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Our Team

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Our Team

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. He has led Aptella’s board of directors since 2010.

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,

Non-Executive Director

Martin Nix

Martin 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.

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 was Aptella’s CEO and Managing Director from 2010 – 2025.

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.

Non Executive Director

James Ient

James graduated with a Masters in Civil Engineering from Exeter University in 1999 and after a brief stint as a Structural Engineer, requalified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In 2004, James moved to Asia as CFO for Global Fund Manager and from 2007 has been CFO for the Interdealer Broker CFT. James is a director of a range of businesses across Singapore and all major Asian countries and specialises in financial control, implementation of business strategy and efficient corporate structures.

Executive Steering Team

Chief Executive Officer

Greg Macklin

Greg has built his career in both the construction materials and equipment rental industries. He brings to Aptella a passion for continuous improvement, team culture, and outstanding customer service.

With a degree in Business and Marketing, Greg has held a number of senior sales, operational and business management positions during his tenure at Aptella, specialising in strategy and business development.  Greg led the operational side of the business as Chief Operations Officer before accepting the role of CEO in April 2025.

Bernadette-Taoro-

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 Group Executive Manager 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.

Harry Katsanevas

Executive Manager Civil

Harry Katsanevas

Harry is the Executive Manager of Aptella’s Civil business, with more than 25 years’ experience in the sector and its ever-evolving technology landscape. He was recognised with Topcon’s Spirit of Excellence Award for his pioneering spirit, commitment to customers, and contribution to the industry.

Having begun his career with the business in the workshop managing maintenance and repairs, Harry understands and prioritises customer service excellence. Harry is respected by his colleagues and industry peers for his vision and passion to enhance customers’ productivity through technology. As leader of the Civil business, Harry manages sales, field services, site solutions, infrastructure and paving services.

Gina Velde

Group Executive Manager Operations

Gina Velde

Gina is the Executive Group Manager of Operations at Aptella, leading a diverse team that incorporates Customer Experience, Services, Products, Marketing, IT and business systems, GNSS Infrastructure, and Networking Solutions.

Originally from England, Gina began her career as a journalist before emigrating to Australia in 2007. She worked in the marketing team at Leica Geosystems, specialising in GPS machine guidance for precision farming. In 2011 she moved to Sydney and joined Aptella, then known as Position Partners, as the company’s first marketing manager. In the 14 years since, Gina has continued to lead the company’s evolving brand as it expanded into new markets and countries, project managing the renaming to Aptella in 2024.

Aside from marketing responsibilities, Gina has been part of the senior management team since 2016, with experience across a range of fields including corporate social responsibility initiatives, trademark and design protections and privacy management.

Founders

Our founders with senior management roles include: Garry MacPhail (Western Australia), Craig Fleming (South Australia), Mike Forrest (South East Asia, recipient of the Topcon Spirit of Excellence Award), Harry Katsanevas (Queensland), and Bernard Cecchele (Western Australia).

Our retired founders include: Anne Forrest (Queensland), Garry Fleming (New South Wales), Janine Arnold and Robert Bent (Victoria) and David Gow (South Australia).

Founder

Garry Fleming

Alongside business partner Brian McLoughlin, Garry Fleming was a founder of LaserQuip, one of the businesses that formed Aptella. A respected and much-loved leader, mentor and pioneer for the business and civil construction industry, Garry passed away on 10th March 2024 from a suspected heart attack during his regular ocean swim off Cronulla beach, south of Sydney.

Garry began his career as a surveyor, before moving into a sales role distributing survey equipment. In his time with Position Partners, Garry held several positions both in New South Wales and nationally, heading up the partnering services area of the business due to his passion for supporting customers over the long-term. He was an active member of the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) in New South Wales. After Brian’s passing, Garry led the NSW team before retiring in 2019.

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.