GCMA 2021 Conference: Programme and timings

08 September 2021

Looking forward to the three-day festival of learning and development at Wyboston Lakes Resort? Here’s the programme for GCMA 2021 Conference as it stands…

Whether it’s catching Danielle Brown’s keynote wellbeing speech, or debating over breakfast how to make golf a more attractive career for women, you can now start to plan your diary for GCMA 2021 Conference.

The association has announced the programme for the three-day event, which is being held at Wyboston Lakes Resort, in Bedfordshire, between November 21 and 23.

So take a look at the diary below, and start filling your schedule for what’s sure to be an exciting few days of learning and development.

Remember you can book your spot at conference by visiting our dedicated website here.

GCMA 2021 Conference Programme

Sunday, November 21

3pm to 6pm: Registration

4pm onwards: GolfFest

Charity Golf Challenge; indoor golf simulator nearest the pin, Long Putt, Adventure Golf, Gin Tasting/Mixology

6pm: Welcome and Official Opening of Conference; Tom Brooke CEO, followed by informal buffet and drinks

7.30pm to 9pm: VIP Celebrity Guest Speakers: Catriona Matthew, Dual Solheim Cup-winning captain and Major champion; John Paramor, former Chief Referee, PGA European Tour. Second guest speaker to be announced.

Monday, November 22

7am to 8am: Dr Golf on Demand

Kick Start Session with Dr Golf on Demand, the online Health and Fitness club for golf.

Delivering services to National Governing Bodies, International Universities, Organisations, Businesses, Counties, Clubs, Coaches and all ability level and ages of Golfer including European Tour Professionals.

Kick Start Session with Dr Golf on Demand, the online Health and Fitness club for golf.

Offering golf related training that covers everything from Strength & Conditioning, Yoga, Mobility, Circuits and Nutrition through to Youth and Senior specific sessions plus much more.

Dr Golf will be demonstrating three 15 minute taster sessions of Circuits, Mobility and Youth. Experience one or all three. Further information along with joining instructions to be announced.

8.30am to 9.30am: Breakfast Club

Round table discussions on current topics chaired by industry experts

Session 1: “Put Your Oxygen Mask on First”: Managing Your Own Wellbeing for the benefit of your Team & Club – Gareth Morgan, GCMA Director, Long Ashton Golf Club

Session 2: “Setting the Tone”: Club Managers can lead the way to make a career in Golf more attractive to women – Heather Mulley, GCMA Manager of the Year, Enville Golf Club

9am: Registration & Exhibition

Leadership and Wellbeing

10am to 10.45am: Opening Keynote: World Class Wellbeing: putting you at the centre of success

Danielle Brown MBE, Double Paralympic Gold Medallist in archery

10.45am to 11.30am: Coffee, Exhibition and Breakouts

11.30am to 12.30pm: Plenary Session 1: The Wellbeing of your staff matters: Kevin Fish, Contemporary Club Leadership

12.30pm to 2pm: Lunch

Sustainability

2pm to 2.15pm: GCMA: All Things New – update on latest developments at the GCMA; Tom Brooke, Chief Executive Officer, GCMA

2.15pm to 3pm: Plenary Session 2: Sustainable Golf Course Management – Jim Croxton, Chief Executive Officer, BIGGA

3.05pm to 4.10pm: Breakout Sessions and Supplier Engagement Time.

Your opportunity to attend one of the scheduled breakout sessions, schedule another visit to the Exhibition or an appointment with a specific supplier. Further details on breakout sessions will be announced soon.

4.15pm to 5pm: Plenary Session 3: Golf & Sustainability – the way forward; Arlette Anderson, Director, Sustainable Golf, The R&A, and Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf

7pm to 11pm: Drinks reception followed by Conference dinner incorporating the 2021 Golf Club Management Awards

Book here for GCMA 2021 Conference

Tuesday, November 23

9am: Registration and Exhibition

Technology

9.30am: Plenary Session 4: The tools of Technology, a good tradesperson never blames their tools! – Peter Kirk, Founder, Parconex

10.35am to 11.05am: Breakout Sessions and Supplier Engagement Time. Further details on breakout sessions will be announced soon.

11.15am to 12pm: Plenary Session 5: How to be creative with digital technology and customer management – Scott Seaborn, Head of Digital Acceleration, Capita PLC

12.05pm to 12.40pm: Breakout Sessions and Supplier Engagement Time. Further details on breakout sessions will be announced soon.

12.45pm to 2pm: Lunch and Exhibition

2pm to 3pm: Closing Keynote: ‘2 Lengths’ – The power of keeping things simple – Chris Cook, Former Double Olympian & Double Commonwealth Champion in swimming

3pm to 3.15pm: Close of Conference; Tom Brooke, CEO, Golf Club Managers’ Association

3.15pm: Grab & Go Coffee & Networking

Session titles are subject to change.

Check out the full programme from GCMA 2021 Conference, and book your spot, at our dedicated website here.

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.