We are delighted to announce that, following a comprehensive and open recruitment process, Michelle Clark, Georgia Rooney and Julie Nerney have been appointed to our Board of Directors.

As a senior Human Resources professional Michelle’s career has spanned over 20 years with her current role as the Executive Director for Diversity & Talent at The Children’s Society.

This saw her move from the Rail Industry to the Charity Sector in 2020 where she has brought her passion for the people's agenda to life across the HR practice.

Michelle encourages a different approach to HR and in doing so creates the right conditions for all people to thrive. This means valuing individual experience, celebrating difference and finding the ways to ensure that everyone feels included.

Making it to the HR Most Influential list for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) has given Michelle a sense of pride and achievement and recognition for her People Experience Approach to the HR practice.

Having lived her whole life in Sussex, she brings her knowledge, passion and experience to grassroots football.

Michelle firmly believes in the importance of community, creating opportunities for connection and finding ways to provide access for everyone to participate in grassroots sports.

Working alongside her on our Board is Georgia, who brings with her a unique blend of community development and business experience.

Born in the North-West, Georgia spent a decade in the North-East before moving to Brighton in 2010, where she lives with her partner and bonus daughter in Hangleton. She’s a lifelong supporter of Liverpool, the Lionesses and more recently, Brighton & Hove Albion.

Beyond her career, Georgia is deeply involved in the football community. As a qualified referee on the women's promotion pathway, she officiates at various levels, including grassroots football, Women's National League, and the Professional Game Academy League.

Georgia also contributes as an FA Referee Developer, delivering training to new referees on behalf of The FA and ourselves. At a national level she’s a Regional Coordinator and Coach in the Emerging Talent Programme for The FA, supporting women and girl referees across the South of England.

Currently Georgia is Vice-Chair and Club Secretary for Brighton Seagals, an inclusive football club for women, non-binary, and trans people in Brighton & Hove, having previously been Club Welfare Officer.

Georgia also volunteers as a coach for recreational football sessions and that’s also where she also gets her own football fix!

Professionally, she has been in the video production and sales and marketing space for the past 12 years. This came after a decade in the community and charity sector.

Presently, Georgia is a Solutions Consultant, working closely with organisations to understand their objectives and to design video-centred learning / campaign solutions to organisational and cultural challenges.

Our final new appointment to our Board of Directors is Julie, who brings with her a passion about the power of sport to unite communities around a common purpose, and enjoys watching most sports but especially football.

Since her dad first took her to see Aston Villa, she’s been a proud season ticket holder, and still makes the journey from Brighton to Birmingham, despite having lived in Sussex for almost 20 years. 

She also followed the England men’s team home and away for over 25 years, clocking up 198 games in the process.

In her working life, Julie has been delivering impactful and sustainable change in organisations for over 30 years in roles that span CEO, COO, Transformation or Change Director, Board Adviser or Critical Friend.

Julie has also been called upon to deliver high profile and complex programmes, including a leadership role in the transport operation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In addition, Julie has a varied portfolio of Chair and Non-Executive Director roles.

She is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors, recognised for her deep governance expertise and her support for best practice on the Boards she serves.

Speaking on the appointments to our Board of Directors, County FA Chair, Thura KT Win, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Michelle, Julie and Georgia to our team of Directors.

“Each brings with them a unique and valuable set of skills and experiences that will no doubt prove vital as we continue to work towards the goal of growing the beautiful game in Sussex.

“Alongside the rest of our Board of Directors, I took forward to working with them for many seasons to come.”

For more information about our governance structure please contact Football Services:

Football Services
T: 01903 753547
E: Info@SussexFA.com