Mr. Steinbach joins the organization with extensive experience in the golf industry most recently serving as the Head Coach of the men’s and women’s golf program at Simon Fraser University, as well as having held a previous role with British Columbia Golf helping develop programs around the province. Mr. Steinbach also brings corporate leadership experience having worked with General Mills Canada, where he was responsible for leading the successful integration of brands into the General Mills portfolio across major Western Canadian grocery banners.
“I’m delighted to be joining British Columbia Golf to lead the organization into a new era,” said Mr. Steinbach. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help grow the game through strategic, grassroots programs, as well as high-performance development.”
Mr. Steinbach’s priorities as the new CEO include:
- building strong, consistent, and transparent lines of communication within the provincial, national and international golf community;
- strengthening the organization’s digital presence, including website, social media, and member engagement tools;
- capturing, celebrating, and scaling the outstanding grassroots initiatives across the province that promote participation and create inclusive, welcoming environments for new and returning golfers;
- delivering exceptional, sustainable championship experiences at the provincial and zone levels, while supporting competitive excellence;
- and advocating for and amplifying the wide-ranging physical, mental, social and spiritual benefits of golf.
Mr. Steinbach will take over the CEO role in July, fresh off completing a Master of Science in Sport Psychology at the University of Stirling in Scotland this summer.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Matthew as the new CEO of BC Golf,” said Shauna Wilton, President of British Columbia Golf. “His deep industry knowledge, strong relationships across the golf community, and impressive coaching accomplishments make him the ideal leader to guide our organization forward. On behalf of the board, I would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Kris Jonasson for his leadership and vision over the past 29 years.”
Longtime CEO and Executive Director Kris Jonasson announced his retirement in December 2024, and will support a transition process to the new CEO. Jonasson joined the organization in 1996, leading it through numerous accomplishments including managing the merger between the men’s and women’s associations, developing a highly competent staff, launching new championships, and acquiring the association’s own headquarters.
“Matthew is a fantastic choice to lead the organization into the future,” said Jonasson. “He has deep roots in the provincial golf world and brings tremendous corporate leadership skills that will serve the organization well.”