovative solutions that increase productivity.

Executive Manager Customer experience

Cameron Waters

With a wealth of experience in sales, product management and business development, Cameron now leads the company’s Customer Experience strategy.

Cameron now leads the company’s Customer Experience strategy. Working across all businesses, regions and departments, Cameron supports the wider company to deliver consistently positive and engaging experiences for our customers.

Executive Manager Business development and planning

Seiya Hiraoka

With a legal education, Seiya has been active in planning many of Mitsui’s investment strategies since 2015.

Seiya’s analytical and business planning skills are highly valued within the executive team.

Executive Manager Products

Joel Seddon

Joel is the Executive Manager of Products, with a primary focus on our key strategic partner and supplier, Topcon

After completing a Bachelor of Surveying (Hons) at the University of Otago, Joel has been raised in the industry over the last 20 years, having worked around the world in a variety of roles related to machine control and related technology.

Regional Manager - South East Asia

Mathew Connelly

Mat is a qualified surveyor with extensive experience across a wide cross section of technologies including machine control, paving solutions, survey and GNSS equipment.

Having joined Aptella in 2012, Mat has worked as a field service technician, managed our Darwin branch and now leads our South East Asia team. With a passion for working collaboratively with customers to deeply understand their project needs, Mat is able to offer comprehensive project management and technical advice.

Chief Operating Officer

Greg Macklin

Greg has built his career in both the construction materials and equipment rental industries and holds a degree in Business and Marketing.

He has held a number of senior sales management positions in Victoria and South Australia, specialising in strategy and business development. He brings to Aptella a passion for continuous improvement, team culture, customer growth and outstanding customer service.

Strategic Business Development & Queensland Manager

Harry Katsanevas

Harry has been directly involved in the Laser and Machine Control business for 20 years commencing in the service area.

He has received extensive training in Denmark, Sweden USA and Australia. Harry is recognized world-wide as a professional in terms of the best utilization of Machine Automation Equipment in Construction.Harry commenced his employment within this industry in the workshop managing maintenance and repairs. Based in Queensland, he is the Executive Manager for Business Development including emerging technology for construction site solutions and Tokara telematics remote asset control technology.

Strategic Head of People and Culture

Bernadette Taoro Ashin

Bernadette is an experienced Human Resources professional with extensive experience across both private and public sectors.

In her previous role, Bernadette was an Executive team member and the Leader of Human Resources for St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Mater Hospital Sydney. Prior to this, Bernadette was the National Human Resource Manager for Asciano, an ASX-listed Australian freight logistics company. In her role as Strategic Head of People and Culture, Bernadette is responsible for a wide range of programs including talent management, learning and development and recruitment to position the company as an Employer of Choice in the industries we serve.

Group Executive Manager - Systems

Gina Velde

Gina began her career as a journalist in the UK, working for an online newswire at a London-based publishing company.

In 2007 she moved to Australia, where she worked at Leica Geosystems’ Brisbane office and specialised in marketing communications for the Precision Agriculture business unit. Gina joined Aptella in 2010 as Marketing Communications Manager, successfully building and managing both company and supplier brands throughout Australia, South East Asia and New Zealand. With a passion for communication, Gina leads the strategic marketing direction across all business areas and product lines to ensure that Aptella is front of mind when customers are looking for intelligent positioning solutions.

Executive Manager Geospatial

Adam Burke

Adam currently manages the company’s Geospatial business. After starting his career as a surveyor, he joined the civilcad CAD software team for 5 years.

He started working for Laserquip, one of Aptella’ founding companies in 2005. Adam has benefitted from strong mentors throughout his time with the company who valued customers service and who got a thrill out of resolving customer headaches through positioning innovations. These became his core drivers and continue to influence his customer interactions and career progression.

Executive Manager Mining

Andrew Granger

Andrew manages Aptella’ mining, solar and landfill business across Australia, South East Asia and New Zealand.

With extensive expertise in Fleet Management Systems and High Precision Machine Guidance, Andrew is passionate about deeply understanding customer’s project and site needs to deliver supported solutions.

Founders

Our founders with senior management roles include: Garry MacPhail (Western Australia), Harry Katsanevas (Queensland), and Bernard Cecchele (Western Australia).

Our retired founders include: Anne Forrest (Queensland), Janine Arnold and Robert Bent (Victoria), Garry Fleming (New South Wales), David Gow (South Australia), Craig Fleming (South Australia) and Mike Forrest (South East Asia, recipient of the Topcon Spirit of Excellence Award) .

Brian

Founder

Brian McLoughlin

Brian was a founder of Aptella, who sadly passed away on 17th January 2016 after a battle with cancer.Brian commenced his sales career in 1975 with Banbury Engineering, then distributors for Kato excavators, and sold his first laser in 1976.

He moved to Laser Alignment in 1980 and was one of the early pioneers of the use of dual grade lasers and machine control.

Together with business partner Garry Fleming, he started Laserquip in Sydney in 1987, where they introduced the concept of 2D control for graders in 1990. Brian managed the NSW and ACT operation of Aptella. Click here to read more.