BGC at the Golf Leaders Network Conference
The 3rd annual Golf Leaders Network Conference (GLN) was hosted in April at Kingston Heath Golf Club by the Club President Nikki McClure at their Melbourne club supported by General Manager Andrew Taylor and the Kingston Heath team.
The event was organised by BGC President Deb Kember, in her role as Chair of the GLN Board. Women’s Captain Julie Brown, Board Member Fiona Elsdon also attended along with Peri Ilott who was proudly supported by the Club to attend as a potential Women’s Captain in about 5 years’ time.
Sponsored by Golf Business Advisory Services, Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia, the event brought together 40 women club board directors and several male Board members from the surrounding sandbelt clubs who committed to support the goals of the GLN.
The group witnessed an extraordinary line up of 12 international and nationally recognised governance and leadership speakers. Examples include. Malcolm Speed AO, former Chair of Cricket Australia and a respected consultant in sport integrity and governance, and international guest Ray Cronin, Founder and Chief Innovator of Club Benchmarking. Both praised the innovative vision of the GLN highlighting the innovativeness of the vision, with Cronin highlighting its leadership potential in the global golf industry.
Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland noted that the GLN is successfully breaking down longstanding silos within the golf community across Australia.
Julie Brown found the conference inspiring, professional and educational. “It was a fun way to meet many like-minded women and share knowledge and experiences.”
Perri Ilott was also inspired by the attendees and the speakers. “It was a thoughtful 3 days of looking at ways to improve and support women in voluntary board positions. Helen Keller sums up the aim of the GLN now and into the future – Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
To Fiona Elsdon last year’s conference was great but this year’s conference was even better. “The variety of presentations and depth of presenter’s insights was fabulous. The event was well worth attending just for the presentations, but the networking and golf were the icing on the cake.”
The GLN was once for women board members only and now includes all current and past club board members. According to Deb Kember, the agenda of the network remains the same; to work towards and maintain gender parity on golf club boards, to raise the importance of board governance education and strengthen welcoming environments in golf clubs for all.
Current and former club board members are invited to help us shape the growth and development of the GLN by joining as a Prime Member. Active Ally membership is available to non-board members and industry groups and Clubs are welcome as organisational members. To join the GLN visit https://www.golfleadersnetwork.com.au/join.
