These amazing women work to help greenkeepers every day

8 March 2022 Feature Article

This International Women’s Day we’re recognising all the fantastic women who play such important roles in the BIGGA team.

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BIGGA Chief Operating Officer Sami Strutt

 

Tuesday 8 March is International Women's Day - but did you know that women play a pivotal role at BIGGA, providing learning and development opportunities and supporting our members every day?

Helping to shape the strategy of BIGGA is Sami Strutt, who was appointed Chief Operating Officer of BIGGA in February and also happens to be BIGGA’s longest-serving employee.

Celebrating her 29th anniversary later this month, Sami oversees the activities of BIGGA’s membership services team, administration and learning & development departments.

In April 2018 Sami celebrated a quarter of a century with BIGGA. Speaking at the time, she said: “I can still remember my first day at BIGGA. I was christened ‘Sami’ to avoid confusion with another girl called Sam. Never did I imagine that 25 years later, I would be known as ‘Sami’ worldwide!”

Sami credits the development of Continue to Learn at BTME as her proudest achievement at BIGGA. Continue to Learn returns later this month as an in-person education programme for the first time since January 2020 and you can find more information on the BTME website.

Since January 2020, Sami has played a key role in providing digital learning development opportunities for BIGGA members to overcome the social distancing challenges faced by the coronavirus pandemic. She’s hosted an online version of Continue to Learn, regular Continue to Learn Extra webinars and the National Regional Conference – all while working remotely from France where her greenkeeping husband, Lee, was overseeing the grow-in of the golf course on the Les Bordes Estate.

Alongside Lauren Frazer, BIGGA’s head of business development, Sami has graduated from The R&A’s Women and Golf Leadership Development Programme and she is now a coach for the Leadership Foundation Programme.

Known worldwide for organising Continue to Learn each year, Sami has increasingly become a figurehead for the association and officially opened the Bernhard Training Academy in June 2019.

“I’ve made some incredible friends from all over the world, including BIGGA staff and members,” said Sami. “It’s the people that make this such an amazing industry to work in.”

You can join Sami and the rest of the BIGGA team at BTME 2022, taking place from 22 to 24 March at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

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Elaine, welcoming BIGGA members to Continue to Learn in 2019

 

Also playing a key role in the BIGGA team are:

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Lauren Frazer

Head of Business Development

Contact Lauren

In her 7th year with BIGGA and a graduate from the ‘Women in Golf’ Leadership programme and ‘CMI Advanced Sales and Leadership’ programme, Lauren has a wealth of knowledge both of the industry and diverse routes to market available to companies. 

A regular at trade shows across the world, sees maintaining good relationships and supporting both existing and new clients as an important part of her role.  The go to person to discuss commercial opportunities to showcase your products, BIGGA partnerships, various sponsorship options throughout BIGGA and exhibiting at BTME.

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Deb Burnett

Learning and Development Manager

Contact Deb

Call +44 (0) 1347 666 580

Deb is responsible for the organisation and operation of BIGGA’s learning opportunities throughout the year, including the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme, the Future Turf Managers Initiative (FTMI) and Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year, alongside countless other activities. She also is responsible for the production of the Continue to Learn programme and delivery each year.

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Fiona Lyttle

Learning and Development Executive - The GTC

Contact Fiona

Fiona is the key staff member working with the Greenkeepers Training Committee. Fiona has played a massive role in the development of the qualifications that are available to greenkeepers and so has been key to the elevation of the profession. Working alongside education providers and national authorities, she helps to create learning materials and administer qualifications and apprenticeships for the entire industry.

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Tracey Walker

Membership Services Manager - Events and Initiatives

Contact Tracey

Tel: 07841 948110

As one of the longest-serving members of the regional BIGGA team, Tracey co-ordinates BIGGA’s national activity and works to ensure Region calendars are complementary. Additionally, Tracey organises BIGGA initiatives across the UK and co-ordinates the delivery of The Open Volunteer Support Team.

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Elaine Jones

Membership and Administration Manager

Contact Elaine

Elaine and her team are often the first point of call for BIGGA members who contact the association. Working primarily from the BIGGA offices in North Yorkshire, they have the knowledge and expertise to ensure members receive the support and information they require.  Elaine's background is finance having worked for a top 50 Law Firm in Southampton for 10 years before moving to Yorkshire.  Elaine joned BIGGA in 2011 on a 5 month temporary contract and never left! 

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Gil Christon

Administrator

Contact Gil

Gil supports BIGGA members to offer help and advice with all aspects of their membership, including membership renewals and access to the various support and advice that is available to BIGGA members.

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Janette Pascall

Administrator

Contact Janette

Janette supports BIGGA members to offer help and advice with all aspects of their membership, with a particular focus on the Continue to Learn programme and wider Learning & Development activities.

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Jo Millar

Administrator

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Libbie Waddleton

Design and Brand Executive

Contact Libbie

If you’ve seen something designed by BIGGA in the past five years, whether it be Greenkeeper International, an information poster or all the signage at BTME, the chances are it was created by Libbie. With a keen eye for detail, Libbie is responsible for the consistent and professional image that is portrayed by BIGGA on a daily basis.

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Karen Hughes

Digital Executive

Contact Karen

Karen has a master's degree in internet computing and is our web guru, working to ensure the BIGGA and BTME websites are operating smoothly. She makes sure that all the fantastic learning materials and resources that are available on the BIGGA website are available for our members. Karen is also responsible for the operation of the BIGGA app and for many of the informative emails that BIGGA members receive.

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Zoe Wright

Marketing and Social Media Executive

Contact Zoe

Always on the look-out for the latest trending topic, Zoe plays a key role in the conversations that BIGGA has with its members and the wider community as she oversees all of BIGGA’s social media activities. She is also helping to redevelop BIGGA’s marketing offering, to ensure that everyone is aware of the great benefits that come with BIGGA membership and plays a role in BIGGA’s recruitment service.

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Lorna Taylor

Editorial Assistant

Contact Lorna

Lorna plays an important role in the creation of Greenkeeper International, working with various contributors to produce our member news pages and other aspects of the magazine each month. She is also a key contact with regards BIGGA's recruitment service, helping advertisers through that journey and sharing these opportunities with BIGGA members.

 

You can join Sami and the rest of the BIGGA team at BTME 2022, taking place from 22 to 24 March at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire. Register today and get involved.

Author

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Karl Hansell
BIGGA | Head of Marketing and Communications

Karl has been head of communications for BIGGA since March 2016. His duties include editing the monthly Greenkeeper International magazine, in addition to other communications activities for the association.

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