BowlsWales Board Members
BowlsWales is governed by its Board of Directors, which is ultimately responsible for the management and conduct of the organisation. Our Board Members help set the strategic direction to enable us to work towards achieving our vision at BowlsWales, namely to manage, develop and grow our sport.
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Richard Jones
Chairrichard.jones@bowlswales.com
Born in Swansea, Richard attended Penlan Comprehensive School. Richard now lives in Congresbury near Bristol with his wife Angela. They have two grown children and three grandsons. Richard qualified as an accountant with BP Chemicals in Baglan Bay near Port Talbot. He then joined Alcoa Aluminium near Swansea where he became Finance Director and then Managing Director of the extrusion business. The family moved to Switzerland with Alcoa where he looked after financial reporting from across Europe.
He then joined PricewaterhouseCoopers the multinational accounting and consulting organisation.
He became a partner in 1985 and was responsible for the public sector consultancy dealing with governments and public bodies throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Africa.
PwC consultancy was sold to IBM and Richard became a vice president of the company.
He plays outdoor, indoor and short mat bowls at his local clubs and is extremely keen to see the sport grow.
Richard wants all the organisations dealing with bowls in Wales to work well together to benefit all levels of ability, to encourage new joiners and to ensure the success of local clubs.
Andrew Hopkins
Originally from Resolven in the Neath Valley, Andrew now resides in Carmarthenshire with wife Helen and two young children. Andrew has developed his career since leaving University within public services, specialising in project, programme management and strategic planning. He is currently responsible for a multi-million pound capital programme within health and social care in West Wales.
His vision is to develop the long term strategic plans of bowls in Wales, for it to address its current challenges and thrive as a lifetime sport for all in a modern age.
Andrew is no stranger to the intrices of the game having played since a young age, representing Wales at Junior, Senior and Elite level events across the world. Whilst still competitive, he is turning attentions to the administration side of the game with the aim to give something back to the sport.
Currently Chairperson of his boyhood club Resolven, he aims to focus on the development and progression of the club as a pillar in the community, to support the wellbeing of local residents.
In his spare time, Andrew enjoys running and is also a member of Amman Valley Harriers, still searching for an elusive sub 2-hour half marathon!
Tom Hancock
tom.hancock@bowlswales.com
Originally from Newport, Tom grew up in Rhiwderin and attended Bassaleg School, he currently lives in Caerphilly with his partner and two children. Tom is a Director of a Hair & Beauty Wholesaler with over 15 years’ experience in the industry, he is hoping to bring his skills and experience in Business management and Finance to the BowlsWales Board.
A keen Bowls player, Tom began his career nearly 25 years ago at the age of 10, playing at his local club Pontymister Welfare B.C with his Grandfather and Grandmother. Whilst playing for the club he enjoyed many successes, most notably numerous County Titles and representing Wales at Junior International level from the age of 15. After an enjoyable time at Pontymister Welfare and making Lifelong Friends Tom relocated to Crosskeys Welfare B.C where his love for Bowls continued to grow, At the age of 21 Tom was crowned Welsh National Singles Champion and picked up a Bronze medal at the 2010 World Champion of Champions.
Tom is thoroughly looking forward to working with the Board, contributing to the ongoing development of Bowls in Wales and spreading the word that Bowls is a sport that is available and accessible to all.
Mike Doody
mike.doody@bowlswales.com
Mike has lived all his life in the Newport area and has been involved in sport from an early age, playing Rugby and Cricket at a high level.
A keen bowler for over 40 years Mike has played outdoor, indoor and short mat bowls. He has had a wealth of experience on the administrative side of the game having been Chairman of the Dragon League Short Mat Bowls, Secretary of Newport Indoor Bowls Association, Secretary of Machen Bowls Club and Director of Newport Indoor Bowls and Leisure Ltd. His abiding memory in the administrative side of Bowls will always be the year he was elected as President of the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association in 2019.
His wife Jean is also active in playing and administering in the game of Bowls.
Mike is keen to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy a game of bowls and to develop the game therefore ensuring the game is there for future generations.
Mike is excited for the opportunity to give something back into a sport that has given and stills gives me enormous pleasure.
Chris Spriggs
chris.spriggs@bowlswales.com
Chris was born and raised in Llanelli and lives with his wife and twin sons along with his 2 dogs.
Chris’s career stems from sports development and spent 10 years at Scarlets as a rugby development officer, and has experience in coaching for 20 years.
Bowls is a big part of his life and he started playing at age 12 with his father and had represented his county at the young age of 17. After suffering brain injury Chris had to stop playing bowls for many years.
Since returning to bowls Chris has played at Havelock Park and had the honor to play and captain Wales Para teams outdoor as well as indoor tests series. Biggest honour in representing Wales at Commonwealth Games 2022..
Chris is looking forward to using his experience and working with all board members to promote the Bowls Wales brand and help to promote bowls in all forms on equal levels
Ben Leaver
Portfolio: ben.leaver@bowlswales.com
Ben is an experienced major event and operations professional with nearly 20 years of international experience. His international professional journey began with Cricket Indonesia, after leaving his home town of Adelaide, before moving to Dubai where he spent over a decade with the International Cricket Council (ICC) delivering events around the world. Now based in the UK, Ben is continuing his career in cricket as Head of Operations for The Hundred, with a soft spot for the Welsh Fire who call Sophia Gardens home.
Ben has an unwavering passion and interest in all sport and is excited to contribute to the growth of Bowls across Wales, ensuring that more people can experience and enjoy the sport.
In his spare time, Ben can be found enjoying a coffee whilst discovering new areas of London, playing golf and relaunching a local bowls club.