Meet the Team

Paul Whapham

Chief Executive Officer

paul.whapham@hockeywales.org.uk

In March 2023, Paul joined the National Governing Body for hockey in Wales as a highly experienced, successful, and well-regarded leader with over 20 years’ experience working in sport. He had previously been with the Ospreys for over eight years and as their Corporate Brand Director for the last four. During this time, he has played a leading role in the formation of Ospreys in the Community, with it becoming one of the largest sports development charities in Wales and has seen the Ospreys become the second fastest growing social media platform in the United Rugby Championship.

Paul has also spent the last four years as an elected non-executive board member of the Welsh Sports Association. He was born in Swansea and studied at both Cardiff Metropolitan University and The University of Bristol.

When not in work Paul can be found coaching girls’ football or watching as much live sport as possible.

Kevin Johnson

Director of Performance

kevin.johnson@hockeywales.org.uk

07851246552

Kevin has moved into the role of Director of Performance and will now be responsible for our Performance and Pathway programmes and staff as well as our team of Coach Developers. Outside of this role, Kevin is the Senior Women’s programme Head Coach, which is how he began his relationship with Hockey Wales in March 2016.

Hockey is clearly a passion which drives Kevin, he would definitely refer to himself as a Hockey badger, and he has enjoyed a long lasting relationship with the sport as a player and as a coach whilst also previously enjoying time in his career as a teacher. At home, Kevin has a hugely supportive wife and together they love the time they spend as a family with their two young boys.

In the role of Director of Performance, Kevin is particularly looking forward to helping shape and support the future of the Performance programmes with both the staff and the players and to continue the rebuilding of the player Pathway to ensure it is a fun and purposeful environment that is player centred in its ethos and helps develop the next generation of Wales senior players and some that will hopefully go on to represent Great Britain.

Joe Gage

Director of Development & Participation

.

Amanda Roberts

Events Manager

amanda.roberts@hockeywales.org.uk

07714769789

Amanda (a.k.a. Bobs) is a retired International Hockey Player and it is through playing that she has so much passion in her role. Amanda is one of Hockey Wales longest serving staff members, having been with Hockey Wales since 2012.

Her role as Events Manager will include delivering world class events and competitions for clubs and members across Wales from grassroots to elite, quality assure all events and competitions and raise the profile of events through the whole event experience, both on and off the pitch.

Outside of work, you will find her spending time and getting creative with her daughter, touring with their caravan, cycling or walking and spending time with family and friends.

Jane Price

Business Support Manager

jane.price@hockeywales.org.uk

07714769784

Jane's duties include first point of contact for general enquiries (phone & email), payment of invoices, bookings at Sport Wales National Centre and other facilities, registration of members via Sport80 (HW affiliation system) for clubs and individuals (including Masters & Exiles), general administrative support for CEO including HR / Staff related issues, minutes & paperwork for General Meeting, Board Meetings and Competitions TAG.

She joined Hockey Wales in 2012 but has been involved with hockey since leaving school, playing for Porthcawl & then Pontypridd Hockey Club, including representing Wales in EHF Indoor club competitions, secretary of Porthcawl, Pontypridd, Glamorgan & South Wales as well as a member of South Wales Women’s Hockey Association competitions group.

Jane is currently a member and Technical Official of WHUA, treasurer of South Wales Youth Hockey Association and Trustee and Treasurer of Friends of Welsh Hockey.

Married to Steve, Jane can usually be found pitch side at Pencoed on a Saturday afternoon!

Alice Gregory

Projects Manager

alice.gregory@hockeywales.org.uk

07706315339

Alice started playing hockey at her local hockey club, Llanfair Ladies, when she was 7 and she went on to join the Hockey Young Ambassador Programme as a Silver when she was 12. During her 9 years as a Young Ambassador, Alice became a Platinum YA, a member of the Steering Group, a WHUA Technical Official and she was the first Youth Representative on the Hockey Wales Board as well as having represented Wales at the EHF Youth Leadership Festival in 2019.

Due to being a full-time student, Alice currently works part time for Hockey Wales leading on kit and DBS’, as well as working in the Engagement working group, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group as the Welsh Language Diversity Champion and supporting staff and the members where needed.

In her spare time Alice competes in athletics and enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Ella Jackson

Pathway & Compliance Manager

ella.jackson@hockeywales.org.uk

07714769777

Ella is responsible for maintaining the compliance and governance needs across the Hockey Wales performance and pathway landscape. She also leads on our Player Pathway as we continue to transform the experience of our young talented players on their journey to represent Wales.

No stranger to the sport or the Pathway, as a goalkeeper Ella herself progressed through the Pathway and is now a member of the Hockey Wales senior women's squad, representing Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at recent EuroHockey Qualifiers in Durham.

With a Masters in Sport Business and Leadership, she also brings experience of being Assistant Head of Hockey at Stowe School and more recently a Sport Development Officer at Cardiff Metropolitan University to the role.