Leadership
The people behind GEO are passionate about sustainability and golf. Multiple governance bodies bring leadership and diverse expertise and perspective, supported by a dynamic and skilled Management Team overseeing coordination and delivery.
Management Team
Meet the people working for golf and the environment from GEO HQ in Scotland.
Jonathan Smith
Chief Executive
For more than fifteen years Jonathan has been involved with sustainability in golf, from field support to strategic planning, working for golf and government. Since founding GEO in 2005, he brings a positive vision, considered strategic direction, ethos of collaboration and accountability, and a genuine passion... establishing GEO as one of the most dynamic and credible sustainability actors in golf and across the global sport environment movement.
Benjamin Warren
Director, Programme Development & Design
An environmentalist with software engineering credentials, Benjamin has been pivotal in bringing the GEOSA, GEO OnCourse™ and GEO Legacy™ programmes to life, and leading GEOs digital strategy and communications. After living in Canada and Japan, he is now based in Edinburgh and occasionally finds time to battle the North Berwick West Links. His energy and creativity infuse GEOs dedication to sustainable golf.
Kelli Jerome
Director, Operations & Programme Management
Bringing experience from years in product management and strategic relations at Microsoft headquarters during the early years of the digital age, Kelli is now turned toward another important frontier in our society, sustainability in business. Focusing on GEOs organizational development, communications, programmes and partner relations, she is excited to help grow the community around sustainable golf.
Wendy Isaac
Support Coordinator
Need anything from GEO? Wendy is your best point of contact to make it happen! Her experience from years in the fast-paced world of commercial production is now used in keeping everyone and everything at the busy GEO office running efficiently and making sure all your needs are addressed. With grace under pressure, a can-do attitude, and no shortage of flair, no one else could fit the bill.
Board of Directors
Responsible for all financial, legal and governance aspects of the organization, GEO's Board of Directors is the decision making authority for strategy, programming and operations.
Colin Wood, Chairman
European Golf Association, Scottish Golf Union
A former President of the Scottish Golf Union and Chairman of the Scottish Golf Environment Group, Colin captained the European side in the Bonallack Trophy 2002 and 2004.
Antonio Bozzi
European Golf Association, Federazione Italiana Golf
An Executive Committee member of the Federazione Italiana Golf, Tony is Chair of the European Golf Association's Golf Course Committee, representing the game of golf in Brussels.
Björn Nordberg
European Tour, European Golf Association
Björn has represented Sweden and competed at the highest levels of amateur golf. He is EGA Honorary President, Swedish Golf Federation Past President and a European Tour Board Non-Executive Director.
Gordon Shepherd
WWF International
Gordon served in advisory roles for the British government before joining WWF in 1986. Highly regarded on the world stage, he has directed WWF's International Environmental Treaties and global policy work since 1990.
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Jonathan Smith
GEO Founder and Chief Executive
Since establishing GEO in 2005, Jonathan has led the organization to become one of the most visionary, dynamic and credible sustainability actors in golf, and across the global sport environment movement.
Advisory Council
Experienced, passionate and influential leaders, Advisory Council members contribute actively to GEO's partnership development, fundraising and strategic communications.
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Björn Nordberg, President
European Tour, European Golf Association
Björn has represented Sweden and competed at the highest levels of amateur golf. He is EGA Honorary President, Swedish Golf Federation Past President and a European Tour Board Non-Executive Director.
Manuel Agrellos
European Golf Association, Federação Portuguesa de Golf
President of the Portuguese Golf Federation and past president of the European Golf Association and PGAs of Europe, Manuel has served as a leader of both the professional and amateur games.
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Antonio Bozzi
European Golf Association, Federazione Italiana Golf
An Executive Committee member of the Federazione Italiana Golf, Tony is Chair of the European Golf Association's Golf Course Committee, representing the game of golf in Brussels.
Professor Magnus Enell
IIIEE
Adjunct Professor at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at the University of Lund in Sweden, Magnus is an expert in global environmental and climate change issues.
Angel Gallardo
European Tour
A member of the PGA European Tour from 1972 until 1982, Angel won the Italian Open in 1977. He is the current European Tour Vice Chairman and has co-designed some of Europe's classic courses.
Lodewijk Klootwijk
European Golf Course Owners Association
Also a key member of the Industry Forum, Lodewijk provides a direct line of communication between GEO, the golf course owners of Europe and the many international owners' associations.
Professor Paul Rooney
Liverpool Hope University, IEEM
An expert in duneland and coastal management, Paul is director of the Coastal Network Project and a council member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
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Gordon Shepherd
WWF International
Gordon served in advisory roles for the British government before joining WWF in 1986. Highly regarded on the world stage, he has directed WWF's International Environmental Treaties and global policy work since 1990.
Maria Strandberg
STERF, Svenska Golfförbundet
Maria splits her time between roles at the Swedish Golf Federation and STERF. A highly regarded researcher with fifteen years experience in golf, Maria has been supporting GEO from day one.
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Colin Wood
European Golf Association, Scottish Golf Union
A former President of the Scottish Golf Union and Chairman of the Scottish Golf Environment Group, Colin captained the European side in the Bonallack Trophy 2002 and 2004.
Honorary Council Member
Jaime Ortiz-Patiño
European Tour, PGAsE
A founding father of the environmental movement in golf, Don Jaime elevated Valderrama into one of the world's premier tournament venues, taking the Ryder Cup to continental Europe for the first time in 1997.
Technical Commission
Quality assuring the content, processes and protocols of GEO's guidance and programming, the Technical Commission ensures that our work embodies the latest sustainability understanding, aspiring for and realizing meaningful change.
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Professor Paul Rooney, Chair
Liverpool Hope University, IEEM
An expert in duneland and coastal management, Paul is director of the Coastal Network Project and a council member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
Henry Bechelet
Agronomist – Cool Season, STRI
Henry is a Turfgrass Agronomist for the Sports Turf Research Institute. He has been working in the UK Turfgrass Industry for over 20 years and is a leading figure in the promotion of practical, low resource cool season turfgrass management
Tom Doak
Golf Course Architect | Renaissance Golf Design
President of Renaissance Golf Design, Tom has been designing award-winning golf courses around the world for more than twenty years. Well known as a minimalist for his belief that golf is best as a natural game, shaped from nature and played against natural hazards.
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Professor Magnus Enell
IIIEE
Adjunct Professor at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at the University of Lund in Sweden, Magnus is an expert in global environmental and climate change issues.
Chris May
Golf Club Manager | Dubai Golf
Chris held managerial positions in the UK before taking the helm at Dubai Creek and Yacht Club. He went on to host the Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club, and currently leads a team of 800 staff as the General Manager of Dubai Golf.
Dr Charles H. Peacock
North Carolina State
A veteran of the USGA Environmental, Research and Green Section Committees, Charles has been at the cutting edge of turfgrass and environmental research for over 30 years. When he's not teaching class at NC State’s Turf Management School, Charles provides scientific guidance to golf development teams in the US and internationally.
Stig Persson
Ljunghusens Golfklubb
The golf course and general manager of Ljunghusens GK in southern Sweden, Stig is Chairman of the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations, and currently represents the interests of golf course managers on the European Golf Association Golf Course Committee.
Jeremy Slessor
Golf Course Architect | European Golf Design
Jeremy has been involved in the golf course business since 1976. After graduating from Michigan State University he worked for the design company of Robert Trent Jones Sr, before joining European Golf Design in 1994. He become Managing Director two years later.
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Maria Strandberg
STERF, Svenska Golfforbundet
Maria splits her time between roles at the Swedish Golf Federation and STERF. A highly regarded researcher with fifteen years experience in golf, Maria and her colleagues drive the hard scientific yards that underpin every aspect of GEO's work.
Mike Wood CMLI
Landscape Architect | Golf Course Architect
A Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute and a former Chair of the Environment Committee of the EIGCA, Mike has over 25 years experience as an environmental consultant. His contribution to GEO's golf development guidance formed the backbone of GEO's Legacy™ programme.
