As Golf Ontario’s valued stakeholders, staff, and Board of Directors welcome the 2022 season with open arms and a bright vision of Golf for All, we are delighted to announce the extension of President and Vice-President terms and the introduction of two new directors to the board.
Respectively, Susan Vail and Leslie Ferrari have served on the board since 2017 and 2018. Elected to President and Vice-President of the Board of Directors in 2021, the extension of their terms for another year will allow Golf Ontario to continue its forward momentum in growing the game of golf with the support of their dedicated leadership. With our focus on Golf for All, Vail wants to build on the framework created in 2021 with the help of Korn Ferry. “We have a plan, a policy and committed staff and board members ready to help create welcoming environments for underserved groups. These groups include youth, women, people of colour, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, the 2SLGBTQ+ community… and many others who have not yet had the opportunity to experience what golf has to offer,” explained Vail. “The bar was raised in 2021. Let’s do even more in 2022 to shape lives through golf!”
Joining the Board of Directors in 2022, we welcome David Herrera and Julian Franklin.
Head of People and Organization Analytics for Korn Ferry, David Herrera joins the Golf Ontario Board of Directors with more than 15 years of consulting experience. A passionate DE&I practitioner and subject matter expert, David has advised several organizations globally to become more diverse and inclusive to their talent and customers/clients.
“As a visible minority, immigrant, member of the LGBTQ+ community, and management consultant, I hope that I can bring my experience and perspectives to make Golf more accessible to all and continue to have a positive impact in our communities,” explained Herrera.
While David is an amateur golfer, he has found passion in the game and supporting the development of communities and youth. He joins the board with ambitions to “develop an awareness of the benefits of golf and implement initiatives that will improve the accessibility of golf in Ontario.”
Following two challenging years, Herrera believes that “2022 should be a year of building bridges and stronger communities, and golf should be one of many enablers of this.”
A Canadian Marketing Hall of Fame member, Julian Franklin is a business leader with 20+ years of client and agency experience in consumer goods and the sporting industry. Julian’s expertise includes strategic planning, communications, and marketing. His career is distinguished by marketing leadership roles in Canada and the United States, where he has worked for industry-leading organizations.
“I am hoping to bring a perspective of someone whose affinity and passion for the game has grown as an adult,” expressed Franklin. “This perspective brings an understanding of how important a sport like golf can be to help shape our personal and professional outlooks.”
Julian’s corporate governance experience is extensive. He is also a Founding Member of POCAM (People of Colour in Advertising & Marketing). This association advocates the inclusion and advancement of Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour (BIPOC) within Marketing.
In joining the board, he aims to help “increase the participation and positive impact of golf at the youth and adult levels, for racialized and marginalized communities across Ontario.”
Please click here to learn more about Golf Ontario’s Board of Directors.
“The bar was raised in 2021. Let’s do even more in 2022 to shape lives through golf!”
Susan Vail, President, Golf Ontario
ABOUT GOLF ONTARIO:
The Golf Association of Ontario, operating as “Golf Ontario”, is the Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing Communications – Golf Ontario
pmackellar@gao.ca
Brianna Christopher,
Assistant, Marketing Communications – Golf Ontario
bchristopher@gao.ca
