Celebrating excellence: The GCMA Awards 2025 winners

10 December 2025

Winners were crowned during the Awards Gala Dinner at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park at the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition.

This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.

The GCMA community came together at the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition to celebrate the brightest and best in our industry at the GCMA Awards 2025.

The De Vere Cotswold Water Park provided the stage for the Awards Gala Dinner, held during this year’s Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition, and it proved to be a memorable celebration of the people, ideas and achievements shaping the future of the profession.

Guests from across the UK and beyond gathered to recognise excellence, innovation and the spirit of collaboration that defines modern golf club management. Following weeks of anticipation, the room was filled with rapturous applause as the richly deserving winners were revealed.

Each of them prevailed after a rigorous judging process in which all of the candidates shone, making the final results incredibly close, and it was the women who enjoyed the lion’s share of success on the night.

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The coveted Manager of the Year title went to Chloe Boissel-Marshall of Tidworth Garrison, who has overseen a modernisation of operations while strengthening the sense of community that defines the Wiltshire club. Her work stood out in a category renowned for its depth of experience and consistently high standards.

In the Newcomer of the Year category, Heather Moran of La Moye was recognised for the impact she has made early in her management career. Her fresh approach and readiness to embrace new challenges encapsulate the energy that continues to drive her club forward.

The Support Manager of the Year award was presented to Claire Bainbridge of Fulford, acknowledging her vital contribution behind the scenes and the leadership qualities that have enabled her to thrive.

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One of the evening’s loudest ovations greeted Marton Meadows, winners of Team of the Year. Their success reflects the strength of collective ambition and a shared vision, with their exceptional team culture allowing a small club to achieve big things.

Two special honours capped an inspiring night. John Douglass received the Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a career defined by professionalism, integrity and service to the industry. The Outstanding Contribution Award went to Cameron Dawson, recognising his influence across the sector and the lasting impact of his work.

We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to all the winners and their fellow nominees.

The GCMA Awards 2025 winners

Manager of the Year: Chloe Boissel-Marshall

Newcomer of the Year: Heather Moran

Support Manager of the Year: Claire Bainbridge

Team of the Year: Marton Meadows

Lifetime Achievement: John Douglass

Outstanding Contribution: Cameron Dawson

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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.