Conference Breakout Sessions You Can’t Miss

02 October 2025

The 2025 Conference features breakout sessions that dive into the essential topics shaping golf management today. Take a look at some of the can’t-miss sessions tackling the industry’s most pressing issues.

As part of your Conference Package, you’ll gain access to expert-led breakout sessions tackling the most critical issues in golf club management, designed to equip you and your club to thrive in a Future Ready landscape.

Spaces are limited for all sessions, so be sure to register early to secure your spot in the ones most relevant to your goals.

Among the many insightful sessions, here are some of the sessions exploring innovations in member engagement, sustainability strategies, and the integration of technology to streamline operations. These sessions represent just a glimpse of the broader program, which is rich with expertise and practical takeaways across all areas of club leadership. Whether you’re looking to future-proof your club or refine day-to-day practices, every session brings valuable perspectives to the table.

Future-Proofing Retention through Customer Led Insights

Amelia Lewis & Jacob Buksted | Players 1st

Retaining members and visitors in an increasingly competitive leisure market requires more than guesswork—it demands a deep understanding of what your customers truly value. This session explores how golf clubs can harness member feedback, behavioural data, and customer insights to shape experiences that drive loyalty and long-term engagement.

Discover practical tools and techniques to capture meaningful feedback, interpret trends, and make informed decisions that resonate with your audience. Learn how to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive experience design, ensuring your club remains relevant, responsive, and retention-focused in a changing golf landscape.

Growing the Game Sustainably: The Future of Golf Course Agronomy

Gordon Howat | The R&A Sustainable Agronomy

As environmental pressures and climate challenges intensify, golf clubs must rethink how they manage their landscapes. This session explores the future of sustainable agronomy and how course managers can balance playability, aesthetics, and ecological responsibility. Experts will share insights on water conservation, turfgrass innovation, soil health, and integrated management practices.

Learn how to future-proof your course by adopting strategies that reduce environmental impact while maintaining high standards of course presentation. Whether you’re already on a sustainability journey or just starting out, this session offers practical guidance for greener, smarter course management.

Using AI in Driving Golf Club Operations – Innovation for a Smarter Future

Sam Poole | Aquila Golf

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept, it’s a practical tool that forward-thinking golf clubs are already using to enhance operations, improve decision-making, and elevate member experiences.

This session explores how AI can be integrated into daily club management, from automating administrative tasks and personalising member communications to forecasting bookings and optimising staffing. Learn how to identify the right technologies, implement them effectively, and stay ahead of industry trends.

Whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started, this session will demystify AI and show how it can support smarter, more efficient club operations.

You can find the full summary of all breakout sessions, timings and session contents via the conference website or the link below:

Breakout Summaries

How to register:

All you need to register is your email and confirmation number:

Head to the Conference website
Go to the Summary Page and below the Register Now button click on Already registered!
You will then be required to enter your email address and Confirmation Number
Once you have accessed your original booking, select add sessions and click through to the Sessions page to select the Breakfast and Breakout Sessions required and reserve your preferred choice of sessions.

An Unmissable Event for the Industry

The Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition 2025 will bring together experts, thought leaders, and innovators to share practical insights, strategies, and solutions for the future of golf club management. Attendees can expect a dynamic programme of keynote speakers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and an expanded exhibition showcasing the latest products and services in the sector.

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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.