Meet Our New Regional Chair: Rowena Hackwood!

We’re thrilled to introduce the new Chair of our Regional Board—a true East Midlander with a lifelong passion for netball. With a career that spans various sectors and a deep commitment to the sport, she’s ready to take on this new role with enthusiasm and a vision for the future. Born in Nottingham and now living in Leicestershire, our new Chair is rooted in the East Midlands. Netball runs in her family—her sister was a junior international player, her niece is climbing the ranks in the junior pathway, and her nephew plays for the England Mens Trailblazers.

She’s got a diverse background, having worked in the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors. These days, she runs a large education Trust, but netball has always been her passion. She’s also been involved in a bunch of volunteer roles, from chairing the Moll Buzzers Netball Club to captaining TFC in the Regional league.

Why She Took On This Role

“I’m committed to developing the sport at all levels as we move into a professional era,” she says. For her, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing how sport can change lives, build confidence, and create lifelong friendships. She’s excited to create a club environment where players can thrive and bring their best selves to the court.

Her volunteer journey has been shaped by some amazing people, like Sue and David Jenkins, who coached her when she first started playing in the 1980s, and Mrs. Skinner, her school netball teacher, who went out of her way to support her training. And in a fun twist, she’s recently reconnected with Sue Connor, her first county coach, who is now the Regional Vice-Chair!

What She Hopes to Achieve

Looking ahead, she has big dreams for netball in the East Midlands. “Wouldn't it be brilliant for the East Midlands to lead the way in netball participation at all levels?” she asks. She’s aiming to create a smooth pathway from school to club to performance levels, so the region can compete—and win—on the national stage.



She’s also passionate about making netball more inclusive, with plans to highlight our talented male players in a mixed programme at the regional level. And personally, she’d love to see a ‘masters series’ for players over 50 who still want to compete at a high level—a nod to her belief that netball is a game for life.

A Message to Volunteers

To all our amazing volunteers, she has a heartfelt message: “Thank you. You make the game what it is, and we couldn’t do it without you.” As netball enters an exciting new chapter, she encourages anyone who’s interested to get involved, whether it’s at the County level or within our regional structures. If you think you’ve got something to offer, she’d love to hear from you!

With her passion and leadership, the future of netball in the East Midlands is looking bright. We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have on our community.