Surrey Pickleball Club - Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

Committed to the growth of pickleball in Surrey, creating opportunities for all players - of every skill level - to develop and thrive.

	President -Tom Burnell After retiring in 2022, Tom, and his wife, Heather, have taken up pickleball with a passion. As a lifelong supporter and leader of nonprofit societies, Tom is committed to making the Surrey Pickleball Club as the best place to play.
	MIKE BESSETTE - Vice President of Administration & Privacy Officer As a former hockey player, coach, and referee, Mike is motivated to work collaboratively and 'get things done." He was previously Vice President of Mission Minor Lacrosse as well as coach and tournament director. He and his wife are addicted to pickleball.
	PAUL TUCKER - Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Player Development & Clinics Coordinator An experienced player and pickleball coach, Paul brings his knowledge of the game to support player development through social play, skills clinics, and competitive play.
	ALI NANJI – Treasurer A CPA, Ali has owned several businesses in Surrey over the past 45 years. He has been a director for several not-for-profit organizations and helped provide guidance and support to these organizations to grow.
	SAM SAROPHIM - Secretary An extensive career as a business consultant in engineering, finance, and marketing, Sam currently is an advisor for MBA programs and has served with various non-profit organisations supporting health and education in underdeveloped countries.
	JIM HENNING - Fundraising Jim has been a member of Surrey Pickleball Club for 3 years and on the board for 2. Before retirement, Jim provided corporate finance services to the energy industry. He is a CPA-CA and CFA.
	SHAIDA NANJI - Social & Special Events Shaida's professional and personal life is focused on pickleball. Leading the club's social programs, Shaida is also pursuing her pickleball referee designation.
	JULES JOHNSON - Program Captain Having a background of Specialty Nursing, Jules oversees all Surrey Pickleball Club play captains and is the First aid attendant for our tournaments. Her motto is “helping new players find their fit” to support their growth and development on the court.
	RAZA MUSTAFA - Sponsorship, Donations, & Gaming Passionate pickleball player since discovering the sport two years ago. Raza is a PMP-certified project management professional with an MBA. His experience in marketing and promotion will help the club thrive.
	DEANNA BOGART - Communications With a career in marketing and communications, Deanna's work has been in leadership positions for non-profit organisations. She has previous board experience as both a director and president.

Tom Burnell – President & Board Chair

Prior to his retirement in March 2022, Tom spent 27 years as CEO of a large non-profit society. Over the years, Tom has actively volunteered on several Board of Directors. Tom is a long-time advocate for diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of life. As a long-time participant of racquet sports, Tom stumbled on pickleball after his retirement. Now he, and his wife, have the pickleball bug. Similar to many on the Surrey Pickleball Board of Directors, Tom hopes to support the growth and accessibility of pickleball in Surrey and to put the club on the map as the preeminent destination for pickleball in BC.

Ali Nanji – Treasurer

Ali was introduced to pickleball in 2019, and acquired an affinity for the game. He says: "It is a good sport which everyone and all ages can play at their own level. It is quick game and it provides a very good social network. Depending on your personal expectation and desire, you can play at almost any level and get a good workout both indoors and outdoors." A CPA, Ali has owned several businesses in Surrey over the past 45 years. He has been a director for several not-for-profit organizations and helped provide guidance and support to these organizations to grow.

Jim Henning - Vice President-Fundraising & Sponsorship

Jim is a recent member of the club. He is an ex-tennis player (and so skilling up rapidly in pickleball) and has been active in our leagues. He is a CPA, having spend several years of his career with Touche (Deloitte) and, for the past 25 years has had his own company, doing major fundraising for corporations ($25 million to $100 million). He also has experience with groups who have developed hockey rinks under the same type of arrangement with municipalities that we are pursuing with the City of Surrey (i.e. low cost land lease).

Shaida Nanji - Social Coordinator and Member Relations

I was introduced to pickleball about 4 years ago, but really started playing the game more frequently when I joined the Surrey Pickleball Club. I love meeting new people and since I have joined the club have made many friends. I am very competitive, I love the challenge , learning new techniques, entering tournaments , I am in the process of learning how to become a referee. Pickleball has opened a whole new world for me and it is my Happy Place.

Kemmy Dong - Director

Two years ago, I discovered the wonderful world of pickleball, and it was love at first swing. Since then, I’ve been on an incredible journey, both on and off the court. My passion for the game runs deep, and I’ve found myself immense joy in introducing newcomers to this fantastic sport. At the same time, my competitive spirit drives me to continuously improve my skills and embrace the challenges of high-level play. Together, we can make every moment on the pickleball court unforgettable.

Jules Johnson - Captain coordinator, and First Aid Lead

During Covid I got addicted to pickleball after hearing 0-0-2. Having a background of Specialty Nursing since 1994, I value the well-being and safety of the players. Over the past couple of years, I have volunteered with the Surrey Pickleball Club as a Captain and as the First aid attendant for our tournaments. My motto, “helping new players find their fit” is both personally rewarding and one that aims to support the growth of others.