With a strong background in the Australian road sector and leading technical expertise, AAPA’ new Director – Technical and Leadership is helping the association to bring pavement technology to the forefront of the industry.
Erik Denneman comes to AAPA from ARRB, where he worked as its Team Leader Pavement Technology for four years, and was involved in the exploration of innovative asphalt technology, such as Enrobé à module élevé (EME) class 2, on the nation’s roads.
Before coming to Australia, Dr. Denneman worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa for four years, and prior to that he worked for consultancy firms in the Netherlands and as a structural engineer in South Africa.
Based in AAPA’s Queensland office, Dr. Denneman will be looking at the national harmonisation of technology as a key focus, as well as building a knowledge base for AAPA’s members and providing support from a pavement technology perspective.
“The role is about supporting industry and driving the harmonisation of how we deliver asphalt and bituminous products,” says Dr. Denneman, who began his new role with AAPA at the end of July.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work with the industry over the years and I’ve always enjoyed that part of my job. I’m really looking forward to working with AAPA members and industry to bring pavement technology to the forefront of the industry.”
The harmonisation of EME2 is just one incentive AAPA’s new Director – Technology and Leadership is tasked with driving.
“We want to make sure EME2 is rolled out as a harmonised specification nationally and develop other specifications in the same way,” says Dr. Denneman.
He says that EME2 is a great example of the performance-based products and the direction the assoiciation and industry is heading.
Other key developments include the exploration of thinlays in Victoria, crack and seat overlay technology in New South Wales and crumb rubber overlays in Queensland and Western Australia.
“Ideas like crumb rubber asphalts could give us a superior product with tremendous environmental outcomes, and help us to get rid of those massive stockpiles of used tyres. We want to make sure it is actively developed across the country,” he says.
“I’m really excited about working within industry and with the road agencies and to build those bridges.”
Since taking up his new position, Dr. Denneman has hit the ground running.
He presented at the 2016 AAPA National Workshop Series: Are you ready to build the new safe road? in late July through to early August, speaking about the recent 2016 AAPA International Knowledge Transfer to Europe.
Michael Caltabiano, AAPA Chief Executive Officer, is pleased to have Dr. Denneman join the AAPA team.
“We are delighted to have someone of Erik’s ability come on board as our Director – Technical and Leadership,” he says.
“It’s an appointment that signifies to the roads industry that AAPA is genuinely taking part in the technology transfer, innovation and thought leadership sectors.
“Erik’s primary role is to innovate and participate with the Australian industry, working with member companies and state road authorities to lift standards, change work procedures and to build the best value roads.”
Mr. Caltabiano says it’s been a long time since the association had an individual with Dr. Denneman’s technical background in the position. “It’s a very big role to fill and it completes our executive management team at AAPA too,” he says.
“The AAPA executive team can really move on all fronts at the same time and show our member organisations we can provide some proper partnerships in technology transfer, deliver technical leadership and participate in the creation of standards that can be harmonised across Australia.”