David McGrath to Depart ClubsNSW

David leaves behind a strong digital legacy within clubs, having been responsible for driving the likes of the revamped ClubGRANTS online system, the Multi-Venue Self-Exclusion (MVSE) database and, most recently, the new ClubLIFE website. 

And he’s proud of the role clubs have played in supporting his leadership of the industry on its digital journey. 

“I started at ClubsNSW in 2017… it’s fair to say since then, clubs have fully embraced digital and are really using technology to not only save money, but also make it,” says David. 

“Intelligence has gone from ‘gut feel’ to data-driven insights, which are now helping shape big strategy decisions.” 

The digital journey has been informed along the way by the Digital Advisory Committee, a body established by David comprising of club managers from across the state with diverse skills who helped to test and take digital learnings back to their own clubs. 

“We took this group to San Francisco, Seattle and Singapore and met with the world’s biggest tech companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Salesforce and Square, to name a few. So many ideas are now embedded in these clubs and have generated real results,” he says. 

Clubs will need to continue evolving to stay ahead of the game, with David predicting three key areas where the digital world will change the industry over the next five years. 

The first is payments, where the modern customer will expect the latest technology when buying any product or service, including cashless transactions and digital currencies. The second is digital identity, where traditional plastic and paper will continue to be phased out in place of data stored on mobile phones. Of course, clubs will need to stay up to date with community and regulatory expectations around how such data is stored and deleted. And lastly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, David sees the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) as having a big impact on customer experiences, particularly around catering and dynamic pricing. 

“I love the passion of the people who work in our clubs and the leaders who sit on boards and manage clubs.” 

“We are an industry in an environment of change and new spirit of responsibility,” he says.  

“Technology has shown us that by embracing and preparing for change, it allows us to not only adapt quicker, but also capitalise on the many business and social opportunities that will emerge. 

“Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Understand you need to protect and govern your data assets. Work with partners who have great products and support services and invest in innovation.” 

As he bows out of the club industry to begin a new challenge in a senior leadership role at a consumer-facing technology company, David reflects on his fondest memories.  

“We are a people business and it’s the people who make it so social and unique to this country. I love the passion of the people who work in our clubs and the leaders who sit on boards and manage clubs. Every time you ask someone ‘can you show me around?’ their faces light up and they proudly give you the tour. 

“As someone who entered my role as a ‘temporary member’ in 2017, I hope that I’ve qualified to become a ‘voting member’ in 2023. And like horse racing, they say when it’s in your blood, it never leaves. I’ve now got horses and clubs in my veins.”