Board of Directors
ROBIN BOURNE
Chair
Robin joined the Nottinghamshire FA board in 2013 before being appointed Chairperson in 2019. He is a Football Association observer of referees and assistant referees. Robin qualified as a referee in 1977 and has served on the Referees’ Committee for over 20 years in various roles including Vice-Chair. In his professional life he works as a Demolition Engineer.
ELAINE ORAM
Chief Executive
Elaine joined the Nottinghamshire FA as a member of staff in 2000 before taking on the CEO role in 2007. Elaine is responsible for leading and delivering the Nottinghamshire FA and FA’s strategy along with the day to day running of the business. Elaine is also the Senior Safeguarding Lead and ensures that safeguarding is embedded into the organisation.
PETER ADAMS
Chair of Council
Peter joined the Nottinghamshire FA board in 2009. Recently retired from the construction industry, Peter's main focus is with the open age and cup competitions within the County FA.
SHAUN FINN
Lead Director on Audit
Shaun joined the Nottinghamshire FA board in 2019. Shaun is a Chartered Accountant, having held several Finance Director roles. A qualified FA coach, Shaun is actively involved in grassroots football and has been Chair of a junior football club since 2013.
tRACEY NEWCOMB
Lead Director on Safeguarding
Tracey joined the Nottinghamshire FA board in 2018, a qualified Social Worker with 25 years experience within the children's social care profession, holding both operational and strategic roles. Now working as a safeguarding consultant & advisor to Local Authorities across the Country.
JO BREWIN
Lead Director on People
Jo joined the Board of Directors in January 2024. Jo is a HR Director with experience in a number of different industries, and for the last ten years has worked within the healthcare sector, both in private and NHS settings. Jo will support the development of the people strategy underpinning the Nottinghamshire FA growth strategy and will be active in providing executive coaching and direction across the organisation.
JUSTINE WHITBY
Lead Director on Commercial
Justine is an experienced corporate leader with a background in active sports brands. Currently serving as the Director of Active Sports EMEA for Nike Swim, she has consistently delivered sustained growth through transformational change. In her previous role as Commercial Director for Active Brands at Pentland, Justine successfully managed popular brands including Speedo, Canterbury, Mitre, and Berghaus for over seven years. With a diverse background Justine has a strong history of delivering results and business growth.
RICHARD SOMERVILLE
Lead Director on Risk
Richard joined the Nottinghamshire FA board in 2024 as independent non-executive director and chairs the Governance & Risk Committee. He is a practising solicitor and has worked both in private practice and for the majority of his career in industry. Richard is a chartered secretary and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and holds an Executive MBA from Cranfield University. Richard is actively involved in grassroots football and has been coach of a girls junior football team for a number of years.
SALLY LOWTHER
Lead Director on Strategy & Transformation
Sally is an experienced c-suite leader with over 25 years experience in business transformation and change, Sally has held a variety of senior leadership positions in a wide range of organisations from global corporations such as Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group to SMEs and private equity businesses, and now works as an independent consultant advising businesses on strategy, corporate governance and best practices. She is actively involved in grassroots football, initially as a coach/manager, and now heads up an Inclusive Football section at a local club.
MATT APPLEBY
Lead Director on Strategy, Marketing & Communications
Matt is a senior leader, specialising in communications and marketing in sports. Matt led Barclays’ award-winning sponsorship of the Premier League for over a decade as managing director overseeing the financial PLC’s global partnerships programme. He has provided strategic consultancy across a diverse range of sectors, worked for football clubs such as Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion, and also produced two sports films.