Our experts
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Ernie Gmehling
Associate Dip Eng (civil)
With 40 years’ experience in the industry, Ernie is a well-respected member of the geotechnical fraternity. Recently Ernie has acquired Chris Senserrick's share in the company and is now the sole owner.
Ernie is the sitting Chairman of the Australian Standards CE009 committee of which he has been a part of since 2006. He currently holds a committee position with NATA's technical advisory committee and is a NATA technical assessor. He has written several training modules for technical colleges in the industry and is a regular presenter at a variety of National and State conferences.
Ernie has been instrumental in the company’s progression from its humble beginnings of two staff into a company employing over 80 professional, technical and administration support staff.
Ernie’s passion lies in delivering practical solutions to clients in a manner that the client feels supported throughout the experience. His technical excellence focuses on all things geotechnical in the sports and leisure space, from turf playing fields, horse racing tracks, synthetics fields and research programs in sustainability and the use of waste materials in engineering applications.
GENERAL MANAGER
Ange Gentile
Diploma of Business (Admin)
Ange joined the company in November 2006 and has been instrumental in assisting the directors take the company from the small humble beginnings to what it is today. Ange was promoted to the General Manager position in July 2021 taking the lead to allow Ernie Gmehling to focus on technical aspects of th ebusiness. Ange has great organisational skills and an ability to multi-task with the ever increasing demands on her and the team. Ange is always happy to assist our clients with their enquiries and is fundamental in the delivery of account management which comes with over 30 years’ experience in the industry.
GEOTECHNICAL TEAM LEADER
Gee Singh
BE (Civil) Hons
Gee completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Monash University and successfully completed his Thesis on Coode Island Silt deposits, (Published in the Australian Geomechanics Society Journal, Volume 45 No 1, March 2010) before joining Ground Science in 2010. He is a senior geotechnical engineer and the Geotechnical Team Leader.
Gee has been instrumental in the growth and development of the Ground Science geotechnical team; attributed to his interest in solving engineering problems and working with a great support team of geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists and environmental scientists.
ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM LEADER
Jesse O'Connor
BE (Biological Science) RSP
Jesse holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, obtained from La Trobe University, where his studies focused on environmental disciplines and soil science. Whilst completing his degree, Jesse joined Ground Science as an undergraduate environmental scientist and has since developed the skills and knowledge base to become the Environmental Team Leader.
Jesse was the first Registered Soil Practitioner to be accredited in Victoria and has been key in expanding the soil science capabilities of the environmental team to include sodic soil assessments and further developing proficiency in Land Capability Assessment’s. The environmental team’s expertise lies in early stages land development through due diligence investigations and Preliminary Site Investigations but can assist in a broad scope of contamination assessments large and small.
Quality Manager & Laboratory 2IC
Kallam Collins
Cert IV Laboratory Techniques
Kallam has over 15 years of CMT industry experience and utilises his great personal skills to manage the companies Quality Assurance program.
LABORATORY MANAGER
Tim Senserrick
Cert IV Laboratory Techniques
Tim has over 19 years’ experience as a geotechnicians and has worked on many major infrastructure projects around the state. Tim is highly efficient and has a thorough understanding of construction materials testing.
