"RECORD-BREAKING" FREE EDUCATION PROGRAMME PROMISED

Learning LIVE, is back for SALTEX 2025, delivering what organisers have described as its "biggest and most tailored programme to date."

Among the highlights is James Haskell, one of the most recognisable personalities in sport. In his headline session, High Performance Mindset: Lessons from the Pitch to the Boardroom, James will draw on his career as a professional rugby player, media personality and entrepreneur to explore the role of elite playing surfaces in sporting success.

A first for 2025 will be the GMA NextGen’s takeover of Learning LIVE. Made up of talented young professionals dedicated to championing the industry and inspiring the next generation, NextGen will lead two dedicated Spotlight Stage sessions. Covering diversity in the industry and youth engagement, the sessions will see alumni share their own journeys into grounds management, their role as changemakers and ideas for attracting more young people into the sector

Key sessions from the Learning LIVE programme include:

• The preparation and delivery of FIFA 2026 World Cup - Alan Ferguson, Senior Pitch Management Manager, FIFA
• Public Parks: Gardening for People and Planet - Matthew Pottage, Head of Horticulture & Landscape Strategy, The Royal Parks
• High Performance Mindset: Lessons from the Pitch to the Boardroom - James Haskell, Rugby legend, broadcaster, DJ and best-selling author
• Course success at the 2025 Open Championship - Graeme Beatt, Course Manager, Royal Portrush Golf Club
• UEFA Champions League, Nations League Final & Women’s EURO 2025 pitch preparations - Lee Guerriero, Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert, UEFA
• Future-proofing turf management: Water resilience in a changing climate - Tony Hanson, Managing Director, Environmental Solutions International, Mark Hunt, Technical Specialist, Prodata Weather Systems, Roger Davey, Managing Director & Founder, Irritech and Dr Tom Young, Blue-Green Infrastructure Specialist, The Environment Partnership
• Sustainable solutions at multi-sport venues - James Wright, Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds, Andrew Turnbull, BioAgronomist, South West Agronomy, Sam Kingston, Grounds Manager, Wesley College and Andrew Bulter, Head of Grounds & Gardens, Repton School

The full programme is available to view here.

SALTEX 2025 takes place on 12-13 November at the NEC, Birmingham and will offer more than 30 sessions across the Main Stage, Spotlight Stage and Community Sport Stage.