Golf Business News – SALTEX unveils the full lineup of live Learning Speakers

SALTEX has unveiled the full line-up for its highly anticipated Learning LIVE programme, which will take place at the NEC in Birmingham from October 30-31.

Featuring more than 20 industry pioneers, technologists, and experts in three different categories, it is the largest and most comprehensive free live educational event in the industry, providing attendees with an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights from the industry’s leaders.

On the first day, the Main Stage will feature an unmissable panel discussion with industry giants including Karl Standley (Wembley Stadium), Neil Stubley (All England Lawn Tennis Club), Jim Buttar (Twickenham Stadium), and Gary Barwell. (Edgbaston Stadium), who will speak on the topic of Sustainable Solutions.

The day continues with a critical discussion on ‘How to Attract New People to the Industry’ with members of GMA NextGen and concludes with an insightful session on ‘3G Artificial Turf Maintenance – Practical Practice and Evidence’ led by Professor Paul Fleming. from Loughborough University.

On the second day, the Main Stage will welcome Phil Sharples (Caspian Sport & Landscape), Vicente Alpuente (Villarreal), Iker Orue (Real Sociedad) and Dean Gilesby (Naturalgrass) as they tackle the ‘Challenges of Climate Change in Top International Football’. Places’. Attendees will also receive valuable tips on ‘How to Keep Your Team Members Motivated’, before finishing with ‘Tools and How to Ensure the Best Venue’, presented by Reece Watson (Raw Stadia) and Neil Rodger (STRI Team).

The Spotlight Stage promises to draw crowds with its engaging ‘Ask-the-Expert’ style forums. The first day starts with ‘Integrated Approaches to Leatherjacket & Chafer Grub Control’ with details from Dr. Christian Spring (STRI Group) and Sean Loakes (Syngenta). Other must-see sessions include Colin Corline’s (SAPCA) assessment of ‘Artificial Grass Pitches – What the Future Looks Like’, Professor John Moverley OBE’s talk on ‘Sustainable Management Principles and Practices’, and a presentation by Dr. Minshad Ansari (Bionema) on ‘Benefits of Biofilms in the Chronic Management of Constipation’.

The second day on the Spotlight Stage begins with a Soil Health clinic, where experts Alex Vickers (Turf Consultant), Andrew Turnbull (Central Pharma Biotechnica), Dr John Dempsey, and Dr Deb Cox will share information. Highlights include a presentation by Geoff Fenn (Origin Amenity Solutions) on ‘Independent Turfgrass Research – Latest OAS Results’, and a discussion on ‘Understanding Weather Effects on Turfgrass Management’ by Mark Hunt (Prodata Weather Systems) and Jim Dale (Meteorologist).

Brand new this year, the Community Sports Stage will focus on community and grassroots sports. The first day opens with ‘What’s Available in Multisport Facility Funding?’ presented by representatives of the ECB, the RFU, the RFL, and the Football Foundation.

Other highlights include ‘Priority Planning for Pitch Improvement Projects’ by Alex Vickers, ‘Quality Surfaces on a Shoestring Budget’ by Tom Rowley (GMA), and ‘Grant Funding for Sport’ by Richard Twigg (4Grants Ltd).

On the second day, Kelly Marie Clack (Origin Amenity Solutions) will lead with ‘Introduction to Grass Seed and Fertilizer’, followed by the Grounds Management Association (GMA) Regional Pitch Advisors’ session on ‘Effective Aeration and Decompaction’.

The day will also conclude with a keynote session on ‘How to Attract and Manage Club Volunteers’ led by Chris Hunter and Nasa Hussain (Bradford Park Avenue CC).

For more information about the SALTEX 2024 Learning LIVE programme, and to see the full programme, please visit www.saltex.org.uk/learning-live.

To register for SALTEX 2024, visit www.saltex.org.uk.