Our Directors
The founding Directors of the Association were Frank Arico and Karen Mitchell. Their appointments as Directors was approved by the Membership at the 23.8.19 AGM. Frank stepped down at the 18.2.24 AGM.
The Articles of Association stipulate a requirement of a minimum of 2 directors and a maximum of 9 which includes a Director from each Region. At a Special General Meeting on 27.10.24 the SE Region was agreed to be split into 2 regions – SE (North) and SE (South).
Elaine Shallcross’s NW Regional Director appointment was confirmed at the 23.8.19 AGM.
James Chaudry became a Strategy and Development Advisor for PbE in February 2021 and was formally invited to join the board in December 2021.
Val Vladea and Richard Thom’s Regional Directors appointments were confirmed at 6.11.21 Board Meeting (as uncontested).
At the 18.2.24 AGM, Michael de Groot was confirmed as WM Regional Director, Pep Giuliano was confirmed as East Midlands Regional Director and David Hughes SE (South) Regional Director.
Following elections that closed on 23.3.24 Martin Smith was confirmed as National Director and Christine Neyndorff was confirmed as SE (North) Regional Director.
Karen retired in 2014 following a 35 year career with American Express.
Her background is in Marketing, New Product Development and Business Development.
She was part of the Senior Management Committee for her business organisation and has led large global teams.
Since retiring Karen has been the Booking Secretary for her local village hall. She is an active participant on the Committee and has additional responsibility for their website and data privacy.
Karen took up pickleball in 2015 and introduced her husband Chris to the game later that year. Karen & Chris started Pickleball in Eastbourne (PIE) in 2016. They now have 3 drop in sessions a week. In early 2018 they both got Level 1 IPTPA Certification so that they could reassure new players they were qualified to teach them how to play. Karen & Chris are both regular attendees at European Tournaments.
Karen was encouraged by players to establish pickleballEngland to increase awareness of pickleball and drive growth of the game. She decided to accept the challenge when Frank Arico indicated he was happy to partner her in the goal!
Karen is currently the Chair of pickleballEngland and is on the World Pickleball Federation’s Board of Directors.
You can email Karen at karen@pickleballengland.org
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.
Martin retired in 2020 after 35 years in business following the sale of the business he was CEO of.
Highly numerate, good communication skills, comfortable managing people, developing strategy and leading organisations. MBA from London Business School.
- 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.
You can email Martin at martin@pickleballengland.org
James Chaudry - info to be added
Meet our Regional Directors
Elaine Shallcross - North West Region
Worked in sports sector for over 30 years, teaching as a coach and in sports development. Introduced pickleball to the North West of England, setting up numerous clubs and sessions. Set up the North West Pickleball Festival and NW Restricted Tournament. Tournament Director & Organiser of the Inaugural Thailand Open. Played in pickleball tournaments in Asia, Europe and USA. Career Highlights: Chaired Lancashire Sport Development Forum; Supported Manchester Olympic bid, then Commonwealth Games bid, particularly focussed on volunteer recruitment and training. Experience of lottery funding applications, accessing community funding; creating sports pathways, partnerships, sports research. Elaine created the Pickleball Leaders Certification course. Elaine received a British Empire Medal in 2023 for Services to Pickleball. You can email Elaine at elaine@pickleballengland.org
Michael de Groot - West Midlands Region
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 he 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. 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. 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. You can email Michael at michael@pickleballengland.org
Val Vladea - North East Regional Director
Sport knowledge and experience including pickleball:
“I have played sports my entire life but mainly tennis. Played in college in the USA and then coached since 2005. I took up pickleball relatively recently but have already started my own club, certified as a Pickleball Leader and won two medals at the English Nationals in August.”
Skills & Experience:
“Have coached full time since 2005, college coach and ran my own tennis program in the States. Moved to the UK in 2014 and taught tennis and worked in Admin at a private school before taking on my current role with Wilson. Have experience and currently manage budgets, negotiate deals, work with different companies and organisation and manage coaches, players and parents. Therefore organisation and time management are key. Being a coach has helped me understand that when people come to play a sport it is their time to have fun and relax while getting better and some exercise.”
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director?
I am currently on the Board for the TIA via Wilson.
What would you like to see pbE achieve during your term?
“I would love to see the sport being played by a lot more people. Would love to see the North East hosting leagues and tournaments and having people talk about it in all walks of life”.
You can contact Val via email: val@pickleballengland.org
Richard Thoms - South West Regional Director
Sport knowledge and experience including pickleball:
“I have played lots of sports including badminton, tennis, football, rugby, ice hockey, softball and basketball! I have also coached kids/adults ice hockey. I have been playing pickleball for 4 years, managing a club for 2.5 years. 1.5 years ago I became certified level 1 IPTPA coach and this summer I received my Pickleball Leaders certification. I have been supporting the roll out of pickleball at 3 David Lloyd venues.”
Skills & Experience:
IT Project Manager with a global remit for CooperVision Int Ltd. 15+ years experience in IT in various roles. Managed multiple large scale (up to $5M) developments in numerous geographical locations.
Experience of working on Boards and/or as a Director?
Club Manager Solent Spartans Ice Hockey Club
Treasurer Basingstoke Hyenas Ice Hockey Club
Club Manager SHPC
IT Support for Gosport BMX Club
What would you like to see pbE achieve during your term?
National Governing Body Status; 25,000 members; Club and Venue network throughout the SW; established Leagues in all regions; established coaching programme.
You can contact Richard via email: richardthoms@pickleballengland.org
Christine Neyndorff - South East (North) Regional Director
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.
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!
- n 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.
You can contact Christine via email: christine@pickleballengland.org
David Hughes - South East (South) Regional Director
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.
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.
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.
You can contact David via email:davehughes@pickleballengland.org
Meet our Board Secretary - Guy Herzmark
Guy volunteered to be our Secretary since it’s formation and has attended most of our Board meetinsg. The Board gratefully acknowledges the vital role he has played in documenting our meetings. Guy has agreed to continue to perform this role and has also agreed to take on the additional responsibility of scheduling the meetings. I am not sure Guy understands how difficult that new addition to his role will be but the Board is glad to retain his services and input.
“I started to play pickleball in 2015 with little experience of ball games since school. Soon I was going to festivals and events and competing with some success in national and international competitions. Starting from scratch has helped me understand how people who have not played ball games in adult life can learn to love pickleball.”
Career details including business skills and experiences: “A graduate in mathematics and psychology, I worked for 30 years in my own business providing analytic and policy advice to clients mainly in the NHS such as Government or agencies of Government. My work included service evaluation and needs assessment.”
Experience of working on Boards: “I have been Secretary to the pbE Board of Directors since its formation and since 2020 Secretary to the planning group for the World Pickleball Games. For the last 15 years I have chaired the Management Group of my Allotment Association and raised significant sums from external sources to help develop the site”
What would you like pbE to achieve? The first objective must be to complete pbE accreditation with Sport England. This is a vital step towards growing the game nationally. The next key task is helping to spread the game more widely and and increasing the numbers of players, clubs and pbE members in each region. pbE also needs to ensure that the information it holds on clubs and individuals is up to date (e.g. through an annual review process).
You can contact Guy via email: Secretary@pickleballengland.org
Pep Giuliano - East Midland Director
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.
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, Giulianos in Crowland. Pep managed 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.
- Achieve Sport England recognition.
- Grow existing county leagues 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
- Grow the Pickleball England brand on an international level.
You can contact Pep via email pep@pickleballengland.org