A career built on turf, data and discovery: When the new Research Director for STRI Group turned up for his first day at work, there was no need for a series of introductions with his colleagues.

Nor was there any need to spend time familiarising him with the industry or his goals for the coming years.

A career built on turf, data and discovery

Glenn Kirby wasn’t starting from scratch. He has spent a lifetime working in the sports turf industry, first as a greenkeeper at some of the most prestigious golf clubs in the country, then as a Course Manager, before moving into a commercial role with one of the most innovative, research based companies in the sector.

Joining STRI has allowed Glenn to add the final piece to a professional journey that few can match, one that spans the end-user, commercial and now research sides of the industry.

So, what prompted this latest career move?

“STRI has its centenary coming up in 2029 and it’s got an immense legacy, possibly one of the greatest legacies there is in sports research,” said Glenn.

“The Group continues its longstanding commitment to sports turf and data-driven research, which is where I seem to have found my niche. This felt like a really good opportunity.

It was a difficult decision to leave my last role, but I asked myself, ‘if, in five years’ time, someone else had come in and done a great job, how would I feel?’ The answer made it easy. I’d be incredibly pleased and slightly jealous!”

While Glenn will undoubtedly help drive forward STRI’s world-renowned research programmes, it is also the opportunity to lead the organisation into a new era of connected, insightdriven science that excites him most.

“When I was at school in the 1990s, I was faced with two possible career paths,” Glenn explained.

“One was outdoors – practical, hands-on and physical. The other was in front of a computer and developing software. If I’m honest, I enjoyed being outside more, and I probably convinced myself that the more academic or technical route wasn’t for me.”

That decision set him on the path to a lifelong career in turf management. His greenkeeping journey began at Corhampton Golf Club, followed by roles across Europe and the USA, before returning to the UK as Head Greenkeeper at The London Club and later Course Manager at Hockley Golf Club in Winchester.

“But that digital mindset never really went away,” he added.

“When I moved into the commercial world, it started to come back to the fore. Joining Syngenta gave me a platform to see how technology could genuinely influence decisions and drive improvement.”

His seven-and-a-half years at Syngenta culminated in his role as Technical Services Manager for Turf across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

“When AI first became available to the public through ChatGPT, I saw it as a huge opportunity and highlighted it to my line management. They were good enough to let me lead internal projects exploring how AI could drive efficiencies across the business. That experience helped me understand how digital tools, when applied with purpose, can make a real difference.”

“At STRI we’ve generated vast amounts of data over nearly a century, much of it in our green booklets or sitting, quite literally, on library shelves.

We now have the opportunity to use that knowledge in new ways,” Glenn said.

“For me, my goal within the research and development team at STRI is to turn that data and information into insights, and help people turn those insights into practical, actionable outcomes.”

“Data is only powerful if it leads to better decisions. Whether that’s understanding how weather patterns affect green speeds or customer satisfaction and then using that information to develop management strategies that help golf clubs and sports venues perform better.”

Glenn is quick to emphasise that his focus is not just on data, but on strengthening STRI’s Research division as the industry leader in sports turf research and product testing.

“Our reputation has been built on a long legacy of turf trials,” he said.

“We’ll continue to drive forward, delivering high-quality, independent trial work and producing data that is genuinely useful to the industry. That evidence base will help us navigate the challenges of climate change, shifting regulations and changing product availability.”

“Most importantly, I’m joining a great team of people and an organisation with a continued enthusiasm for the turfgrass market.

I’m looking forward to ensuring STRI remains at the forefront of leadership in sports turf, blending our history and our innovation to help shape the future.”