Professional development for all: Four reasons you and your team should attend the GCMA Conference

18 October 2023

This year’s GCMA Conference takes place at the Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island, Leicester from November 12-14. Non-members are welcome to attend, but places are limited — book your place now

The countdown is on for the GCMA Conference and to reflect this year’s key theme of Team Culture, we want to encourage you to book a place for both you and members of your golf club team.

By bringing your team members along, you’ll provide them with a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge, network with industry experts, and stay updated on the latest trends and advancements in the field.

This gesture not only shows your commitment to their professional development but also fosters a collaborative and supportive environment within your team. Invest in their growth and bring them along to this prestigious conference, which welcomes GCMA members and non-members alike.

Our dedicated magazine for the event will provide all the information you need to digest and much more. The magazine is available to download here.

Here are just four reasons why you and your team members should attend:

1. Knowledge and Skill Enhancement

The GCMA Golf Club Management Conference provides a wealth of information and insights into the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in the golf club management industry. By bringing a member of your team, you are giving them the opportunity to learn from industry experts, gain new knowledge, and enhance their skills in areas such as club operations, membership engagement, marketing, and financial management.

2. Networking Opportunities

Attending the GCMA conference allows your team member to connect with like-minded professionals, industry leaders, and experts in the golf club management field. These networking opportunities can lead to valuable connections, partnerships, and potential collaborations that can benefit your golf club in the long run. By expanding their professional network, your team member can gain valuable insights and access to resources that can help improve your club’s operations and success.

“By bringing a member of your team, you are exposing them to fresh ideas, new perspectives, and innovative approaches to various aspects of golf club management”

3. Inspiration and Motivation

Conferences like the GCMA Golf Club Management Conference are known for their inspirational keynote speakers, engaging sessions, and thought-provoking discussions. By bringing a member of your team, you are exposing them to fresh ideas, new perspectives, and innovative approaches to various aspects of golf club management. This exposure can inspire and motivate your team member to think creatively, embrace change, and bring new ideas back to your golf club.

4. Team Building and Collaboration

Attending the conference together as a team fosters a sense of camaraderie, collaboration, and unity. It provides an opportunity for your team member to interact with other colleagues from your club, strengthening relationships and teamwork. By experiencing the conference together, your team member can share their learnings with the rest of the team, sparking discussions and brainstorming sessions that can lead to improved strategies and operations within your golf club.

Click here to see the full programme for the GCMA 2023 Conference

By GCMA Content Team

More from Your Community

GCMA Teams Up with 59Club as an Official Education Partner

5 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

Press Release The Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) is delighted…

Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Women in Golf Awards

4 Dec 2025By Mark Shanley

The Women in Golf Awards announced its 2025 winners at…

‘Governance is key’ — David Holmes

3 Dec 2025By GCMA Content Team

Drawing on over two decades of experience, David Holmes shares…

John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

This will close in 0 seconds

Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.