A designer’s guide to natural stone selection for your project
Natural stone offers endless design possibilities, but selecting the right material can be challenging...
Stone types and key minerals – an overview
When selecting natural stone for a project, appearance is often the first thing people notice. However, beneath the surface lies a story millions of years in the making...
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...
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...
Magnified images of stone: What’s inside?
Have you ever wondered what the vibrant colours and unique forms in magnified images of stone represent?