Over the next few months we're going to be meeting each of the Archery GB Board members, learning a bit more about them, their role on the board and their connections to archery. This month, we hear from Mark Briegal.
I was appointed by the board in April 2019 and was honoured to be reappointed for my second term earlier this year. I was approached back in 2018 when the post of Chair was becoming vacant, looked at the role and the organisation and was excited to become part of archery’s journey.
I have advised many boards and as a partner in a large law firm I sat on the Executive Board. I was on the Alumni Board at Manchester Business School and Chair British Rowing’s North West Regional Umpires Committee and sit on its National Umpires Committee and the North West Regional Executive.
I used to chair my local Scout Group when my kids were involved and that taught me a lot about looking after volunteers, maximising the return from precious volunteer time, and dealing with all the different stakeholders. I have also been Secretary, Treasurer and Captain of various rowing clubs, so appreciate all the issues that sports clubs face.
I now run a boutique law firm specialising in advising lawyers on the business of law. I mainly buy, sell and restructure law firms for people.
As Chair, my role is around the strategy, governance and oversight of AGB. We have a brilliant team that gets on with the challenging job of keeping archery running on a day to day basis and delivering our strategic plans. The board is there in a strategic role and to oversee operations and we are lucky to have such a talented and enthusiastic bunch of people volunteering their time to the board.
I am the conduit between the Board and the Senior Leadership Team and try (usually in vain) to keep board meetings running to time.
I love our vision: Enriching Lives Through Archery.
I want everyone who has any involvement in our sport to get something from it - physical, mental or both. It doesn’t matter if you’re picking up a bow for the first time or shooting on the Olympic or Paralympic stage, learning to be a coach or just supporting your children in their archery, being part of the archery family should make you feel better.
I used to row quite competitively and then became a coach. Sadly, I don’t have time to coach now, and I do miss it. I umpire and help run events and train umpires. I’m also on the committee for my professional association – the Association of Partnership Practitioners.
I’m trying to learn to say “no”!
Definitely not! When I was first appointed Chair, I was taken to the High Performance Centre and allowed to shoot at a 10m indoor target. My arrow went high, hit the wall above the boss and set off the burglar alarm! I am leaving the shooting part of archery to the 38,000 members of AGB, all of whom will be better at it than me.
I’ve been involved in rowing since I was 14 – initially as a competitor, then as a coach and now as an umpire. I see first-hand the benefits that sport brings to society and young people in particular. I’m hoping to become more active again when I get my new knee.
My wife works in international netball and I have had the privilege of being her bag carrier to some fabulous events, including three Commonwealth Games.
If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.
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