Learning LIVE

This year’s SALTEX Learning LIVE education programme will offer grounds and open space practitioners across all disciplines, volunteer as well as professional, a daily feast of FREE knowledge-gathering sessions in a programme that has never been bigger or better!

Theatre 1 – Wednesday 3rd November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10:00 – 10:30	Climate change – what might COP26 mean for the sports turf sector?	A UN report has given clear warnings that the impacts of climate change represent a red alert for humanity. SALTEX coincides with the COP26 talks and BASIS (The British Association for Sustainable Sport) will discuss the current predicted changes to our weather, their likely impacts on the sports sector and the possible implications of COP26	Chris Whitaker, BASIS Chair
10:45 – 11:15	The Leicester City FC Sports Turf Academy	An insight into how industry will benefit from LCFC’s innovative initiative, plus an outline of the facilities at the club’s new training ground	John Ledwidge, Head of Sports Turf & Grounds at LCFC
11.30 – 12.00	Multi-tasking on a multi-user site	Grounds managers at independent schools and educational establishments are experts at balancing internal – and external – demands on sports pitches, especially achieving quick turnarounds of multi-sport surfaces	Ed Ramsden, Head of grounds & Gardens at Perse School – Greg Smith, Sports Grounds Manager at Nottingham University
12:15 – 12.45	The biomechanics of sports turf – athlete performance and injury risk	A global review of athlete performance and injury risk on sports turf (natural, hybrid and artificial)	Professor David James, Managing Director at Labosport
13.00- 13.30	Understanding glyphosate	What is glyphosate? How it is made, how it works to control plants and the important of having the correct formulation. Also covered is an update on the regulatory status of glyphosate, and outline results of studies conducted on it	Dr Colin Mumford, Technical Support Manager at Bayer
13.45 – 14.15	Hybrid pitches in recreational cricket	An exclusive insight into how ongoing research by county cricket grounds and England’s Centre of Excellence will impact the recreational game	Iain James, Head of facilities Services for ECB – Gary Barwell, Head of Sports Turf & Grounds at Warwickshire CCC – Will Relf, Sports Grounds Manager at Loughborough University
14.30 – 15.00	Long-term strategies and funding for natural turf pitches	The National Governing Bodies outline their forward-thinking plans for the provision, improvement and maintenance of natural turf pitches – including the role of the GMA’s Pitch Grading Framework	Tim Nicholls, GMA consultant – Ted Mitchell, National facilities Manager at Rugby Football Union – Chris Smith, Programme manager at Football Foundation – Iain James, Head of facilities Services for ECB – John McMullen, National Clubs manager at Rugby Football League

Theatre 1 – Thursday 4th November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10:00 – 10:30	Pitch perfect – for everyone!	How the new Pitch Support Programmes – led by the world’s governing bodies of football – will impact all turf surfaces at every level	Alan Ferguson, Senior pitch management manager for FIFA – Lee Guerriero, Pitch & technology specialist (football operations/football division) at UEFA
10:45 – 11:15	Pesticides – what does the future hold?	Plant protection products (PPP) have a significant impact on turf management, and with a number of widely-used insecticides, fungicides and herbicides being withdrawn in recent times, what further changes can we expect and what is the view of grounds managers? This panel debate will explain the current status of PPP and how grounds managers can obtain the optimum results	Chaired by the Amenity Forum’s John Moverley – Panellists include; Dr Christian Spring, Research Operations Manager for STRI – Daniel Lightfoot, Business manager UK & Ireland Syngenta
11:30 – 12.00	Leatherjackets – the scourge of sports turf	With only an Emergency Authorisation for Acelepryn in place for ceratin sports surfaces, it is clear that grounds managers will need a combination of measures to combate these pests	Colin Mumford Technical support manager at Bayer – Dr Minshad Ansari CEO at Bionema – Glenn Kirby, technical manager UK & Ireland Syngenta
12:15 – 12.45	Improving local authority grassroots pitches	How one local council is benefitting from Pitch Advosry Service advice	Steve Battlebury, Greenspace manager at Luton Borough Council – Phil Jeggo, Pitch Advisory Service at GMA
13.00 – 13.30	Sustainable practices in turf management	Tennis, racecourse and football – how everyone can learn from how three main sports are increasingly adopting ecological grounds care routines	Neil Stubley, Head of courts & horticulture at AELTC – Adrian Kay, Head groundsman at York Racecourse – Dave Roberts, Senior manager grounds management at Liverpool FC
13.45 – 14.15	Creating champions!	A behind-the-scenes look at the turf care techniques to ensure the pitches shone at Euro 2020	Karl Standley Grounds manager at Wembley – Richard Hayden, Consultant
14.30 – 15.00	Your Mind Matters	Experienced grounds managers – one a trainee counsellor – and wellbeing experts talk about the pressures of the job, coping mechanisms and work-life balance	Ian Avery, Head groundsman at Sutton Valence School – Jim Dawson, Scottish rugby head groundsman at BT Murrayfield – Stuart Kerrison, Head groundsman at Essex CCC – Danny Negus, Head groundsman at Devonshire Park International Tennis Centre – Helen Waddington, Head of case work at Perennial (including results of 2021 Health & Wellbeing survey) – Maria Kuzak, Senior Philanthropy Manager at CALM

Theatre 2 – Wednesday 3rd November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10:00 – 10:30	The selection and use of sports performance infills in 3G artificial turf	What does the new voluntary code of practice mean to the management of artificial surfaces?	Professor David James, SAPCA Technical Chair
10:45 – 11:15	Chartering new waters	With forecasts of water shortages due to increasing population, 50% higher water use per person than 50 years ago, changing rainfall patterns, record temperatures and the need to reduce abstraction, adapting to climate change is essential for every business. The Leisure Operator Water Charter will help to increase awareness, and provide access to help, advice, and potentially funding, to reduce the impacts of predicted water shortages	Tony Hanson, Managing Director at Environmental Solutions International
11:30 – 12.00	Why should I become a cricket grounds manager?	So often we hear the reasons why young people won’t come into, and stay in, the industry. This session will look at some of the attractions of the industry	Vic Demain, Head groundsman at Durham CCC
12:15 – 12.45	Soil management	An insight into the soil food web and its benefits for grass health, carbon sequestration and how it can minimise reliance on chemicals	Alex Vickers, GMA Consultant and Dr Deborah Cox, Lagan Valley Scientific
13.00 – 13.30	Sustainable disease management	Because data is critical to effective turf management, this session explains what data is needed – and how to gather it – to enable you to make the correct decisions	Irene Vroegop, Agronomist at SGL
13.45 – 14.15	More bangs for your bucks – grounds management on a budget	Hints & tips on maximising your turf care regimes without premier budgets	Ian Mather-Brewster, Key Account Manager (Cricket) GMA
14.30	Question Time with the Amenity Forum	An opportunity to question the panel on current insecticide/pesticide topics and issues – including an update on the success of the Amenity Standard – at a time when the turf and amenity sector is facing considerable challenges	Chaired by John Moverley Chair of the Amenity Forum, with panellists; Jim Croxton, CEO at BIGGA – Tom Arnold, Vice Chairman at UK Lawn Care Association – Peter Corbett, Chemical Products Manager at Rigby Taylor – John Shufflebotham, Operations Manager at Hortech

Theatre 2 – Thursday 4th November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10:00 – 10:30	The impact of COVID – and climate change – on parks and green spaces	Panel debate – including views on how we should deal with climate change	Mark Camley, Executive Director of Park Operations and Venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – Paul Rabbitts, Chair for Parks Management Association – Laurence Gayle, Green Flag judge
10:45 – 11:15	When the Six Nations runs over	The impact on three internationals (rugby and football) in seven days	Andy Cole, Director/Chief Technical officer at iTurf Management
11:30 – 12.00	Ice & Fire – Climate Changed!	A thought-provoking presentation on the subject of the weather’s universal impact and how climate change is reshaping our future… for the good, the bad and the downright ugly!	Jim Dale, Founder of British Weather Services, Author of Weather or Not? & Director at Acclimatised Ltd
12:15 – 12.45	Networking in a digital age	The impact of social media and online communities	Miri Buac, Head of Communications and Brand at the GMA – Chris Smith, Programme Manager at Football Foundation (HIVE) – Ted Mitchell, National Facilities Development Manager RFU (Rugby Grounds Connected) – Will Brierley, Groundsman for AELTC
13.00 – 13.30	Seaweeds for plant health	Ongoing results from a four-year research project with Royal Holloway University examining seaweed extracts for turf grass	Dr Andy Owen, International Technical Manager at ICL – Tamsin Williams, PhD student at Royal Holloway University of London
13.45 – 14.15	Top of the class	The economics – and challenges – of managing sports facilities at independent schools in a post-pandemic world	James Pope, Grounds Manager at Charterhouse – Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager at Eton

Theatre 3 – Featuring the Workforce Development Forum – Wednesday 3rd November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10.00 – 10:30	Carpet-hybrid pitches in the community	Update on the Sport England research into the use of carpet-hybrid pitches in the community	Dr. Richard Earl, Principal Consultant, TGMS/PSD
10.45 – 11.15	Building a skilled workforce for the future of grounds management	The turf sector must maintain employment levels….or there may not be an industry left!	Geoff Webb, GMA CEO
11.30 – 12.00	Why should I become a grounds manager? Sponsored by	How to attract young people into the industry	Karl McDermott, Head groundsman at Lord’s – John Wright, Head of Grounds at Southampton FC – Anthony Facey, Area Sales Manager, Golf & Commercial Turf Machinery at Tuckwell group
12.15 – 12.45	Jobs in sports turf	The opportunities and scope of roles in the turf industry today	Jason Booth, Chief Operating Officer at the GMA – Matt Le Brun, Business Development Manager For Sports Turf Uk at Advance Grass – Stuart Facey, Head Groundsperson at New Hall School
13.00 – 13.30	Money talks	Making the most of your chance to shine when it comes to pay rise time	Bradley Tennant, International Greenkeepers For Hire – Frank Newberry, GMA Approved Management Trainer and Consultant

Theatre 3 – Featuring the Workforce Development Forum – Thursday 4th November

TIME	TITLE	SUBJECT	SPEAKER/PANELLISTS
10.00 – 10:30	Synthetic turf	Delivering environmentally-sustainable sports facilities	Alastair Cox, Technical Director, ESTC-EMEA Synthetic Turf Council
10.45 – 11.15	Building a skilled workforce for the future of grounds management	The turf sector must maintain employment levels….or there may not be an industry left!	Geoff Webb, GMA CEO
11.30 – 12.00	Why should I become a grounds manager? Sponsored by	How to attract young people into the industry	Vic Demain, Head groundsman at Durham CCC – David Roberts, Senior manager of grounds at Liverpool FC – Stuart Facey, Head Groundsperson at New Hall School
12.15 – 12.45	Jobs in sports turf	The opportunities and scope of roles in the turf industry today	Jason Booth, Chief Operating Officer at the GMA – Matt Le Brun, Business Development Manager For Sports Turf Uk at Advance Grass
13:00 – 13:30	Money talks	Making the most of your chance to shine when it comes to pay rise time	Bradley Tennant, International Greenkeepers For Hire – Frank Newberry, GMA Approved Management Trainer and Consultant

There are four dedicated seminar theaters running at the show. All sessions are free to attend – please click the session title to BOOK YOUR PLACE to ensure your attendance at your preferred sessions (registration limited to 3 sessions per day). Please note that there will also be limited seats available for each session, on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. However please don’t panic if you can’t book your place to listen to your preferred speaker as we will still be accepting walk-ins to all sessions on the day.

Learning LIVE 2019 featured a number of expert speakers including…

Featuring a number of expert speakers including…

Click on the picture to find out more about the speaker.