Last call for GCMA Welsh Mini Conference

06 November 2024

The theme of the day for the maiden Welsh Mini Conference is the pressure on golf clubs.

We are excited to announce the GCMA’s first Welsh Mini Conference, taking place on 12th November at Llanishen Golf Club.

This event will offer an insightful and valuable day centred around the theme of ‘The Pressures on Golf Clubs,’ featuring a fantastic lineup of industry expert speakers.

We warmly welcome both GCMA members and non-members to join us.

Event details

Date: 12th November
Location: Llanishen Golf Club
Theme: The Pressures on Golf Clubs
Registration Includes: Tea & coffee on arrival and Lunch

Why attend?

This event not only focuses on education but also presents a fantastic opportunity to network, share best practices, and discuss the pressing issues we all face in managing golf clubs.

The speakers

KEVIN FISH (CCL)
Kevin is a seasoned Club Industry professional with over 25 years of experience, including managing the Glen Golf Club and being named UK Golf Club Manager of the Year in 2004. He was among the first Europeans to earn the Certified Club Manager (CCM) qualification and has played a key role in advancing club management education in Europe. Kevin now runs his own consultancy, Contemporary Club Leadership Ltd, providing training and support to club managers and committees across various sports.

PAUL WOODHAM (R&A)
Paul Woodham is an agronomist at The R&A, specializing in Sustainable Golf with 30 years of experience in golf and sports turf management. Formerly the Head of Agronomy at STRI, Paul has been a consultant agronomist since 2010. He is also a qualified greenkeeper and an experienced golf course manager.

CAROLYNE WAHLEN (GOLFHR)
Carolyne Wahlen, founder of Golf HR, has successfully led her HR business since 2003. A respected speaker and author on HR topics, Carolyne has helped countless business owners across the country resolve stressful employee issues through her expert guidance. Her sharp decision-making, marketing acumen, and innovative strategies have been key to attracting and retaining clients. Within her team, Carolyne is known for her supportive, open, and enthusiastic leadership.

Booking information

Booking for this event is now OPEN! You can book your place via the link below.

To make this event even more accessible, we are offering a special promotion – 3 delegates for £100 (usually £50 each).

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a highly beneficial day.

Click here to book

By GCMA Content Team

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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.

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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.