Meet The Board

About John:

I am delighted to be appointed Chair of Goalball UK. I have always had a great interest in sport and participated in a number of sports in my younger days but now I mainly watch sport but I do play golf on a regular basis.

I am a Chartered Accountant by training and I had a long and wide – ranging international career in the professional services sector with PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC).  Since retiring from a senior position at PwC in 2008 I have had a number of Non-Executive and Trustee roles in the public, charity and private sectors.

I hope to be able to bring my business experience and contacts to help the development of Goalball particularly around the areas of business planning and strategy.

I have a personal interest in Goalball as my nephew is a regular player and as a result there was already a strong family interest in Goalball.

I look forward to meeting as many as people possible in the Goalball community and spreading the word about the sport of Goalball.

About Grace:

I have experienced first-hand how sport can change people’s lives. It has undoubtedly changed mine. My positive experiences of sport have given me an unwavering commitment to working with organisations that can genuinely transform people’s lives through sport and physical activity.

I joined the Board of Goalball UK in 2015 and was appointed as the Senior Independent Director in 2017. I am fully committed to working with the team to help continue the sport’s successful growth to enable more people to participate, benefit from and stay involved in Goalball.

I bring over 20 years’ experience of working in the sport and leisure sector across a variety of different roles. After several enjoyable years working at Sport England, I co-founded leading leisure consultancy business Continuum Sport and Leisure Ltd in 2001. I specialise in working with clients on insight gathering, strategy and policy development, grant funding and facilities planning. I have notable experience of working with Sport England, National Governing Bodies of sport, clubs, the education sector, local authorities, charities and the private sector.

In addition to my work at Goalball, I am an Honorary Patron of Access Sport CIC.

About Alison:

I have been a change agent throughout a career in the private, public and NGO sector, focused on education, sport and youth development locally and internationally at the highest level.

 I  have led inspirational projects throughout my career from organising and leading the South African Paralympic team to the 2004 Paralympics, to working closely with eight blue chip companies as sponsors, with (then) icons including Natalie du Toit and Oscar Pistorius, to managing the funding for training thousands of volunteers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to piloting a “science and engineering fair” to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics for primary secondary school students. International cooperation is key to success to maximise impact with constrained resources and with the UNDP, I implemented a “cash for work” programme for youth following the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

 My contributions have been recognised through appointments to the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport, working on integrity and human rights issues in sport, coordinating at the request of Ministers and peers the Pacific input into the UNESCO General Assembly and the UNESCO International Conference of Ministers responsible for physical education and sport. At a local level, I started my volunteer work in sport with the Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid, chairing the community group, and was elected to the local and National Sports Council as an executive member. My other main sport is squash where I served as a Board member, having also served as President, of Squash South Africa and on the Ethics Commission of the World Squash Federation.

 I have aimed to achieve the highest standards of governance and ethics through implementing good governance principles, creating transparent policies and improving procedures to support progress, positive outcomes and accountability. I took the opportunity to draft sections on sport and leisure of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons which were largely accepted as drafted.

 Having been involved in a number of Para sports, particularly organising events but mostly Para Table Tennis for 14 years, I have a sound understanding of both the complexities and joys of Para sport. Working with Goalball UK, I bring experience to bear in an organisation continuing to “Transform More Lives” as the sport continues to grow and have a positive impact on those living with a visual impairment and their immediate families and circle of friends.

About Kate:

Like many people, I first became aware of goalball in 2012 when London hosted the Paralympics. I worked for the disability charity Papworth Trust at the time, so I was lucky enough to watch a few matches and meet some of the players. I was struck by their skill and bravery and I’m delighted to see some of them still leading in the sport now.

My background is in communications and marketing, and I have worked for over 20 years across the commercial, charity and education sectors. I have managed internal and external campaigns including launching new strategies, rebranding, copywriting and designing new websites. Currently, I am working with various parts of the University of Cambridge on projects including inclusion, diversity and sustainability.

I’m excited by the new strategy at Goalball UK ‘Transforming More Lives’ because it gets to the heart of what the sport is about; transforming the lives of blind and partially sighted people through goalball. As part of the Board, I hope to use my skills to help make goalball a universally recognized sport in the UK so that more people can experience it .

I’ve read inspiring stories about players who discovered the sport through the work of Goalball UK in schools, colleges and universities, and who have progressed through its targeted training programme to become elite sportspeople competing across the World. As an organisation, we want to give more people the chance to get involved by trying the sport then rising through its ranks. I hope to help Goalball UK increase awareness and funding of the sport to ensure its continued growth.

Outside work, I’m kept busy by two children and far too many pets. We walk, cycle, go camping and get muddy. Although I achieve my target step-count every day, I have not reached a high level in any sport and I remain in awe of those who do so.

About Peter:

I am a former international middle distance athlete having competed for Britain in the Olympics, World and European championship and in addition, represented England at the Commonwealth Games in the 800 and 1500 metres.

During this period I won an Olympic silver medal in the 1500m, a silver medal in the 800m at the World Championship, European indoor silver medal in the 800m along with gold and bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games in the 1500m & 800m. I also held the World record for 1500m indoors which I believe it still a British record.

In a coaching capacity, I have coached athletes to major championship level and held the position of UK Athletics middle distance national events coach.

I currently work at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) as Director of Operations. I have been with the organisation since 2004 taking on various roles during this period of time. The EIS provides sport science, medicine, technology and engineering support to athletes and sports on a World Class Programme at Olympic and Paralympic level.

In addition to the above roles and along with the position of director of Goalball UK I am also the president of South Yorkshire Schools Athletic Association which provides me with the opportunity to give something back to grass roots athletics.

About Dyfrig:

I am a solicitor and have worked in local government and similar places for over 20 years, working on everything from building new schools and closing down a development agency, to suing the government and prosecuting someone for not bringing their library books back.  I am most proud of the work I did to support changes in the rules about Legal Aid given to victims of domestic violence.  At the moment I work for Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

I started playing goalball in 2012 after going to watch it at the Paralympics (sadly, a very boring semi final).  On the day I turned up at Cambridge Dons, some other new people turned up too (including Sarah Leiter) and we doubled the size of the club.  I was part of the Dons’ committee for about 3 years, and played a couple of seasons for them at Novice.  I’ve also played a bit for Lancashire Lions since moving north. I joined the Board in 2014.

About Ranjit:

Most of my career has been in the world of commercial retail in the UK and USA with companies like The Body Shop, Virgin and Marks & Spencer.  I have also throughout my career been involved in charities as a board member, volunteer or mentor.  In the USA I was vice chair of a charity that supported a unique school in Manhattan, and in the UK I worked as a volunteer managing director for a special needs charity that supported children through yoga therapy.  Currently I am a non-executive director on the Girlguiding UK/Trading Board.

Even though I am well past my sporting peak, I still enjoy a game of tennis and squash as well as running and yoga.  I am also a qualified yoga teacher and occasionally teach at a leading London studio.

I have always found this Arthur Ashe quote inspirational ‘From what we get we can make a living.  What we give, however makes a life’ and it has carried me here to Goalball UK.  I’m hoping my commercial experience and network  can help the organisation strengthen its financial base as well as increase its’ reach.

About Allegra:

I have always had a huge passion for health and fitness, having spent my younger years working in a leisure centre and, most recently, certifying as a personal trainer. Accessibility of sporting activities has always been something I have felt strongly about, having seen it’s wide ranging benefits and how it can connect people and can bring about a sense of community. So for me, joining Goalball UK board offers me a really exciting opportunity to combine my professional experience with my passion.

I am a chartered management accountant with almost 10 years cross-industry experience including manufacturing/fmcg, retail, construction/development and alternative medicine. I love learning and to be challenged which is why, throughout my career, I have also upheld a wide variety of roles within finance – everything from internal controls to commercial finance.

I am an avid runner and swimmer and occasional boulderer. I also have a lovely yellow Labrador, Archie, who keeps me forever on my toes!

Other than being obsessed with sport/fitness and my dog, I read a lot of non-fiction – anything and everything! I love being enlightened and/or gaining a new perspective on topics/subjects I haven’t previously thought too deeply about.

I have previously been a school governor at Kings Norton Boys School which was extremely rewarding and eye opening. I also used to volunteer for a small local charity that supports people with learning disabilities.

I’m excited about joining the Goalball family and being able to help support the delivery of Goalball UK’s obsessions and transforming more lives.

About Mark:

Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant, I have spent over 20 years in the private sector advising small and medium-sized businesses. I now work exclusively in the sporting and charity world and has advised several government-funded sports, but Goalball UK remains my longest-serving Board post, where I am also the Company Secretary.

I have been the principal adviser to the Government on how their money is being spent, and I help the Goalball UK Board of Directors understand where the sport’s finances are up to and irritates the Goalball  UK staff with his queries about expenses and invoices!

Aside from my wife Helen and children Leo and Holly, one of my main passion’s is Manchester United Football Club, where I am a season-ticket holder for over 30 years. Family life currently occupies a lot of my time, but when my wife allows me some of my favourite interests are travelling to different countries, reading a variety of books, watching films most people think are boring and catching up with his friends over real ales drunk by middle aged men.

Amongst his various roles, I believe that it’s the warmth, positivity and sense of enjoyment of the people in the world of goalball that make the sport stand out from the others and be a pleasure to be involved with.

About Mark:

I am truly delighted to be the CEO of Goalball UK. It is a complete pleasure to lead such a talented group of people. A very wise person said, ‘Find a job you love and you don’t go to work anymore.’ I feel I have found this position. I have over 15 years’ experience in sports, charity and education management.

I have worked in schools, colleges, Higher education settings, local authorities and professional sports clubs in a variety of leadership roles.

My aim is to work with everyone in our sport to provide vision and leadership and ensure high quality services. I love providing individuals, groups and communities with the best environments to achieve their full potential. I am a lifelong sports enthusiast and I have played, coached and watched sports all my life.