Australia's peak industry body for Sports Turf Management
Australia's peak industry body for Sports Turf Management
The latest instalment of the Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative (FTMI) wrapped up in Melbourne earlier last week with the 2024-2025 cohort gathering for a final three-day face-to-face get-together. Now into its ninth year, the FTMI has provided a critical conduit through which nearly 200 aspiring turf managers have enhanced their professional skills in the areas of leadership and management, with the ultimate aim of helping them take on more seniors role within the industry.
This year’s cohort comprised 22 turf managers from across Australia and New Zealand who began the program last November with a series of online seminars. As in previous years the cohort was split into four groups which were each led by a mentor, a former graduate of the program who was there to help guide the latest participants though the sessions and provide insights into their career experiences. Returning as mentors this year were Liam Ash (State Wide Turf Services, Vic), Sam Davis (Queenstown GC, NZ) and Matthew Oliver (CSTM, Suncorp Stadium, Qld), with 2020 program graduate and now Eastlake Golf Club superintendent Simon Blagg joining the mentor group for the first time. The full 2024-2025 cohort included:
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Nathan Ambler (Peninsula Kingswood, Vic) |
Brett Irvine (Barwon Heads GC, Vic) |
The online sessions covered a range of topics and were supplemented by smaller breakout meetings where each group was able to discuss content from the previous sessions and work together on set tasks that had been assigned. The face-to-face gathering kicked off Sunday when the cohort gathered for a welcome dinner as well as special guest presentation from former champion Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson. That was followed up on Monday and Tuesday by a range of presentations from leading figures, among them leadership and team culture expert Mark Carter, Carmen Sederino (Illuminated Story), Ben Gibson (The Toolbox Team), Peter Schumacher (Jacobsen), behavioural expert Juliette Tobias-Webb and ASTMA chief executive Mark Unwin.
Included in this year’s program was a visit to Windy Hill, the spiritual home of the Essendon Football Club. Turf manager Michael Salvatore from GrassUp gave the group a tour, outlining their turf management
practices on the suburban ground which hosts a steady diet of VFL, AFLW and local football during winter as well as premier grade cricket during the summer months.
“It was a really intensive few days, but the level of interaction and engagement from the participants again highlighted the value of this program to the industry and to those individuals looking to take the next step in their career,” says Unwin, who presented on resume writing, job applications and interviewing techniques. “Watching the groups hear from world-class leadership and management speakers and spend time discussing insights with experienced mentors was such a strong reminder of the opportunities that the FTMI opens up for professional development.”
Adds ASTMA events and education manager Simone Staples: “The FTMI is always a great program. It is a privilege to be able to spend a few days with the next generation of industry leaders and give them the management tools to help further their careers. The support of ASTMA Silver Partner Jacobsen in this
initiative and supporting the industry is greatly appreciated. We look forward to watching this year’s group progress their careers in the coming years.”
As part of the program, all FTMI delegates will remain in touch with their groups and have committed to a series of goals and outcomes that they will work upon with the support of their mentors. The ASTMA congratulates this year’s FTMI graduates and trusts that they took away plenty from the program which they can now apply to their everyday work situations.
