The Regional Team comprises of regionally employed staff and a dedicated volunteer workforce.
Our Staff
James Salmon is our Regional Manager who started with the region in 2024.
James will be supporting the operation of the region by way of leading and guiding the development and governance within the region and will be working closely with all aquatic disciplines and supporting our family of volunteers.
Having started his aquatics journey as a parent, James has recently qualified as a Referee and volunteers within his own club on a regular basis.
James can be contacted via email at [email protected] or via phone on 07765 848 186
Jo has worked for the Region since 2016 initially in the role of Regional Administrator, before transitioning to her current role in 2021.
In her role, Jo has administrative responsibility for the financial operation of the Company and ensures records across all areas of the business are accurate and compliant. She also supports the growth, development and implementation of the Region’s programmes and services.
Jo heads up the region’s social media channels and assists clubs in gaining SwimMark and Club Affiliation status.
Jo can be contacted via email at [email protected] or via phone on 07483 448052
Emma joined the Region in November 2021 as our Regional Administrator. Within her role Emma assists with the overall operations of the region, including the development of the aquatic disciplines and the support of our family of volunteers.
Emma works closely with our Discipline Leadership Groups, to ensure the smooth and effective running of regional activity. As part of the administration role Emma is responsible for the processing of the event licensing applications and supporting our regional licensing officer.
Emma can be contacted at [email protected] or on 07870 269432
Fran Vesztrocy is our Regional Welfare Officer and joined the Region in October 2023.
Fran provides advice and support to members, club and county welfare officers on a range of welfare and safeguarding issues and is the main point of contact between the Region and the National Safeguarding and Welfare Team.
More information on Welfare can be found on our Welfare webpage.
Fran can be contacted on 01509 640378 or [email protected]
Our Volunteers
Our President
Our current President is Ann Byrne, who is a member of Norwich Swan Swimming Club.
Ann’s passion for swimming began when she was 11 with Aylesbury and District Swimming Club who trained at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. She represented her club and County at breaststroke and along with other club members assisted at the early wheelchair games; her first experience of disability swimming. On moving to Suffolk in 2003, her youngest daughter joined Beccles Town Swimming Club (Kingfishers) in 2006 now Team Waveney where she was the Welfare Officer and began her officials’ training. Ann was appointed Suffolk Disability Liaison Officer 2018 and on retirement in 2020, she joined Norwich Swan and is now their secretary.
The Regional President is the ceremonial head of Swim England East Region. The President is elected annually and represents the Region at national events and competitions, and is the ceremonial host of regional events. When inaugurated at the Annual Meeting, the President is presented with the Presidential Chain of Office, which is worn at events throughout the presidency. Since the Region was formed in 2005, we have been fortunate to have had many wonderful Presidents from clubs throughout the Region. Here is a list of our Past Presidents.
The role of President-Elect is elected by the Members Forum following recruitment which is open to the membership, with the President-Elect becoming President in the following year.
President-Elect for 2025-2026 is Max Paines.
The President can be contacted at [email protected]
Our Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for managing the company, Swim England East Region, which replaced the former unincorporated association in January 2021. The current Directors for the Region are:
Stewart Murray was appointed Regional Chairman at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
In addition to his role as Regional Chairman.
Stewart is a World Aquatics Referee, and has represented Great Britain Nationally & Internationally. He is also qualified as a World Para Swimming International Official.
Previous roles within the region for Stewart include being Regional President (2017) and a member of our Regional Operations Committee and is currently on the Open Water Leadership Group.
Appointed: April 2025
End of Term:
Years of Service:
Keith is the Finance Director for the Swim England East Region and has been with the region in this role since 2008.
In addition to his role within the region, Keith is the Treasurer for Swim England County of Norfolk.
Appointed: April 2022
End of Term: April 2024
Years of Service:
Ian is an Independent Director for the Swim England East Region and has been with the region since its founding in 2005, following which he was Chair of the region until 2012 before serving as President in 2013.
In addition to his role within the region, Ian is a Board Member for Swim England County of Hertfordshire, a Trustee of Hertfordshire Aquatics, Chair of the Swim England Water Polo Leadership Group and National Secretary of the Arena Swimming League.
Ian also served as the 127th President of Swim England between 2019 and May 2022.
Appointed: April 2022
End of Term: April 2024
Years of Service:
Helen is an Independent Director for the Swim England East Region. Within her role on our board, she is the director with responsibility for oversight and support of the region’s Volunteer recruitment and development.
In addition to her role on the East Region Board of Directors, Helen is the Swimming Manager for Swim England County of Essex.
Previous roles within the region for Helen include being regional president (2022) and a member of our Regional Operations Committee and Club Leadership Group.
Appointed: September 2022
End of Term: April 2025
Years of Service:
Tom is a swimming specialist who has experience in event management, officiating and club governance. He is currently the Chair of the Swim England East Region Swimming Leadership Group.
Professionally, Tom works in education.
Appointed: September 2024
End of Term:
Years of Service:
Sheila is an Independent Director for the Swim England East Region.
In addition to her role on the East Region Board of Directors, Sheila is the Secretary for the Swim England County of Hertfordshire, a Trustee for Hertfordshire Aquatics, and the Secretary for The National Arena Swimming League-London.
Previous roles within the region for Sheila include being a member of the Management Board for ASA East Region, regional president (2009), and a member of our Regional Operations Committee and the Disability Leadership Group.
Appointed: September 2024.
End of term:
Years of Service:
Gerry is an Independent Director for the Swim England East Region.
In addition to her role on the East Region Board of Directors,
Gerry is a World Aquatics Starter, and has represented Great Britain Nationally & Internationally. She recently qualified as a World Para Swimming International Official.
Previous roles within the region for Gerry include being Regional President (2014) and a member of our Regional Operations Committee and is currently on the Masters & Swimming Leadership Groups.
Appointed: September 2024
End of Term:
Years of Service:
As per the Articles of Association for the Region, individuals are eligible for election and re-election to the position of director for a term of up to nine years, after which an individual is not eligible for election/re-election until a period of four years has elapsed.
The Regional Chairman can be contacted at [email protected]
Our Volunteer Officers
Simon Gee is our Licensing Officer.
Simon is responsible for the allocation and monitoring of licensed swimming meets. Simon receives applications for licensed swimming meets, considers the applications in accordance with the Swim England Licensed Meet criteria, providing advice to clubs where appropriate. Together with a Licensing Panel, Simon monitors the post competition reports to ensure compliance with the standards set by Swim England.
More information on Licensed Meets can be found on our Meet Licensing webpage.
Simon can be contacted at [email protected]
The Regional Administrator provides administrative support to this function.
Chris Galer is the East Region Membership Officer.
Chris receives applications from those seeking to set up new clubs, providing advice on the requirements for affiliation. Chris also provides advice to existing clubs on constitutions, making sure that club constitutions remain compliant with the Swim England model club constitutions.
More information on Membership can be found on our Club Membership webpage
Chris can be contacted at [email protected]
The Regional Operations Officer provides support for this role in the reviewing of new and existing club constitutions.
