Finalists announced for third annual Women in Golf Awards

22 October 2024

The GCMA is sponsoring the Women’s Leadership category at the Women in Golf Awards.

The finalists have been announced for this year’s Women in Golf Awards, taking place on 28^th November at Foxhills.

Over 200 nominations were made across the eight awards categories, with an independent judging panel deciding which nominees would make the shortlist this year.

The final list is made up of women from all segments of the industry and is representative of the broad roles that women hold in the golf industry.

The awards will be presented at Surrey’s Foxhills next month and will be hosted by sports broadcaster and journalist Katherine Downes.

“This is a fantastic event that brings together women from all sectors of the golf industry,” she said. “It’s a great way to showcase the opportunities available to women in golf and to demonstrate the impact that we are making.

“I am looking forward to hearing all about this year’s finalists and to meeting many more amazing women in the night.”

The 2024 Women in Golf Awards Finalists

Women’s Leadership, sponsored by the GCMA

Sarah Blunden, General Manager at Hoebridge Golf Centre
Anna Darnell, Resort Director at The Grove
Becca Hembrough, England Golf Performance Manager (Female Golf)

Unsung Hero, sponsored by England Golf

Alice Lowe, Derbyshire County Golf volunteer and Golf Foundation Development Officer
Erica Pickard, Hindhead Golf Club member
Di Stock, Chief Referee Hampshire Ladies Golf

Brand of the Year, sponsored by the BGIA

adidas
Famara
The Grove

International Woman, sponsored by Perry Ellis

Carrie Edwards-Britt, CEO of MGI Golf
Karen Lunn, CEO WPGA Tour Australasia and Chair of Australian Golf Industry Council
Nina M. Luppino, Officer of Strategic Development, Women’s Golf Association of New Jersey

Women’s Initiative, sponsored by PING

Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club ‘Blue Course’, Barbara Tucker
She Can Golf @Oakmere, Helen Norris (Initiative Leader) & Jamie Jarvis (PGA Pro)
Women in Golf Society, Ali McGuirk

Women in Turfcare, sponsored by BIGGA

Sophie Bulpitt, Course and Estates Manger
Anna Nilsson, Deputy Head Greenkeeper of the Brabazon Golf Course at The Belfry
Wendy O’Brien, Course Manager, Beaverbrook Golf Club

Women PGA Professional, sponsored by TGI Golf Partnership

Sarah Bennett
Emma Brown
Denise Hastings

Rising Star, sponsored by Club Car

Viki Hart, Trainee Manager at Monifieth Golf Link
Hannah Holden, Head of Content at National Club Golfer
Molly Pavey, Group General Manager Bramshaw Golf Club and Paultons Golf Centre

As well as the eight sponsored categories, there are two additional special awards to be announced on the night.

“I am so grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate organisations and individuals that are making an impact in the industry,” said Nicole Wheatley, who co-founded the awards. “The judges were incredibly impressed by the calibre of entries.

“Some names are better known than others, but all of them have incredible stories and deserve to be recognised for their achievements.”

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.