Sean Faulkner - Kersten UK Ltd - Sales and Marketing Director
Sean’s journey in grounds management began at a young age, helping his father at SALTEX when it was still held at Windsor Racecourse. The rows of machinery and the appetite of the people he met sparked a fascination that has shaped his career. Whilst many of his peers were drawn to sports turf, Sean identified an overlooked area within the sector: the professional management of hard surfaces.
Recognising that the UK lagged behind Europe in this area, Sean built relationships with European partners to bring innovative equipment and practices to the UK market. However, he quickly realised that technology is only as valuable as the knowledge of those who use it. Determined to bridge the educational gap, he created resources such as the Surface Maintenance Handbook and contributed to sector-wide training programmes, including Parks for London’s Integrated Weed Management (IWM) guide and Lantra’s updated IWM training module.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point for the industry, sparking urgent conversations about biodiversity and chemical use. Sean became a strong advocate for IWM, working closely with MPs, DEFRA, the Amenity Forum and local authorities to help shape the national conversation on weed management. One of his proudest achievements has been conceiving and hosting the UK’s first Integrated Weed Management Conference, providing a much-needed platform for industry leaders to collaborate and raise the profile of sustainable practice.
Through this work, Sean has helped to establish Kersten UK as a forward-thinking authority on sustainable surface management. By combining innovative technology with training and education, he has positioned the company as a trusted partner in tackling some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Looking to the future, Sean is dedicated to creating a recognised national standard for IWM, developing more accessible training opportunities through digital modules and workshops, and mentoring the next generation of grounds professionals.
Sean has brought his enthusiasm and drive to great effect in the promotion of sustainable practice in terms of weed control in amenity situations. His company, Kersten, have been members of the UK Amenity Forum for some time and Sean embraces the objective of promoting best practice to weed, pest and disease control throughout the amenity sector. In particular Sean has played a leading role in introducing new technologies in weed management including sweeping, electrical control and hot water. He has also strongly supported the need for integrated weed management plans making use of all techniques available to give effective and economic control of weeds and in the most sustainable manner. In this regard he perfectly advocates what the UK government seek and in particular aligned with their recently published National Action Plan. Sean has become a sector leader, never afraid to express his views but also to listen. We may not always agree on everything but we share a passion to raise sector standards, promote best practice and use every opportunity to share knowledge."
John Moverley, Director – BASIS Registration Limited
