April marked the last Board meeting for Senior Independent Director, Anna Molony, who has been a Bowls England Board member since May 2018.  Anna has been an invaluable member of the Board playing an integral role in a range of projects notably the Governance Working Party’s responsibility to ensure Bowls England becomes compliant with Sport England’s Code of Sports Governance.  In her role, Anna supported the current Chair through her time on the Board, providing counsel and support, and represented Bowls England at many international and national events Victoria Park.

Of her time on the Board, Anna said,

“It has been privilege to serve on the BE board. The change that the organization has undergone in that time has been remarkable, and hugely positive in my opinion. It’s been hard work at times, but I have enjoyed it immensely. And I have learned a lot working with this team of brilliant people.”

In thanks for her dedication to Bowls England, Chair David Tucker, added,

“Anna played an important part in the modernisation of Bowls England, making the board more professional, transparent and open.  With a strong attention to detail and a passion to see our sport become more diverse and progressive, we are hugely grateful for her many years of dedicated service.  We wish her well with bowls in Warwickshire and look forward to seeing her at the Aviva National Finals in years to come.”

Following a thorough recruitment process, in which seven capable candidates were interviewed for two Independent Director vacancies, we are delighted to announce that Jo Doust has been reappointed to the Board and will take up the position of Senior Independent Director.  He will be joined by Emily Green who becomes an Independent Director for a three-year term and Sue Pember has been invited to fill the position on the Board left by Adam Tanner’s departure.

Jo Doust

Jo Doust joined the Bowls England board since 2022 following extensive senior management and national board experience in education, sport and organisational roles.  He has been a Professor of Sports Science at two universities, undertaken extensive original research, and many applied projects to improve sports performance.  He has 16 years of board experience at national level – six in the role of Chair (British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) and ten in the role of non-executive director (English Institute of Sport and Bowls England).

Jo has been an active and valued member of the Bowls England Board for the last three years.  He has been a member of national working group reviewing governance structures (2020 – date) and lead for anti-doping, ensuring Bowls England is compliant with UK Anti-Doping requirements.

For the last three years Jo has been Chair of a large bowls club (130 bowling and 80 social members) with all the challenges of grass roots sport.  He plays competitively in bowls in club, town, county and national bowls competitions and his wife, Marilyn, is President of Sussex Women’s Bowls for the 2025 season.

Emily Green

After qualifying as a solicitor, Emily Green spent 13 years as a commercial litigator in private practice.  In 2018 she moved to the sports sector and spent 6 years as in-house lawyer for England Golf, leading the legal, governance and safeguarding team within the National Governing Body.  Emily now works as a consultant, helping sports organisations large and small navigate the challenges of an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

As an independent director, Emily will bring an objective perspective to the Board of Bowls England and hopes to use her experience in embedding the Code for Sports Governance at England Golf to support Bowls England in its ambitions to achieve the highest levels of governance.

Sue Pember

Sue has held leadership roles in education, including as a College Principal, a senior civil servant (Director) in department of Education and Skills and Business and, most recently, as national Policy Director for HOLEX, advocating for adult community education.  She is an experienced non-executive director having been the Vice Chair of the University of Bedfordshire and a Governor at several educational institutions, including North Herts Regional College, and St Nicolas Special School.

As Chair of Horley Bowling Club in Surrey, Sue has gained a deep appreciation for the sport’s ability to bring communities together. Having personally benefited from Bowls England’s advice and guidance over the past five years, she is now eager to give back by supporting the organisation’s continued success.

Bowls England looks forward to the new look Board’s first meeting in June and there will be an opportunity for visitors to the Aviva National Bowls Finals to meet the Board over the course of the event.