Two candidates will be vying for two open positions on the PDGA Europe Board of Directors. These two self-nominated candidates share a passion for disc golf. They have diverse backgrounds and a wide range of skillsets, both in their professional lives and within the sport.

PDGA Europe is a nonprofit organization registered in Finland. PDGA Europe's bylaws establish a Board of Directors to engage in oversight and strategic planning. In addition to holding an annual summit meeting, the PDGA Europe Board and staff conduct monthly teleconference calls and ongoing communication to accomplish required business and organizational goals. The Board’s main activities include: setting PDGA Europe policies and priorities; hiring and supervision of staff; financial management including approving the annual budget; identification of suitable future Board candidates; representing the membership’s interests; and continuing the rapid growth of disc golf in Europe.

Two at-large Board member positions will be elected this year. The election will take place throughout the entire month of July.

The two candidates who receive the most votes will serve three-year terms from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027. For additional information, please see the PDGA Elections page.

Here are the two candidates who are ready to help take disc golf to the next level, along with their background information and statements of intent:

2024 PDGA Europe Board of Director Candidates

Hristo Neiland - #70759

Professional Experience:

• Estonian Discgolf Association| Secretary General (2023)
  • Key responsibilities:
    • Managing finances
    • Strategy and development initiatives
    • Organizational development
• Cocoon Program OÜ| Co-founder and COO (2020 – 2023)
  • Key responsibilities:
    • Product development
    • Sales and partnership
    • Business development
• Furnum OÜ | CEO (2018 – 2020)
  • Key responsibilities:
    • Hiring a team
    • Leading development and finances
    • Sales and partnership
• Jõhvi State Highschool | Project manager and teacher (2016 – 2018)
  • Key responsibilities:
    • Getting application based project financing
    • Class teacher for 5 classes
    • Teaching 5 different courses

Worth mentioning:

• Grew company revenue from 120k to 600k within 3 years
• Founded 7 organizations, including Alutaguse Discgolf Club, Youth Center, and businesses for profit.
• Mentored top-level startup entrepreneurs internationally for 5 years.
• I have written strategies and visions as a service for multiple organizations.
• Hold speeches about mental well-being and performance at festivals with 3000+ guests.
• Have certificates in 3 different therapheutical approaches.

Disc Golf Experience:

• PDGA Member since 2015
• Founding and board member of Alutaguse Eagle discgolf club since 2014
• Together with the club:
  • have designed and installed over 10 courses
  • have been running weekly competitions for 9 years
  • have organized state championships
• Mentored top-level athletes for 5 years, including Albert Tamm, Kristin Tattar, Rasmus Metsamaa, Raimo Kimmel, etc.
• 2 years experiences in training kids
• competed in 62 PDGA events
• played for Team Trilogy Baltic

Additional Candidate Information:

• LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/hristoneiland/
• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hristo.neiland/

 

 

Sofia de Campos Pereira - #128365

Professional Experience:

My professional journey started in science and academia. In the summer of 1995, after completing a PhD in genetics at York University in Toronto, Canada, I moved to Portugal to work at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon. From 1995 to 2015, my job involved mentoring young scientists, teaching at the University, and advancing the understanding of genetic mechanisms. In 2015, I left academics and took a USA-based Functional Health degree, allowing me to focus on medical writing, health coaching, and running BULA – a UK based company focused on developing the spirit and sport of Beach Ultimate Frisbee worldwide.

Parallel to my science career, I have been deeply involved in the world of the Flying Disc for many years, starting in 1992 in Toronto, Canada, where I started playing Ultimate. Upon moving to Portugal in 1995, my husband and I were vital in the establishment and growth of Ultimate and Beach Ultimate in Portugal and abroad – including co-founding the Portuguese Flying Disc Association (www.APUDD.pt) and the Beach Ultimate Lovers Association (BULA - http://beachultimate.org).

Currently, most of my working time is focused on running BULA, responsible for organizing the first World Beach Ultimate Championships in 2004. BULA actively partnered with WFDF between 2011 and 2020 to organize World and Continental Beach Ultimate Championships, and currently partners with the European Flying Disc Federation. As part of BULA´s mission is develop Beach Ultimate worldwide, we organize elite events at the Club level, such as the first World Beach Ultimate Club Championships coming up next October, where over 100 club teams and over 2000 athletes from all over the globe will compete to be World Champions (see, http://wbucc.org). 

Disc Golf Experience:

I first learned of Disc Golf in the early 1990s, when I caddied for my husband at a tournament in Rochester Buffalo, USA, and played a few fun rounds with friends at the course in Toronto Island while in graduate school.  However, besides participating in a few Disc Golf events organized in Portugal, up until 2019, my sport of choice was Beach Ultimate. During Covid, when the beaches in Portugal were closed, Disc Golf became a three-times-a-week activity and essential to my and my husband´s mental health.

Since 2019, Disc Golf has become an key part of my life.

In 2022, I took responsibility within the Portuguese Flying Disc Association, APUDD, for developing Disc Golf and other Disc Sports in Portugal. With great help from Bruno Gravato (PDGA Disc Golf representative in Portugal), we have made great efforts to grow the sport in Portugal and increase the number of Portuguese athletes represented in international Disc Golf events.

At this point, it is wonderful to see that Portugal is actively organizing frequent PDGA-sanctioned events, weekly leagues, workshops, and youth development programs. In the coming years, I look forward to helping Disc Golf flourish in Portugal and continue to develop in Europe, and especially in Southern Europe, where we can play all year round!

Additional Candidate Information, Links, etc.:

• Links
  • For further information about me, please visit: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-de-campos-pereira-073059a4/
• For my scientific outputs, please see: ORCID iD 
  • https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7933-6097
• For more on BULA Ltd., please consult:
  • http://beachultimate.org
  • http://wbucc.org