Northumberland FA has appointed five new Directors to further strengthen its Board, after receiving a number of extremely strong applications in its recent recruitment drive.
Judith McMinn, who will lead the culture and people remit for the organisation, joins with extensive experience in the private and charity sectors. The former Chief Operating Officer at Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change, she led a merger of the former Prime Minister’s political, charitable and commercial enterprises into one not-for-profit structure.
The business consultant has also gained valuable experience in the football industry, helping to negotiate Raheem Sterling’s new contact at Manchester City during a period where she worked as a consultant with his agent.
Phil Cullerton is Operational Excellence Director at multi-national building technology company Johnson Controls. With a strong commercial and strategic business background, Phil will focus on growth and retention, working with the team to increase participation and helping to accelerate the CFA’s future plans.
Phil is also involved in football on a personal level with his son who is a developing young player.
Caroline Ball joins as health and safety champion. With a wealth of experience in non-profit organisation management, she currently works in community development for a local authority.
Caroline was previously Director of Bad Apples NE, a music and performing arts organisation dedicated to working across the North East delivering community activities and youth diversion in schools and youth clubs.
Steve Swinyard joins the board as the new safeguarding champion. Steve is Head of Safeguarding and Welfare at Newcastle United, and currently works closely with Northumberland FA on safeguarding issues. His new role will bring a more strategic element to his involvement with the CFA.
Before taking up his role at NUFC, Steve was a Football Development Officer for the Newcastle United Foundation and he previously ran his own coaching company.
And Jess Callaghan will join the board to lead on inclusion issues. Jess currently chairs the NFA’s Inclusion Advisory Group, and has had an extensive career developing community sport programmes to tackle issues such as youth employability, anti-social behaviour and social cohesion.
Jess currently works as Head of Quality for Training at community sports organisation Streetgames, and has coached football both in the UK and US.
Northumberland FA’s Chairman, Steve Ord, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our new board members and look forward to them working closely with our current directors, our council and of course our staff, to further strengthen our team.
“Northumberland FA has a large remit – ensuring we encourage as many people as we can to participate in football both as players and volunteers, and of course ensuring that football is safe and enjoyable for everyone.
“Our new directors have a wide range of experience and I’m sure their unique and valuable skills will be a great asset to our organisation and will help us drive forward our ambitious plans for the future of football in the area.”
