A host of industry experts are lined up to speak at the IOG's ‘Ahead of the Game’ Sports Turf Conference at York Racecourse on Thursday, 6th December. The event features an unmissable, entertaining and enlightening programme of educational sessions for grounds professionals across all industry sectors. 

Key speakers include:

Stuart Larman, Facilities and Investment Manager at FIFA will discuss the key issues when investing in natural grass pitches to ensure groundsmen receive sufficient recognition and support
Mark Camley, Director of Park Operations at the London Legacy Development Corporation will illustrate how to improve the status of parks and how, by working together, we can move this subject up the political agenda
Adrian Kay, Head Groundsman at York Racecourse will discuss the £2.6 million major redevelopment of the racecourse
Clark Cox, Sports Turf Manager at South Carolina Gamecock Athletics, on how to manage an 85,000-seat college football stadium
Kate Entwistle, Turfgrass Pathologist at the Turf Disease Centre will give an insight into ‘Plant Parasitic Nematodes the facts & figures’
Lee Penrose, Head of Strategic Projects at the STRI will offer ‘an inside view of how the turf care industry delivered the Olympic venues’
John Ledwidge, Chair of the IOG Young Board of Directors & Coventry City Head Groundsman will deliver a special session on ‘A Year in the Life of the IOG Young Directors'
Murray Cook, President of Brickman Sports Turf will review UK baseball and help sports turf managers understand the sport and its opportunities
Frank Newberry, Management Consultant will talk about how to influence and impact others by increasing your influence in the workplace and everyday life
John Moverley, Independent Chair of the Amenity Forum, will discuss the impact of the changes arising from the Sustainable Use Directive and the importance of protecting the environment and especially water quality in terms of the Water Framework Directive
Geoff Webb, IOG Chief Executive, will launch the IOG’s new ‘Get into grounds’ strategy and membership format, plus discuss the future profile of sports turf groundsmen and women.
Jon Stemp, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Manchester City Football Club will outline the club’s exciting plans for its new 80-acre £100million-plus training ground and academy adjacent to the Etihad Stadium.

More details of the IOG Conference – which is sponsored by British Sugar Topsoil and Vitax Supaturf – are available on the IOG website, www.iogawards.com