Latest news with #McGeever
BBC News
24-04-2025
- BBC News
Instagram hotspot boss faces Seven Sisters rewilding challenges
The new chief executive of the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has shared the challenges of managing the Seven Sisters due to its popularity as an "international hotspot". The SDNPA took over the management of the Seven Sisters Country Park in 2021 from East Sussex County Council. Siôn McGeever told Radio Sussex it has close to 850,00 visitors a year and the Seven Sisters was one of the top travel internet searches in China. "We have become a serious international hotspot but it comes with pressure in how we manage it," he said. "We have put in some great investments, we spent £2m investing in facilities and we are proud of that."The big challenge now is re-naturing the area. We want to show what the best natural landscape can look like."Mr McGeever said the national park authority's goal was to connect people with restoration and nature recovery."We want to focus on how we manage the land and how we manage the chalk grassland," he of the SDNPA's rewilding initiatives is conservation grazing where ponies, cows and sheep help protect and enhance the chalk grassland, he added. It is also working with a number of national trusts, wildlife trusts and local authorities to create a Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve (NNR).Sussex Wildlife Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, South East Water, National Trust, Eastbourne Borough Council, Forestry England and Natural England are involved in the scheme to create the "super nature reserve".The project's objectives are to protect drinking water resources, chalk geology and habitats, and protect biodiversity."We are waiting to hear back from National England, if they approve we would be very excited," said Mr McGeever."It would signal to people that the Seven Sisters isn't just a beautiful place to have a nice photo on Instagram, but it's also about the area's natural habitats and wildlife including the birds and butterflies."
CAF
07-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
CAF WIDP: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Women's Football
The opening of the CAF Women Instructors Development Program (WIDP) seminar on Tuesday, 04 February brought together football professionals to discuss the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in football, with a particular focus on its use in management and leadership. This enriching session was led by Jules McGeever, Marketing Manager at Celtic FC, and overseen by CAF's Head of Women's Football, Ms Meskerem Tadesse Goshime. The highlighted the intersections between emerging technologies and leadership development in football. The CAF Women Instructors Development Program is another innovative addition to CAF's Women's Football Development strategy and will run in different modules between March and May 2025. The Role of AI in Influencing Leaders The seminar addressed key themes, including the essential role of leadership, the adaptation of management styles, and the importance of communication. McGeever emphasized that a leader should inspire through influence rather than authority, and that AI can play a crucial role in analysing behaviours and providing precise feedback on leadership practices. 'AI allows us to extract essential data on human behaviours, which helps us better understand how leaders can influence and motivate their teams more effectively,' McGeever stated. The goal is to strengthen the discipline and responsiveness of leaders when facing complex, situations. The Adaptability of Leadership Styles in a Sports Environment The adaptability of leadership styles was also discussed, particularly in the sports context where team dynamics are constantly evolving. AI could assist in refining coaches' decisions based on players' performances and interactions. McGeever compared this approach to running a marathon, where discipline and perseverance are crucial for long-term success. The Importance of Self-Confidence for Female Leaders Another important aspect of the seminar was the significance of self-confidence for female leaders. In a field where women are still underrepresented, AI could play a supportive role by enabling leaders to better understand the perceptions of their communication, particularly their body language and tone of voice, to enhance their authority without adopting an overly authoritative approach. 'AI allows us to detect details invisible to the naked eye, such as micro-expressions and tone of voice, which is essential for strengthening the presence and communication of female leaders,' McGeever added. The Challenges of Integrating AI into Sports The challenges of integrating AI into sports were also discussed, emphasizing the need for human understanding behind the data. AI should not replace human interpretation and management of teams but rather complement them. The ethics of using data and respecting players' privacy remain important for the successful integration of AI into sports management. AI for Delegation and Stress Management in Leadership The seminar also highlighted the importance of delegation and stress management in leadership. Jules McGeever stressed that a true leader must know when to delegate tasks and how to maintain an overview. AI could assist leaders in delegating more effectively by analysing the skills and weaknesses of team members. In terms of stress management, AI can provide real-time assessments of emotional states, enabling informed decisions to keep a team calm and resilient. AI, a Valuable Tool for Female Leaders in Football This is the first step of a three-month program, with the next module focused on communication, scheduled for 18 March 2025. Instructors will participate in both online and in-person sessions, with a final evaluation taking place in Addis Ababa in May 2025. This program is part of a larger effort to promote women in football leadership and encourage them to take key roles in the management and coaching of football in Africa. AI could be a valuable tool in this initiative, supporting leaders in optimizing their impact, improving their management and building strong relationships within their teams.
