Meet our Nominated Directors
Meet our Nominated Directors
National Director Nominations
We received two strong nominations for the National Director role. Which means that members will need to vote. The vote will be an online vote. The vote will close at 11:59 on Saturday 23rd March 2024. Members will be sent links to vote via email.
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
- Founder member of The Warwickshire Club, based in Rugby and now boasts more than 100 members
- Played league tennis and badminton
- Level 4 Hockey Coach with international experience since 1989
- Currently Head Coach to England Hockey Women’s Masters squad preparing for the World Cup in NZ 2024
- Attended Chelsea College of PE, now in Brighton University
- Senior Development Manager for England Hockey
- National Development Director for Badminton England
- CEO of ISPAL which morphed into CIMSPA
Career details including business skills and experiences:
- Sue is an Ex PE Teacher. Additionally, she is experienced with developing national development programmes, focussing on increasing participation, coaching, coaches and working with partners to increase facilities.
- Experienced in working with Local Government Sports Programmes and delivering their outcomes.
- Managed budgets and lead teams.
- Worked with volunteers developing and taking on board new systems eg Safeguarding, ClubMark delivering outcomes to meeting deadlines.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
- As a CEO Sue prepared Board Meeting Agendas, delivered the policies and created company income.
- Board Member of the Play Inspection Association.
- Operated within a professional and volunteer Board at Badminton England.
- National recognition for my work within the Equity Framework.
- Regular meetings with DCMS, MP for Sport and other government offices for sport.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Increased recognition nationally and internationally
- Increase in coaching numbers and coaches
- Establish more pickleball courts
- Increase numbers of clubs and their membership numbers
- Improve the connection and relationship with Sport England
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
Martin has been playing pickleball since the beginning of 2019, playing three times per week. He regularly plays external events including English Open, Nationals, SEPL, SE Double league, Irish Open, and various festivals and other tournaments. He has chaired Fleet Aces Pickleball club for 3 years. Helped the club get back on its feet post-covid, growing it from 30 to 80 members, from 2 to 5/6 sessions per week and established stronger governance and admin processes.
Martin is also a regular golfer and yoga practitioner.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
Martin retired in 2020 after 35 years in business following the sale of the business he was CEO of.
- 13 years as CEO / FD with an employee owned business psychology firm with 200 employees across 14 countries
- 8 years within a management consultancy as CFO of start-ups plus corporate finance projects
- 14 years in industrial gases undertaking a variety of IT, business analysis and operational research roles.
Highly numerate, good communication skills, comfortable managing people, developing strategy and leading organisations. High attention to detail, advanced excel skills and happy working with technology. MBA from London Business School; basic knowledge of accounting concepts.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
- Numerous directorships since 2000, both at subsidiary and parent company level. In his final employment Martin was director of 15+ group of companies.
- Comfortable chairing, leading discussions, challenging and collaborating at board level.
- Currently chair at Fleet Aces and chair of the board of trustees for a local youth charity.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Formal recognition by Sport England as the governing body for pickleball in England
- 25,000 people playing pickleball in England from all ages, backgrounds and cultures
- Expanded court availability with permanently marked NVZs through relationships with sports centres, schools, tennis clubs, vendors etc.
- A sustainable organisational structure that reduces risk and dependency
- Established national and regional event framework supporting future Opens, Nationals and Leagues as the sport expands.
Regional Director Nominees
We also have two candidates for the South East (N) Director position with very different experience. South East North Region covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. Greater London north of the Thames will be looked after by the successful candidate supported by a team of London Ambassadors that we will be looking to recruit after the AGM.
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
Originally form the Netherlands, Christine has been in the UK since 1974 and has been involved in sport all her life, including teaching PE in London Secondary Schools, and creating/being part of clubs.
Introduced to pickleball in Vancouver in 2015, Christine started Braughing & District (BaD) pickleball club soon afterwards. Now 4 sessions/week and ~120+ members.
In 2018/19 Christine obtained a grant from Sport England to develop pickleball across the county and there are now 9 active clubs/sessions in the county.
Christine and others organised the first Hertfordshire Festival in 2017 and one every year since.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
Christine did a post-graduate in Management, 1980 and spent 24 years in Local Government, starting in Leisure Centres and ending up Deputy Director of Leisure in Newham and Director of Leisure in Enfield.
Responsibilities included, Parks, Libraries, Museums, Theatres and Arts, Sport, community facilities, Play and Cemeteries. She led a range of major projects including, Thames Barrier Park, commercial leisure facilities, libraries, leisure centres etc. and worked on the Sport and Recreation Impact Assessment in support of the planning application for the London Olympics.
Christine retired from Enfield, 2004, spent 2 years as a change management consultant, then worked for Hertfordshire University, as Director of the Herts Sport and Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) until retiring again in 2015!
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
- In Enfield Christine was on the Board of the Regional Health Authority and led the Enfield Health Improvement Partnership Board.
- As HSP Director, she was responsible to a Board of Trustees.
- Christine was a Director for 9 years (Hertfordshire YMCA) and helped set up, the Herts Disability Sports Foundation and was a Director on their Board for 3 years.
- She was the vice chair of the London Chief Leisure Officer Association and on the Board of the National CLOA.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
The main objective currently is to complete pbE accreditation with Sport England. The number of clubs has increased significantly and supporting clubs and their players with e.g with local coaching programmes and leagues is another objective. However, to keep doing the good work including the major events is also very important.
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
Trevor is Sports mad, playing 8 or more sports and in his words ‘I play all racket sports’ including squash and tennis. Has a coaching certificate in Badminton. Played padel for 6 years and is at 4.0+ level. Real tennis – 9 years with a 2712 singles ranking and plays in the National League. Table Tennis – 7 years. Basildon League Committee member and player.
Trevor has been playing pickleball for 5 years. Got his GB Pickleball level 1 coaching certificate and has been running clubs, introductory sessions and Angel Pickleball Essex League. He has also run sessions for Active Essex, NHS, sports clubs and hotels as well as 1:1 and group coaching.
In addition to all the racket sports Trevor has a Brown Belt and Coaching badge in Judo – he has played the sport for 14 years. He has also been involved in Skateboard and BMX for 14 years. Owning and operating skateparks and skateboard shops, running competitions and building ramps.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
- 2009 – Present: Property Landlord / Pickleball Coach
- 2017 – Present: Shotgate Parish Councillor
- 2019 – Present: Shotgate Community Association: Vice Chairman (2019 – 2023)
- 2009 – 2018: Proprietor – Angel Holidays
- 2007 – 2017: Proprietor – Angel Limousines
- 2004 – 2009: Provider – Essex County Council Supported Lodgings Accommodation
- 1994 – 2004 Proprietor – Jelly Mumbo’s Skateboard Shop
- 1994 – 2003 Proprietor – Rampage Skatepark (Largest Ramp Park in Europe)
- 1997 – 1999 Proprietor – Indoor Skatepark (First Indoor Skateboard Park in UK)
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
Trevor advised that he has extensive experience gained from running his own businesses and as a councillor and as an officer on committees.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Pickleball to be recognised as a sport by Sport England. He is passionate about this as he has seen Skateboard and BMX progress from being seen as children playing with toys, to athletes competing in Olympic Sports.
- More events and more coverage in the media.
- Trevor would also like the recreational side of pickleball given a big push. There are many more recreational players than competitive players. They should all be supported and encouraged to tell their friends about pickleball.
- All badminton courts to be bookable for pickleball.
- A pickleball court in every park as in his local park.
West Midlands Candidate - uncontested
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
Sport has always been in Michael’s life, racquet sports in his youth followed by a three-decade hiatus embraced by cycling, yoga, and teaching Psychocalisthenics. Reintroduced to racquet sports via pickleball in July 2022, after which I swiftly advanced to Level I coach by November that year, coaching 600+ enthusiasts as Pickleball England’s County Rep for Worcestershire in a short nine months. The blend of strategy, agility, and camaraderie reignited his love for racquet sports, ending decades of pause. This journey—from hiatus to deeply being embedded in the pickleball community—echoes the sport’s magnetic attraction and now his unwavering dedication to the sport.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
A versatile professional with a diverse background in business ownership, consultancy, and creativity, Michael excelled in various disciplines. As the former Chief Storyteller and Business Consultant at Staying Alive UK, since November 2005, he ran a consultancy, initially in wellbeing and latterly a storytelling production company. Proficient in producing video whiteboard animations, scriptwriting, and storyboarding, he delivered storytelling training for small businesses. Michael created engaging content online, hosted the ‘Share Your Story’ podcast for six years, authored 600 blog posts, and produced 800 videos. With 28 years in leadership roles, including Sales and Marketing Directorships, his career demonstrates expertise in business, storytelling, and digital media. Michael also currently supports his Taiko Drumming teacher with his media and marketing.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
Board member on several business boards during his 28-year career in Textiles Manufacturing.
Member of the Board of Trustees and Ambassador for Kemp Hospice Kidderminster (voluntary roles).
Chair and Trustee at Birmingham Yes Group (personal development group) also as a volunteer.
Trustee at Aim for Change a small UK charity who support orphans and street children in Uganda as well as vulnerable adults and children in Pakistan.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Pickleball to be recognised by Sport England
- Achieve a larger press presence including being featured on BBC Radio 5 Live during all major tournaments and premier league matches.
- Obtain multi-million pound revenue funding to grow the sport and attract significant investment in dedicated indoor Pickleball facilities in strategic locations around the UK.
- Inclusion in schools, colleges and universities as part of their sport curriculum.
East Midlands Candidate - uncontested
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
Pep has first-hand experience of climbing the sporting pyramid through football, from grassroots (school and local football clubs), to amateur leagues (Luton Town Youth Team) and finally on to professional football (Wisbech Town FC). Pep competed in multiple FA Cup ties, Captained the County College Team and represented Great Britain college at the qualifying round for the World cup in Trinidad & Tobago. After a successful career in football, Pep transitioned his athletic ability into tennis, rising up to play in the top tennis divisions around the Cambridge area.
Pep’s attention soon turned to pickleball, and with guidance from several influential people in the space, started growing the sport around Peterborough. Pep introduced pickleball to David Lloyd Peterborough and now runs a thriving program with over 120 regular players in the area. With strong relationships in the Peterborough community and surrounding areas, Pep finds himself advising many other pickleball enthusiasts to help grow the sport.
Pep has built an impressive playing resume in the last few years, winning gold medals at many national and international events. Pep joined an elite list of players in 2022, becoming Men’s Open Doubles Champion at the English Nationals in Bolton alongside Freddie Powell.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
Pep started his business career in the food industry, matching his passion for cooking with understanding the corporate world. Starting at Marriott Hotels, Pep quickly moved on to a become the Restaurant Manager at a top Italian restaurant in Peterborough, managing a large staff and overseeing both food service and business operations for 10 years. Using his experience in the restaurant industry, Pep opened his own restaurant in 2010. Pep manages kitchen operations and front of house staff, alongside finances, and supply chains for the business. Due to his exemplary reputation, Pep is also contracted to oversee food standards at several location of a national convenience store chain.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
- Owner and Director of Giulianos restaurant in Crowland, Peterborough (14 years)
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Achieve Sport England recognition.
- Grow existing county leagues that I have set up in the region.
- Execute on the PbE strategy to get pickleball into local schools.
- Assist in the development of a “New club, best practices” framework due to the desire of members to build clubs in their areas.
- Grow the Pickleball England brand on an international level.
South East (S) Candidate - uncontested
South East South Region covers Berkshire, Surrey, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. Greater London south of the Thames will be looked after by David supported by a team of London Ambassadors that we will be looking to recruit after the AGM.
Sport knowledge and Experience, including Pickleball:
David has been playing pickleball and been a member of Runnymede Royals for several years. He runs the weekly Intermediate Club Session including Drills and Coaching. He also coaches drills at other sessions help analyse performance of higher standard players.
David is a qualified Chartered Physiotherapist and Sports Scientist. He was Physiotherapist to the GB Judo Team as well as Physiotherapist and Coach to the Paralympic Team.
He has experience of International and Professional Sport and worked with the following: England Football, England Rugby and England Cricket Teams; Ferrari, Maclaren and other Formula 1 Teams, GB Rowing Team, several premier League Football Teams and County Cricket Teams etc. – PR and Marketing but also working with the players/sportsmen/women etc. on technical aspects of performance.
David worked with Sir Steve Redgrave and liaised directly with the Prime Minister and Secretaries of State on promoting sport, health and fitness to all levels of society with a special emphasis on schoolchildren through a variety of initiatives.
Career details including business skills and experiences:
Pioneered In-house Corporate Health and Fitness Facilities throughout Europe working with more than 60 companies and organisations including: Xerox, Ford, Sony, Disney, Royal Mail, Amex, Daily Telegraph, Goldman Sachs, Diageo, Houses of Parliament, European Commission, Glaxo etc.
Worked in a variety of sectors in sport, health and fitness including Bupa, Technogym, Cigna – held various positions including Managing Director, UK Managing Director of a Global Company, Operations Director, European Sales and Marketing Director. Skills include Sales and Marketing, PR, Operations, Contract negotiation – Official Supplier Agreements etc.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director:
Managing Director experience as outlined above.
Also Board Director/Trustee for Active Nation for twenty years – a national charity that manages local authority
sports and leisure facilities.
Past Education Board Director for UK Active – the Trade Association for the Health and Fitness Industry. Past Chairman for the Association for Worksite Health Promotion.
What would you like to see PbE achieve during your term?
- Recognised as a National Governing Body within Sport England (appreciate this is already in train).
- To harness the substantial interest and growth in pickleball throughout England and ensure easy facilitation for new members to access clubs and facilities.
- Build relationships with Sport, Health and Fitness Club operators to maximise their court usage through Pickleball Sessions- demonstrating the low-cost to start up and also some of the member demographics who could make use of some of their off-peak periods.
- Increased sponsorship of events – not just with Pickleball suppliers.
Q & A
How do I vote? Eligible members were sent an email with voting links on Tuesday 6th February. Get your vote in by 23:59 Saturday 23rd March.
Please note that you can only vote once. Your voting button is unique to you. If you vote more than once your most recent vote will overnight your first vote. It is not possible to vote for more than one person.
Why didn’t I receive an email? If you were a member of pbE as at 2nd February, you should have received an email unless you have unsubscribed from our emails. Please check your junk mail/spam. Sadly there are a couple of hundred members that have unsubscribed from our emails. It is not possible to mail these members due to GDPR.
I didn’t receive a voting button on my email. If you are resident (according to our records) in England, you should have received a voting link. If you are resident outside of England, you would not have been sent the voting button.