Scottish Handball Association are delighted to announce two new Board appointments. Karen Murty has joined as a member-nominated Director, and David Mallon has come on Board as an Independent Director.
Karen Murty
Karen comes from an educational background where, prior to having a family, she taught PE and dance for 10 years and ran numerous related trips both within the UK and abroad. After taking a 5 year break, she then returned to classroom teaching and has also been fortunate enough to continue her involvement in sport by coaching hockey and netball.
Following their move to Glasgow, Karen's daughter was devastated to discover that netball was not played at her school, but little did they realise that this would afford them the chance to come across handball - a game they had previously heard very little about. After her first coaching session she was hooked, and since watching her first game both Karen and her husband have become avid supporters of the sport. Karen is really looking forward to being part of a team who clearly want to raise the profile of this fantastic sport.
David Mallon
David is a solicitor with 20+ years’ experience in various in-house and private practice environments who currently works as data protection officer for a major UK Bank. David is an independent thinker and experienced people-leader who enjoys new challenges. Outside of work, David is married with three children and has had a typical parent’s experience of engaging (successfully and unsuccessfully!) with multiple sports as those children have grown-up. David is keen to see handball reach its full potential in Scotland.
Iain McKinven, Chair, commented: ‘We are hugely excited to welcome Karen and David into these key roles, especially as they both bring such wide skillsets to an already-diverse SHA Board. In particular, Karen’s valuable first-hand perspective of working directly with athletes and clubs, and David’s strong leadership and commercial background, will be vital in driving our sport forward on to the next level - establishing Handball as a formidable new force for female-friendly sport in Scotland, while further enhancing our innovative and highly successful work in schools and communities across the country.
On behalf of the whole Scottish Handball family, we also wish to acknowledge the important contributions of our outgoing Directors, Hannah Keenan and Jim Rankin. Hannah’s influence in stepping into a Governance role has proven inspirational to other young female athletes, and proved instrumental in establishing our Diversity Working Group. Jim’s unparalleled knowledge of the game in Scotland and across Europe has also proven the source of innumerable insights and much wise counsel. We thank them both for their excellent contribution as Directors, and are enormously grateful that both have volunteered to continue their support in advisory capacities, so that their unique perspectives and expertise are not lost to the Board, and the game in Scotland as a whole.'