About Our Team
Led by qualified carpenter Ben Van Ryt, our aim is to provide a service and a product that exceeds your expectations every time. Drawing upon our extensive experience within the commercial landscaping and carpentry industry, we thrive on being challenged to deliver fun and functional playground equipment projects time and again.
Ben Van Ryt, Managing Director
Founder and lead Rope Man, Ben leads our passionate and skilled team at Van Ryt Industries. With 20-plus years’ construction experience as a qualified carpenter, he formed the business in 2014 with a vision for creating unique and exciting timber playgrounds.
A hands-on director, Ben says he’s living his dream job working alongside a hardworking team of incredible craftsmen constructing and installing quality bespoke play equipment. He loves the fact every day is different and exciting, and credits the team for building Van Ryt’s respected reputation.
When he’s not on the tools, Ben loves nothing more than getting away with family and friends – preferably somewhere outdoors that features a little mountain biking.
Luke Priddle
Design Principal & Sales
Combining his childhood passion of drawing with 12-plus years’ as an award-winning Landscape Architect, Luke is our resident designer and creative thinker. As a specialised commercial play equipment and play space designer, Luke works closely with the team to not only create fun and challenging play opportunities for children, but also exciting and unique community spaces.
He’s an all-in kind of guy, having spent two years ‘on the tools’ with Ben to gain a greater understanding of what it takes to manufacture and install timber play equipment. Luke says that experience gave him valuable insights into the practical side of the business, positively impacting his play space designs.
A keen surfer and outdoor explorer, Luke loves nothing more than getting out into nature with his young family - forever drawing inspiration from the natural environment around us to inspire his next creative play idea….
Owen Thomas
Operations Manager
Hardworking, generous and with nearly two decades’ experience in the Construction and Landscape industries, Owen is our workshop head honcho as Operations Manager. As a passionate team leader, he sets out to deliver outstanding customer service time and again.
With experience in both hands-on and supervising roles, Owen was attracted to joining Van Ryt Industries thanks to our reputation of delivering quality play equipment. He says the secret is the people that make up our team, which also makes coming to work such a pleasure.
An active guy who likes to stay fit, Owen is also a loving father and family man, and would love to take the kids to Italy one day to enjoy its infamous food and culture.
Ainsley Swaine
Workshop Manager
Dependable, laid back and with both practical and technical industry experience, Ainsley heads up our team as Workshop Manager. Describing it as his “dream role”, he enjoys the mixture of creativity with strong teamwork that makes Van Ryt Industries unique.
With experience on the tools in commercial high rise and residential construction, Ainsley has also spent time as Makita’s WA Trainer and Technical Specialist…so he knows his stuff. Importantly, he also understands what it takes to create a positive working environment that produces quality results.
A loving dad and co-worker, you can often find Ainsley at the skatepark, on the golf course or at the BBQ entertaining family and friends.
Aaron Boultbee
Senior Designer
A valued member of our in-house design team, Aaron is a passionate and versatile designer who brings nearly three decades’ experience working in building and construction design. With experience across residential, commercial, landscape and sustainability markets, Aaron is a draftsperson by trade with a passion for designing forward-thinking projects that also deliver sustainable solutions.
While his kids might describe him as “embarrassing”, to us Aaron is dependable; a naturally creative thinker who thrives on team collaboration and working together on what he calls “cool projects”. He’s passionate, dynamic and versatile, and a welcome addition to our close-knit team.
Whether it’s getting up to Wedge Island or cruising the Dutch canals, Aaron is the ultimate family man and loves spending time exploring and making memories with his kids.
Honing his craft within the residential carpentry industry, Ben launched Van Ryt Industries in 2014 with a focus on bespoke commercial landscaping and carpentry projects.
Evolving alongside our client base, Van Ryt Industries has since developed a strong reputation as a trusted playground equipment manufacturer with exceptional end-to-end service. Working with a variety of materials, our team can design, construct and install all manner of projects.
Having the ability to build projects in our factory, combined with the services of our in-house Design Team, greatly benefits our clients by minimising disruption onsite and maximising project management and scheduling efficiency.
Over the years we’ve partnered with Perth’s market leaders to produce award-winning projects of the highest standard. You can download our Capability Profile to learn more.
News
Check out the latest project updates and announcements from our team
