Elected Directors 2025

We have received 4 applications (3 x male and 1 x female) for the 3 Elected Director roles.

We are looking for candidates with the following skill sets and experience to join our Board of Directors:

Legal
Commercial Partnerships
Marketing

Due to Sport Wales gender balance requirements, and only one female applying, the Board of Directors would like to accept the application from Kate Williams (existing Board Director who has completed her first 3-year term) and ask our members (Clubs, Schools and Associations) to vote for 2 of the 3 male applicants.

A voting link will be sent to club Chairs and Secretaries, School contacts and key Association personnel - voting will close on Wednesday 29 October 2025.

About the Candidates

Mark Shelton I am writing to express my interest in the non-executive role at the Welsh Hockey Union. With a robust background in internal audit, risk management, and internal control, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your organization. My extensive experience in governance, team leadership, and regulatory interaction positions me as a strong candidate for this role. Throughout my career at Admiral Group, I have held various leadership positions, including Group Head of Audit, Head of Group Risk, and Group Head of Internal Control. In these roles, I have developed and managed high-performing teams, presented to governance committees, and forged strong relationships with regulators such as the PRA and FCA. My ability to identify efficiencies, challenge conventions, and drive continuous improvement has been instrumental in enhancing the control environment and risk management procedures within the group. I hold several professional qualifications, including Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA). These qualifications, combined with my practical experience, have equipped me with the skills necessary to contribute to the strategic direction and governance of the Welsh Hockey Union. In addition to my professional experience, I currently serve as a Non-Executive Director at Able Financial Services Limited (a company within the Admiral Group) since 2021. This role has provided me with valuable insights into board-level decision-making and governance. I am particularly drawn to this opportunity because of my passion for hockey and my desire to contribute to the development and success of hockey in Wales. I have been a playing member of Cardiff & Met Hockey Club for over 40 years and have held the role of Chairman for 20 years. This long-standing involvement has deepened my love for the sport and provided me with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the Welsh hockey community. Moreover, I have been actively involved in supporting my local community, organizing and participating in various initiatives to promote hockey at the grassroots level which has led to our youth membership reaching record levels. I was also the driving force in the creation of the Admiral Hockey Team which is the only corporate hockey team (I’m aware of) in Wales.

James Fortnam I am writing to express my interest in the Elected Non-Executive Director position at Hockey Wales. As a former international player with nearly 50 senior caps for Wales and over 15 years of club-level experience with Cardiff & Met Hockey Club, I am deeply passionate about the sport and committed to its continued growth and success across Wales. Professionally, I serve as Market Director for Robert Half, overseeing operations across Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. In this role, I lead strategic initiatives, manage regional performance, and support executive-level recruitment and transformation programmes. My experience working with CFOs, CTOs, and CEOs has equipped me with a strong understanding of governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement—skills I am eager to bring to the Hockey Wales Board. I am particularly drawn to Hockey Wales’ commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and its vision to ignite a passion for hockey at all levels. My professional background includes supporting inclusive hiring practices and leading teams through change, which aligns with your values and strategic goals. I believe my blend of sporting insight, commercial acumen, and leadership experience positions me well to contribute meaningfully to the Board’s strategic direction and oversight.

John Bowyer Please consider this letter along with my CV which is attached separately to this email. I would start by saying that if the right way to play hockey or coach hockey is an essential part of the position, I’m not your man. I have experience in running a disparate co-operative enterprise constituted of people who did not want to co-operate as Director and Trustee of The South Wales Sea Fishermen’s Association. The Fisheries hub which was central to the Association is now running as an independent commercial operation and under my watch the number of active ﬁshing vessels working out of South Wales ports nearly doubled. I am also a hockey lover, regularly supporting my son and daughter when they played in international competitions in Cape Town, Valencia, Cork, Glasgow and Nottingham as well as watching four of my ﬁve grandchildren playing regularly for their club sides. Indeed, as Anne Bartlett (Baz) says in her nomination letter, I arranged more sponsorship than anyone else towards the Masters World and European competitions. It is this commercial acumen that I believe I could bring to the Board. I am well known in Welsh business circles and I still get asked for contributions to the Welsh Assembly Agri Food Policies even now, eight years after retirement. As I think that a lot is expected of hockey players at all levels in terms of ﬁnancial commitment, I do feel that as much as possible should be done centrally to try to bring funds in to make these contributions by the players as little as possible. I don’t know whether I can make a difference, but I am hoping to get an opportunity to try. It's hard to conjure up a plan for your consideration, and I’ve never felt that new brooms intent on sweeping clean are the more effective ones, but as an outsider, it would appear that certain aspects of the commitments expected of players, could be changed a little and it would make a big difference. I played rugby until my mid-twenties and then referred until my early fifties, so a love of sport is inherent in my make-up and I do feel at home in the hockey environment. Hockey will probably never reach the heights of football, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t try. The whole amateur situation is part of what is to be loved about the sport, but we must surely see if we can do anything about the wide disparity which means that Leah Williamson, international footballer, is paid £150,000 a year, Ellie Kildunne, international rugby player, is paid £35,000 a year, Beth Bingham, international hockey player, has to pay out around £10,000 a year to play. If we go some way towards sorting out the funding, it will give a larger player pool and will improve standards. I don’t know whether I’ll be able to make a difference, but I would love to be given a chance to try.

Kate Williams (For Information) I am writing to conﬁrm my application for re-election as an Elected Director of Hoci Cymru. Having served on the Board for the past three years, I bring both stability and continuity at a time of change, alongside fresh perspectives shaped by my professional role as Head of Strategic Relationships and Development at the West Wales Sports Partnership and my active leadership within club hockey. I believe my blend of governance experience, sector knowledge, and lived understanding of the challenges facing our clubs across Wales aligns strongly with the requirements of the role and with Hoci Cymru’s strategy to Engage, Compete, and Perform. Hockey has always been central to my life – as a player, coach, umpire, club chair, and volunteer. I know what it takes to build sustainable clubs and positive experiences, and I want to continue ensuring board decisions reﬂect the real experiences of our members and communities across Wales. At Carmarthen HC, I have led the transformation of a club that was close to folding into one with close to 200 members, including a thriving men’s section. We have built a culture that values volunteers and creates enjoyable, inclusive opportunities for everyone. I coach both men’s and women’s teams and travel the breadth of South Wales, listening to the successes and challenges of clubs. This gives me a strong connection to the membership and a clear understanding of the opportunities and barriers to growing the game. I believe hockey should provide pathways for everyone to take part, whether socially or competitively. My professional role as Head of Strategic Relationships and Development at the West Wales Sports Partnership gives me direct experience of building collaborations, securing investment, and working with local authorities, the wider sports sector, third sector and health partners. This equips me to support Hoci Cymru in strengthening pathways, improving access to facilities, and ensuring our sport remains relevant in a landscape where people have more choice than ever before. As a current Director, I have worked closely with the executive team to ensure policies are ﬁt for purpose and reﬂect the needs of our members. My WWSP role brings governance experience and requires me to oversee delivery, measure performance against strategy, and provide constructive challenge – skills I bring to the Hoci Cymru Board. I want to see Welsh players excel at every level, from grassroots competitions to representing Wales at Commonwealth Games and Masters competitions and contributing to GB success at the Olympics. The next three years will be pivotal, with new staff and board members joining. I bring both stability – through my board experience – and fresh perspective from my professional and club roles. If re-elected, I will continue to be a strong advocate for our clubs and members, ensuring Hoci Cymru delivers on its vision to Engage, Compete, Perform. I would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing to the growth and success of hockey in Wales as an Elected Director. I am committed to using my experience, sector knowledge, and passion for the game to support the Board in making informed, ambitious decisions that benefit our clubs, players, volunteers, and the wider hockey family.