Sean became NPUA Chairman in 2023 having previously served on the Executive Committee, including four years as Deputy Chairman and three years as Secretary. Sean umpires on the men’s premier panel both indoor and outdoor and is also a member of the FIH Pro League Panel.

Professionally, Sean is a Head of Operations in the music industry, and when not on a hockey pitch, can be found bemoaning the luck of his beloved Ipswich Town.

Gemma joined the Exec in 2023 to build on the great work done during the first 20 years of the Association by helping to create the best experience possible for all of our members, now and in the future. Gemma represents NPUA as a women’s premier and men’s A panel outdoor umpire and as a coach and assessor. She is also on the FIH Indoor International Elite panel and the EHF outdoor panel.

In her working life, Gemma is a Learning and Development Lead within the Digital, Data, and Technology profession in the UK Civil Service and outside of hockey loves an adventure, whether that be a random long walk in the Lakes (with a drink in the pub at the end!) or her latest holiday!

Richard became Treasurer many years ago and has been looking after our finances since then after previously serving on the Executive Committee in a non-portfolio role. Richard is a National Coach, Assessor and umpire Manager both Indoor and Outdoor having umpired over 300 outdoor games and over 100 indoor matches within NPUA. He has over 100 support appointments since retiring form umpiring. Richard is a Chartered Accountant and when not standing on the side of pitch observing umpires can be found criticising his County Cricket Club’s administration and lack of drive. This is probably compounded by his love of Sunderland AFC who are currently languishing too far down the football League structure.

Richard can be contacted via treasurer@npua.co.uk

Rachel joined the NPUA committee with the vision to better connect the umpiring team and the playing team. She previously served as the association’s club liaison, where she was the conduit for game day feedback from both coaches and umpires. Rachel is keen to promote a collaborative approach to develop a game experience and overall EHL environment, to showcase the best hockey can offer. She became the association’s secretary in 2021. Rachel enjoys spontaneous adventures and long walks with her pup Trixie.

Rachel can be contacted via secretary@npua.co.uk

Charles has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2016 and is responsible for managing the association’s pool of radios.  He is a member of the B panel and umpires across both genders, Indoors and Outdoors.

Charles is the CFO for a high tech industrial engineering company and is married with two grown-up children and a not so grown up Springer Spaniel.  In his spare time, he volunteers as a mentor and advocate for disadvantaged children in Somerset.

Jonathan joined the Executive Committee in 2015 and looks after the NPUA online clothing store and fitness testing. Jonathan umpires on the Men’s B panel and Ladies A panel outdoor and also on the Men’s A panel indoor.  He is also working towards his Level 3 umpire coaching award. 

Jonathan is a part-qualified actuary working for an IT & Insurance Consultancy.  Outside of hockey, he likes a glass (or ten) of wine and is currently keeping busy looking after his black Labrador puppy and finding new areas of the countryside to explore. 

David has been a member of NPUA since its foundation and umpired over 200 outdoor national league games before retiring from active umpiring. He was an FIH Indoor umpire. He is now an NPUA selector and EH Match Official, and a member of the FIH International Elite Panel of Technical Officials. He is also County Disciplinary Administrator for Cheshire CHA. David became NPUA Chair of Selectors in 2015 having previously been Men’s Premier Panel lead selector and stepped down from Chair of Selectors in 2023.

David is director of a learning and development network in the NHS. His spare time is taken up with visits to the cinema and theatre, and holding forth on Facebook.

AJ has been a member of the Executive Committee in a non-portfolio role since 2019 and has been responsible for helping organise the 2020 virtual conference and has also assisted with the fitness test management and the NPUA Strava club. AJ currently umpires on the Men’s B panel outdoors, Women’s B* panel outdoors and A panel indoors. At the end of the 19/20 season reached 100 outdoor EHL games.

Outside of hockey AJ can be found in the world of data and insight working as a Senior Lead Analyst in the Telecommunications industry

Julian joined the NPUA committee in October 2021 and is the association’s club liaison officer. Julian umpires on the A panel, outdoor and indoor for both genders, and has recently reached the milestone of 100 outdoor EHL matches.

Outside hockey, Julian works as a Finance Director in the diagnostics industry, and relaxes by walking with his two golden retrievers.

Julian is the first point of call for clubs that have a query, and can be contacted via club.liaison@npua.co.uk

Simon joined the NPUA Executive Committee in 2022 and brings experience of umpiring at national level in both England and Belgium, as well as being a member of the International Hockey Press since 2009.

For four years he worked in product development and communication for two major hockey brands. He has experience of working in hockey in England, Scotland, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Oman. He has extensive experience working in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and has overcome paralysis himself.

Since joining the NPUA Executive Committee in 2017, Rebecca has been responsible for organising the association’s annual conference. She is a member of the women’s premier panel both indoor & outdoor, as well as the FIH International Elite Panel.

Rebecca is a trainee solicitor at a law firm in London, and has recently taken up golf in her spare time.

Chris is currently the Men’s appointments Secretary for NPUA Conference as well as being an active umpire both for NPUA and YNE.  His umpiring career followed many years as a goalkeeper at Accomb HC and at Harrogate HC, where he retired from being a goalie, ending as the First team captain.

Away from the pitch Chris is an avid Newcastle United fan, as well as being General Manager for UK & Ireland in the aftermarket motor trade, for a team of BDMs – all of which keep him busy. 

Liz has been chairman of the EHUOPC for 5 seasons, and a selector for at least 10. Liz has been coaching, assessing and mentoring in the NPUA since 2003 and is on the FIH International Umpires’ manager panel outdoor and FIH Advancement Panel Indoor. Her love of hockey keeps her busy, and season ’20/’21 is her 6th and final year as a Vice President of England Hockey.

In her spare time, Liz is a Communications Manager in the motor industry, and on the rare weekend when she is not at the side of the hockey pitch, enjoys the company of family, friends and the thrill of a fast car zooming around a racetrack!

Dawn Bonner was appointed B Panel Selector in 2019 after being the Coach and Assessor Co-ordinator for the previous 2 years. Dawn has been an Umpire Coach/Assessor/Umpire Manager for about 10 years nationally and has been on the FIH International Umpire Managers list since 2015.

Dawn is an Indirect Procurement Sourcing Manager for a Commercial Insurance company in the City and has been a Liverpool FC supporter for over 40 years.

Debbie became Women’s C Panel Lead in 2019, balancing this role with her commitments to the East region as an umpire selector. Before stepping down from umpiring league hockey, she umpired over 200 National League games, both indoor and outdoor and now helps out with school hockey, keeping her in touch with education since her retirement from teaching. She also is actively involved in technical officiating for England Hockey and World Masters Hockey.

Away from hockey, Debbie enjoys visiting art galleries and exhibitions and renovating her wild garden.

TK umpired for 21 years on the Men’s Premier League, racking up over 300 National League in the process. He was also an International Grade 1 umpire both outdoors & indoors. Since hanging up the whistle he has progressed to be an EHF & FIH Umpire Manager, as well as serving as an NPUA selector for many years. TK has been a driving instructor for the last 10 years.

Gary is now in his 4th season as a selector on NPUA, having been an assessor and coach for both NPUA and SCHUA for a further 10 years. Gary’s umpiring experience is in all levels from county up to the national premier panel, prior to the formation of NPUA.

Gary works as a project manager in construction and his interests away from the hockey pitch include his allotment to keep him fed.