EXECUTIVE AND STAFF
Executive
President – Penny Cooper
Penny discovered field hockey while in elementary school in the 80s, and she has been a player, coach, administrator, umpire, spectator, carpool driver, and general field hockey fanatic ever since.
She has a 25-year history of involvement with Vancouver field hockey clubs, including North Vancouver, UBC, Meralomas, Jokers, and Vancouver Hawks.
Having come up through the BC high-performance system, Penny played varsity field hockey at UBC, represented BC at junior and senior levels, and competed for Canada at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Somewhere in there, there was a 14-year sojourn in Australia where she sampled a few more clubs and got a taste of what it’s like to live in a country where you don’t have to specify “field” before the word “hockey”.
Like many others, Penny began her involvement in the Hawks by coaching her daughters’ teams, which she did for eleven seasons in the junior spring league and three in the women’s league.
Over that time, she played an instrumental role in bringing juniors into the women’s league to encourage lifelong physical activity and love of the game.
Professionally, Penny is an independent management consultant, specializing in program evaluation.
She joined the Hawks Club Board in November 2019 and was elected President in November 2020.
Treasurer - Sandra Chamberlain
Sandra has been Hawks treasurer since 2021. She sees the position is a good way to volunteer with the club and utilize the skills and knowledge she has gained as aprofessor in accounting at the University of British Columbia.
Sandra started playing hockey as a freshman in high school. She played for UC Berkeley between 1977 and 1981 and played club hockey in the Bay area during the 90’s.
Though she moved to Vancouver in 2001, Sandra didn't explore hockey in the city until 2017.
Since then, she has enjoyed learning new skills and making new friends through involvement with the hockey community in Vancouver.
Secretary - Michael Foxcroft
Mike has served as Secretary for the for 9 years. Over that time, he has provided accurat minutes that he describes as "are dead accurate and concise."
On any given weekend, Mike can be found playing with the Hawks B's, C's, or D's – and sometimes with all three.
He believes the cure to lower back pain is more hockey, and loves playing alongside his twin boys, Alex and Spencer.
Member at Large, Player Development – Stephanie Nesbitt
Stephanie has been known in the field hockey world as "Barney" since her first year with UBC over 20 years ago.
She first started playing on the North Shore at the age of 10 and hasn't stopped. As a UBC and National Team alumni, she has never been far from the field.
Today, she plays and coaches with the Meralomas, coaches for the Hawks, and drives her children and friends to and from their many different activities.
Passionate about player and coach development, Stephanie is focused on creating inclusive programs that support the development of players' physical literacy and provide positive experiences for all.
In coach development, she is always looking for ways to provide support and further training opportunities for coaches.
Her joy for sport, her life-long friends from the field hockey community, and her background in community recreation and engagement continue to be her motivation to volunteer and give back to her community.
Member at Large, Junior League Coordinator – Angela Bate
Angela joined the board in 2021.
A mom-turned-player, she cheered on her daughter from the sidelines for several years and volunteered as a team manager before picking up a stick and starting to play in 2019.
She joined Hawks in the women's league and continues to enjoy the athleticism and team camaraderie of the sport.
Angela's interests include strengthening the player pathway from junior programs to senior league, recruiting and training goalkeepers at the junior level, and promoting girls and women in sport at all levels.
In her day job, Angela leads the team of federal negotiators working on Treaties and reconciliation agreements with First Nations in BC and Yukon.
Member At Large - Sean Ford
Sean is new to the board but not the Hawks, as he joined the club in 2000 as a Jr. player and quickly fell in love with Field Hockey.
He spent his early years playing as much as possible with various Hawks teams and on Provincial and National programs, along with a brief adventure playing in the UK.
To the surprise of his younger self, he also developed a love of coaching and has since worked with teams in the Hawks junior girls and boys, senior men and women programs, and at Queen's University.
Sean appreciates the passion and joy of players of all ages and abilities and how there is always something new to learn as a coach.
In his day job Sean works as a mental health therapist and amateur cat whisperer.
Member at Large, Women's Coordinator – Lisa Mak
Member at Large, Senior Men's Coordinator – Ross Dutkiewicz
Member at Large, EDI - Aliaa Remtilla
Member at Large, Marketing and Communications – VACANT
Member at Large, Club Community Director – VACANT
Staff
Executive Director - Alex Bale
Alex plays on Hawks B, coaches, manages and generally enjoys all things field hockey.
Even his family are not immune, with both his daughter and wife being coerced - or encouraged, depending on your point of view - into joining the Vancouver Hawks.
Alex can be contacted at executivedirector@vancouverhawks.com
Interim Head Coach - Julia Ross
Julia has been a Hawk for most of her life, having started her field hockey life in the Junior Spring program, where she continues to coach and volunteer today.
She has a strong focus on community building and coaching and is involved in many of the Hawks programs.
Currently, Julia is coaching in the Schools Program, leading the Hawks 6 team and taking on the dual role of player and coach in the Prem. team.
Julia can be contacted at headcoach@vancouverhawks.com
Club Administrator - Casey Crawford
Though, new to the role as Club Administrator, Casey is not new to the Hawks family.
Two of his teenage sons have played with Hawks, and Devan continues to play field hockey, competing against Hawks for UVic and Canada JDS.
Casey was also privileged to sit as a Park Board Commissioner from 2014 to 2018, where he advocated for youth sports facilities.
He continues to support youth sports in his role with the Hawks.
Casey can be contacted at info@vancouverhawks.com
Club Bookkeeper - Ian MacKenzie
Holding the role from 2012 to 2017, Ian still stands as one of the longest-serving presidents in the history of the Hawks.
His father Duncan played for Canada, and his son Michael is a member of the Junior Canadian Team.
Ian didn't play hockey until he went to UBC, but he feels the family talent may have skipped a generation.