Announcement of new leadership team
From 1 February 2025, the board of directors of Stone Initiatives is comprised of Thomas Baggs, Mark Milevski and Kate Tonkin. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,
Snapshot: Mark Milevski, Co-Director
From collecting rocks as a child to working on some of Australia’s most valued heritage structures, Mark Milevski shares a snapshot of his journey with natural stone. Get to
Snapshot: Kate Tonkin, Co-Director
From netball courts to luxury hotels, Kate Tonkin has evaluated all types of flooring and surfaces right around Australia. Get to know Kate, Co-Director and Materials Testing Spe
Snapshot: Thomas Baggs, Co-Director
With specialisations in failure investigation and mineralogical testing services, Thomas Baggs is a keen problem solver who enjoys a challenge. Get to know Tom, Co-Director and Sci
A new chapter: Founder Jim Mann retires
Jim Mann, founder of Stone Initiatives and one of Australasia’s foremost experts in stone, has made the decision to retire. Since 2003 Jim has been a driving force behind the com
Expert Q&A: Slip testing for netball courts
Materials testing specialist Kate Tonkin answers what you need to know about slip resistance testing for netball courts – from tips on reducing the slipperiness of a co
What is Slip Testing?
From a rubber slider on a pendulum arm to, a pair of bare feet on a platform, there are various standardised methods of slip testing in Australia. Each is designed to measure the s
Magnified images of stone: What’s inside?
Have you ever wondered what the vibrant colours and unique forms in magnified images of stone represent? These striking photographs can appear as works of art, but they can also as
Quick guide: When should slip testing be conducted?
This quick guide looks at when and how often slip testing should be conducted, and why regular professional testing of public flooring surfaces is so important. How often a floorin
Quick guide: What are the slip resistance standards in Australia?
This quick guide explains the basics of slip resistance standards in Australia: What they are, how they are different for new and existing flooring surfaces, and which test methods