The GB Hockey Board is comprised of three elected roles, those of President and two Independent Directors, who can serve a maximum of two four-year terms. Each Home Nation provides a representative (usually a representative non-executive Director). The Nominated Country (currently England Hockey) provides a Chief Operating Officer, Company Secretary and Performance Director.
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Don Williams - President
Don was appointed President of GB Hockey in February 2026. A former Great Britain international, Don earned 122 caps and represented GB at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, as well as being part of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1991 European Cup.
Away from hockey, Don is a Chartered Accountant and experienced business leader, having spent more than 35 years at BDO and KPMG. He has continued to support the sport through coaching and strategic projects, bringing a wealth of experience in leadership, governance and performance to his role as President.
Amanda Blacker-Laybourn - Independent Director
Amanda joined the GB Hockey Board in May 2023. A qualified lawyer and governance professional, she brings extensive experience in leadership, governance and strategic decision-making.
A passionate sports enthusiast and lifelong hockey player, Amanda is committed to supporting the continued development and success of hockey across Great Britain. She brings valuable independent oversight and governance expertise to the Board, helping to support the organisation’s long-term ambitions and Olympic performance.
David Hart - Independent Director
David brings more than 20 years of experience in high-performance sport, with expertise spanning performance support, athlete welfare, leadership and organisational culture. He has held senior roles with British Gymnastics and the UK Sports Institute, supporting elite athletes and contributing to the development of Olympic and Paralympic sport.
David holds an Executive MBA focused on leadership, strategy and sustainability in sport. He is passionate about creating athlete-centred environments that combine high performance with positive experiences, and brings valuable insight into performance strategy and culture to the wider sporting landscape.
Bill Riley - Hockey Wales
Bill is Chair of Hockey Wales and brings extensive engineering and project management experience across a range of industry sectors. A Chartered Mechanical Engineer, he has served as an elected member of the Hockey Wales Board for several years.
A passionate hockey enthusiast, Bill has played the sport since primary school and is a qualified Level 1 coach and umpire. He is committed to supporting the development of hockey in Wales and brings valuable leadership, governance and strategic experience to GB Hockey.
Kath Russ - England Hockey
Kath is Chair of England Hockey, bringing a distinguished 30-year legal career and more than a decade of senior leadership experience across the public and private sectors. She was previously Executive Chair of international law firm Travers Smith and now holds a number of non-executive roles, including as a director of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
A lifelong hockey enthusiast, Kath played for Oxford University and maintains a strong personal connection with the sport. She brings extensive expertise in leadership, governance and strategic decision-making, alongside a passion for supporting the continued growth and success of hockey in England and across Great Britain.
Neil Francis - Scottish Hockey
Neil is Chair of Scottish Hockey, bringing more than 25 years of senior leadership experience across economic development, international trade and digital transformation. During his career at Scottish Enterprise, he held a number of senior leadership roles and played a key part in shaping Scotland’s international trade strategy.
Neil also brings extensive governance experience across education, technology and international development. He is Chair of EMMS International, a global health charity, and combines his strategic leadership and board-level experience with a commitment to supporting the development of hockey in Scotland and across Great Britain.
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Rich Beer - Chief Operating Officer
Rich became Chief Operating Officer of Great Britain Hockey in September 2025, alongside his role as Chief Executive Officer of England Hockey. Having been involved with England Hockey for more than a decade, Rich brings extensive experience across sports development, performance sport and strategic leadership.
Rich has played a key role in shaping the future of hockey, leading initiatives including the Big Stadium Hockey concept, the successful bid to host the EuroHockey Championships in 2027 and the development of a facilities loan scheme. A former international team manager and active member of the hockey community, he is passionate about growing the profile of the sport, broadening its appeal and working collaboratively to support the long-term success of Great Britain Hockey.
Bobby Crutchley - Performance Director
Bobby is Performance Director for Great Britain and England Hockey, having returned to the organisation in March 2025 following six years in performance leadership and coach development roles at British Gymnastics. During this time, he contributed to the preparation of athletes for the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Bobby has a distinguished hockey background as an international player, National Coach and Head National Coach, earning 80 international caps and coaching in more than 500 international matches. He brings extensive high-performance experience and a deep understanding of the Olympic system, with a focus on developing athletes, coaches and performance environments to deliver sustained international success.
Kuldeep Kaur - Company Secretary / Finance Director
Kuldeep is Finance and Governance Director for Great Britain and England Hockey, having joined in October 2020 following nine years at the Rugby Football Union, where she led financial planning, strategy and business partnering teams. A qualified CIMA accountant, she brings extensive experience in financial management, governance and strategic decision-making, alongside responsibility for key operational functions including people, legal and technology.
Kuldeep is also a Trustee of Women in Sport, the charity dedicated to creating opportunities for women and girls to participate and thrive in sport. She is passionate about promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and ensuring sport is accessible, welcoming and representative of society.
Derek Kier - Scottish Hockey
Derek is Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Hockey, having joined the organisation in 2024. He brings extensive experience in sports leadership and development, having previously spent seven years as Chief Executive of the Camanachd Association, the governing body for shinty in Scotland.
Derek began his career in disability sport and has held roles across school sport, community sport and national sporting organisations. He brings valuable experience in strategic leadership, partnership development and growing participation, with a strong commitment to creating opportunities for people to engage in sport at all levels.
Paul Whapham - Hockey Wales
Paul is Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Wales, having joined the organisation in March 2023. He brings more than 20 years of experience in sport, having previously held senior roles with the Ospreys, Swansea Council and Halo Leisure.
Paul has extensive experience in sports leadership, commercial brand development and community engagement, alongside previous non-executive board experience with the Welsh Sports Association. He is passionate about developing hockey and creating opportunities for people to engage with the sport across Wales.
