Malcolm Douglas
Non-Executive Independent Director & Chairman
Malcolm was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director and elected as Chair in May 2017. Malcolm has a wealth of business experience notably as Group Managing Director of Swatch Group UK Ltd, Managing Director of Polar Electro UK Ltd, and as Global President of Polar Electro Group. He is now Executive Chair of Patterson Elliott Management Ltd, and is Independent Non-Executive Director at Anytime Fitness UK Ltd.
Malcolm’s role is to lead the Board, ensuring that the highest standards of probity & governance apply in relation to its organisation, development of its business, and its strategy in accordance with its purpose as set out in the governing document and all legal regulatory and requirements.
Malcolm also chairs the BDA Nominations Committee.
Amelia Lewis
Non-Executive Independent Director
With over 15 years’ experience working at some of the largest sports marketing agencies, Amelia will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board regarding the use of data to support rights holders and governing bodies. Specifically across the areas of growing participation and commercial revenue streams, through sponsorship, event experience and club development. Amelia is the UK Regional manager for Players 1st, a sports specific SaaS platform, and is a keen hockey player, runner and golfer in her leisure time.
Amelia leads our Data Forum which is looking to make improvements to our collection and analysis of membership data across the bowls NGBs.
Barry Hedges
Peter Thompson
Director, representing EIBA Ltd
Peter was appointed as Director in 2010 to represent the English Indoor Bowling Association Ltd. Peter is the EIBA’s Chief Executive, a position he has held since January 2009. He has 24 years of experience working in Sport predominantly in the areas of Commercial, Marketing, and Senior Management. His role on the Board is to ensure the sport of flat green indoor bowls continues to be an integral part of the BDA but to provide guidance/assistance in Governance and business operations.
Steve Watson
Director
Steve was appointed as Director in 2021, Steve is Chairperson Disability Bowls Charity Trust, a position his has held since May 2020. Steve served 23 years in the Royal Navy before working in the sports tourism travel sector for the past 22 years and is Director of two sports travel companies working in the areas of Senior Management, Finance, communications, Marketing and Development. He has been involved with Disability Bowls England charity trust for the past 6 years to help with major fundraising projects and to develop the inclusion of the various levels of disability bowls across all the codes.
Jon Cockcroft
Director, representing Bowls England
Jon was appointed as Director in 2020 to represent Bowls England. Jon is Bowls England’s Chief Executive, a position his has held since mid 2020. He has a number years experience of working in Sport predominantly in the areas of Commercial, Marketing and Senior Management. His role on the Board is to ensure the sport of flat green outdoor bowls continues to be an integral part of the BDA.
Lisa Graham
Managing Director, Bowls Development Alliance
Lisa is responsible for leading and supporting the BDA team and developing the overall strategy of the organisation. Reporting to the Board of Directors, she works closely with the Governance and Finance Manager and Development Manager to ensure that the BDA meets the objectives of the Sport England funding. She also works closely with the CEO’s of the Bowls National Governing Bodies to ensure close collaborative working to develop the sport.
Mark Bircumshaw
Director, representing British Crown Green Bowling Association
Mark was appointed as a BDA Director in 2021 and has been the Chief Executive Officer for British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA) since 2018. Working in sport since the age of 16, Mark initially started out working in coaching and development within rowing. Taking up bowls in 2010, he also holds a number of volunteer positions on the bowls committee of Staffordshire County, including treasurer, secretary and development officer.
Mark became our Director of Welfare and Safety in April 2022.
Paul Humphreys
Senior Non-Executive Independent Director
Paul was appointed as Director in 2022 as Senior Non-Executive Independent Director. Having played Bowls for nearly 30 years with stints in Short Mat, Outdoor and Indoor and even the occasional social game of Crown Green, he’s very familiar with the wealth of benefits the sport can bring to individuals, groups and communities. Professionally, Paul worked for the BDA in a number of roles up until 2018 and has since performed a range of operational roles within the Civil Service, first at the Ministry of Defence and currently within HMRC. Those roles have developed a skill set that includes strategic planning, growing sports participation, data capture and analysis, multi-partner delivery and performance management. Away from work and aside from the bowls green, Paul’s often found wandering around the long grass trying to identify his golf ball or exploring his home town of York.
Paul chairs the BDA Audit Committee.
