Composites Australia Announces Leadership Changes and Welcomes New Board Members

At the recent AGM, Composites Australia announced significant leadership changes, with Genelle Coghlan and Martin Nikolas stepping down as President and Vice President, respectively, while remaining on the Board. The organisation welcomes Lynden Vikingur as the new President, Rohan Gillmore as Vice President, and new Board members Tony Caristo and Nathan Howell.

Lynden Vikingur Managing Director, Vikal International (WA) elected as President

Lynden Vikingur, co-director of Vikal International, joined his father’s company in 2013 after a career in IT and oil and gas. He previously worked in Singapore as a partner in charge of Oil & Gas Commercial Services with Wesvault. Lynden made a career shift to undertake a boatbuilding apprenticeship at TAFE, which gave him an appreciation for craftsmanship. Vikal International specialises in custom-built tenders for superyachts, integrating advanced materials, precision engineering, mechatronics and traditional craftsmanship in its manufacturing process.

Rohan Gillmore – Managing Director at Concept Fibres (VIC) has been elected as Vice President.

Rohan Gillmore, Managing Director at Concept Fibres (VIC), has been elected as Vice President of Composites Australia. With extensive experience in the composites industry, Rohan leads Concept Fibres, a company specialising in the manufacture of advanced composite components for diverse sectors. His leadership reflects a strong focus on innovation and precision in composite manufacturing. As Vice President, Rohan will contribute his industry knowledge and strategic expertise to advancing the goals of Composites Australia and supporting the growth of its member network.

Composites Australia also welcomes Tony Caristo to the Board.  Tony has been Managing Director of RPC Technologies since 2002. Tony began his career as a Civil Engineer with Transfield Australia in the 1980s and later worked as General Manager of  PT Trans Bakrie, an Indonesian joint venture, for seven years. In the mid-1990s, he became General Manager of Transfield Corrosion Protection, which Including the Transfield RPC division and later converting to RPC Technologies Group in 2002. Under his leadership, and working with major Primes and Government, RPC has grown into an industrial powerhouse across Australia, South East Asia and India delivering advanced composite engineering and innovative manufacturing solutions across diverse sectors, including Defence, Water and Wastewater, Transport and Asset Services.

Nathan Howell, Lead Engineer, Composites Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) (NSW). Bachelor of Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering.

Nathan Howell is a mechatronics engineer specialising in composites manufacturing and industrial automation. His expertise includes composites design for manufacture, materials testing (destructive and non-destructive), filament winding, and the integration of industrial automation and robotics. Nathan has held roles as Business Development Engineer and Senior Mechatronics Engineer at CST Composites and has also worked at Quickstep Group. His experience involves commissioning robotic systems for assembling carbon composite components in aerospace applications, including wing flaps for military cargo planes and production targets for the F-35 fighter jet programme.

Board members

Acknowledging Genelle Coghlan’s Contribution to Composites Australia

Composites Australia acknowledges and thanks Genelle Coghlan, Managing Director of Colan Australia Pty Ltd., for her outstanding service to the organisation and the Australian composites industry as she steps down as President.

Genelle has contributed to Composites Australia for nearly two decades, serving as a Board Member since 2005 and as Public Officer throughout her tenure. She was President from 2010 to 2016 and resumed the role in April 2023. As she steps down as President and continues as a board member, we celebrate her leadership, vision, and dedication to advancing the industry.

Genelle’s contributions continue her father’s legacy, Geoffrey Coghlan, a founding member of Composites Australia, who championed manufacturing and technological advancements in industrial textiles and advanced materials, fostering the growth of Australia’s composites industry across all end-use sectors.

Continuing this tradition, Genelle has played a pivotal role in shaping the association’s policies to leverage domestic and international opportunities for sovereign manufacturing. Her strategic approach, technical expertise, and commitment to advanced manufacturing have contributed to technological advancements, industry standards, supply chain integration, and government policy.

Beyond Composites Australia, Genelle’s service to the broader manufacturing sector is notable. She served as a Board Member of the Technical Textiles & Nonwoven Association Inc. from 2010 to 2020 and as a Director at AJ Lucas Group Ltd. from 2010 to 2016. A legal professional by training, she has provided pragmatic advice and advocacy, ensuring the interests of Australian manufacturing are well represented. Her achievements underscore her status as a leading professional in the sector, recognised as one of the top non-executive directors of Australian listed companies.

We sincerely thank Genelle for her leadership and unwavering commitment as President of Composites Australia and the broader manufacturing industry.

Acknowledging Martin Nikolas’ Contribution to Composites Australia

Composites Australia acknowledges and extends its heartfelt thanks to Martin Nikolas, Managing Director of Marky Industries (QLD), for his significant contributions to the organisation and the composites industry as he steps down from his position as Vice President.

Martin Nikolas joined the Composites Australia Board in 2013 and was elected Vice President in 2014. Over the past decade, Martin has contributed to the strategic direction of the organisation, championing initiatives that have strengthened both the industry and its member network.

A committed advocate for knowledge-sharing and community, Martin, alongside his wife and business partner Krystyna, has generously opened the doors of their factories to Composites Australia members, offering them a rare opportunity to witness cutting-edge composite manufacturing in action. This spirit of collaboration reflects Martin’s enduring belief in the value of a robust local supply network and a proficient manufacturing sector. Their dedication to the association has been extraordinary – Martin has attended every conference for the past 18 years.

The story of Marky Industries began in 1978, with Martin and Krystyna embarking on their entrepreneurial journey armed with a modest investment and boundless determination. Today, over 50 years behind it, Marky Industries serves diverse markets such as mining, transport, construction, chemicals, defence and recreation.

Martin’s commitment to education and training is equally noteworthy. As a founding supporter of PARTEC (the Plastics and Rubber Technical Education Centre), he is committed to nurturing the next generation of industry professionals.

Composites Australia thanks Martin Nikolas’ for his ongoing service and leadership.

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