The latest instalment of the Future Turf Managers’ Initiative, sponsored by ASTMA Gold Partner Jacobsen, kicked off this week. As was highlighted in the 24 October edition of The Cut, 24 up and coming Australian and New Zealand turf managers were selected to be part of the 2025/2026 cohort, the biggest intake in the program’s 10-year history.

Following a record number of applications, the program expanded its intake this year, with turf managers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and Argentina making up this year’s group.

The full 2025/26 cohort comprises…

Jack Besley (Southern GC, Vic)
Alex Blakey (Brisbane GC, Qld)
Kane Campbell (MRC, Vic)
Luke Carroll (Burleigh GC, Qld)
Bryan Dick (Royal Wellington GC, NZ)
Matt Gates (Kooyonga GC, SA)
Todd Heinrich (Adelaide Oval SMA, SA)
Mike Holliday (The Hills, NZ)
Steve Jahour (Chequers GC, WA)
Jackson Lanning (The Lakes GC, NSW)
Ray Lawrence (Nudgee GC, Qld)
Jordan Lucy (Peninsula Kingswood, Vic) 
Harry Marshall (Cricket ACT, ACT)
Solly Marshall (Kingston Heath GC, Vic)
Brad Milne (Royal Melbourne GC, Vic)
Anita Mitchell (Te Arai Links, NZ)
Cory Salmond (Indooroopilly GC, Qld)
Brett Stuesser (Strathallan GC, Vic)
Joshua Wall (OOS Gov-Gen, ACT)
Jack Wilkie (Barwon Heads GC, Vic)
Brandon Williams (Royal Canberra GC)
Shane Wilson (MCC, Vic)
Matt Wolfe (HG Sports Turf, WA)
Sofia Zavalia (Remuera GC, NZ) 
 
The FTMI program kicked off last Tuesday with ASTMA chief executive Mark Unwin and NZGCSA president Jason Perkins (Omanu GC) addressing the group, followed by Jacobsen Textron AUS/NZ regional sales manager Peter Schumacher who welcomed participants and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the next generation of sports turf leaders. Participants then met the 2026 mentors before introducing themselves to the wider group. 

Joining the mentor group this year is Southern Golf Club superintendent Shaun Page (CSTM) who graduated from the FTMI back in 2018. He replaces past mentor Liam Ash and joins with fellow mentors Simon Blagg (Eastlake GC), Matthew Oliver (Suncorp Stadium, CSTM) and Sam Davis (Queenstown GC, NZ).

The 2026 program now moves into a full schedule of leadership development, networking opportunities and industry engagement activities online before culminating in a final face-to-face gathering in Melbourne in late March 2026.