MEET THE TEAM


| Lizette Subach MANAGING DIRECTOR Lizette joined the BSA as Managing Director in 2022, bringing along her experience in youth sports programming, recreation, and community event planning from her most recent work in the USA. She holds degrees in communications and health education and gained valuable experience working in physical education within higher education settings. Over the years, she has earned various health, wellness, and fitness certifications, with her career primarily focused on health education and promotion. With years of experience helping adults adopt healthier lifestyles and overcome the challenges of building lasting habits, she understands the importance of introducing active, healthy lifestyles to children at an early age. "Being a part of BSA is a privilege. I am always impressed by the dedication and spirit of volunteerism that exists in our community. When I see the commitment of all the parents who donate their time and talents to BSA programs and events, I am reminded of how very special BSA is to our community. One of the things I love most about BSA is that it provides children with the opportunity to try new sports in a welcoming and supportive environment. I remember trying rugby for the first time in college, and while it wasn’t the sport for me, I clearly remember the feeling of being welcomed despite being new to the game — a sentiment I hope every child at BSA experiences as they explore different sports." Contact Lizette here. |
BSA BOARD: |
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Jamie Martino
BOARD PRESIDENT & SOCCER CO-DIRECTOR Jamie hails from Chicago, where she earned a BA in International Studies. In 2000, she moved to Italy, where she completed her MBA at St. John's University in Rome and began her career in Knowledge Management and Learning. Currently serving as an IT Director at UCB Biopharma, she and her family—husband and two boys—have called Belgium home since 2010. Soccer has always been a significant part of Jamie’s life, both as a player and coach. She currently plays for BUFC Ladies in the RBFA Division 2 and has been a coach with BSA since 2018, stepping into the Director role in Spring 2020. Contact Jamie here. |
| Sylvie Gigovic BOARD VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY & ADVANCEMENT Sylvie joined the BSA Board in July 2024 and has been an engaged BSA parent since 2020. She believes that an active lifestyle is key to both mental and physical health, and that sports should be accessible to all children regardless of their abilities and financial means. Sylvie enjoys a variety of physical activities, and by engaging in sports herself she strives to be a positive role model for her son. Supporting the BSA's mission by joining the BSA leadership was therefore an obvious choice for Sylvie. Originally from Brussels, Sylvie was an expatriate for 18 years and has lived in Luxembourg, London and Hong Kong. Sylvie's professional background is in Audit, Compliance and Governance, she spent most of her career in Financial services. Sylvie is engaged in other non-profit organizations and hopes to bring her diverse experiences and connections together to contribute to BSA's success. She holds a Master's degree in Business and Economics from ICHEC Brussels Management school and is currently undertaking a qualification in Sports Management. Sylvie's favorite sport as a child was tennis, and although she never got to practice tennis at a competitive level, her secret childhood's dream was to become a tennis champion like Steffi Graf! Sylvie has now switched her very unlikely ambitions to golf, her motto is : it is never too late to learn new skills, dream big and have fun! Contact Sylvie here. |
| Emma Showalter BOARD SECRETARY / DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Emma has enjoyed sports for as long as she can remember and she joined the BSA board in 2024. She believes that sports help kids grow both as individuals and as teammates and hopes that BSA will continue to inspire many kids to develop a lifelong passion for sports. What sets BSA apart for Emma are the various events BSA offer that foster a sense of community, especially for international families who may have recently relocated to Brussels or those looking to meet new friends. Emma is originally from Sweden and she studied at the University of Warwick in the UK and at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She enjoys working with marketing and strategy and has experience working in several different countries. She hopes her experiences will help her in supporting BSA to achieve its goal. Growing up, Emma’s favorite sports were track & field and cross-country. But she’s also a fan of arm wrestling - so if anyone wants to challenge her, she’s always up for a match! Contact Emma here. |
![]() | Pardhiv Damidi INCOMING BOARD SECRETARY / DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Pardhiv is a BSA parent and has been part of Brussels' international community for over a decade. Originally from India, he and his family have put down roots here and know first hand what a place like BSA means for kids and families trying to find their footing in a new city. |
| Kay-Liegh Whiffler BOARD TREASURER / DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Kay-Liegh is a dual-qualified Chartered Accountant (SA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CIMA). Originally from South Africa, she moved to Brussels in 2020 while working for Deloitte Belgium. With over 10 years of experience in finance, Kay-Liegh has a proven track record of working in global, fast-paced, and regulated industries. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, honing expertise in financial and management accounting, internal and external audit, taxation, treasury, financial services, and lecturing. Kay-Liegh is eager to apply her skills and experience to support BSA with all financial matters. She is excited to be involved with BSA as it provides her the chance to give back to the community and contribute to an organization that instills values through team sports, which will benefit children later in life. Contact Kay-Liegh here. |
SPORTS DIRECTORS & COORDINATORS: |
| Matthew Carver SOCCER CO-DIRECTOR Matt began coaching soccer with BSA in 2021 and took on the role of Soccer Co-Director in August 2022. He is the father of two boys who share his passion for the sport. Some of his earliest memories include being taught football by his grandfather, a highly talented player who could have pursued a professional career had circumstances been different, and being taken to watch Norwich City play. As a child, Matt was known for being a reliable left back and, on occasion, an adventurous sweeper. Today, he works as music director, leading choirs and theatre productions, a website designer and developer.Matt reflects, "I've always been guided by something my grandfather once told me... 'It matters not who won the game, but how you played the game.'" |
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| Drew Clipperton & Matt McQueeney BASEBALL COORDINATORS Drew is excited to be joining BSA for her first season in 2026 as both a coach and Baseball Co-Coordinator. As a parent of two active boys, she has seen firsthand the positive impact sports can have in building confidence, teamwork, resilience, and a strong sense of community. Growing up, Drew played softball and ringette while also pursuing music. Those experiences helped shape her values of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork - lessons she now hopes to pass along to young athletes. She is passionate about creating a positive, encouraging environment where kids can build skills, develop friendships, gain confidence, and most importantly, have fun learning and playing the game. Outside of baseball and busy mom life, Drew has a background in event management and community leadership and enjoys bringing organization, energy, and connection to the baseball program. Matt also joined BSA sports as a baseball co-coordinator starting in 2026. Matt played baseball for many years growing up, and has loved the sport ever since, still following his favorite Major League Baseball team (the Washington Nationals!) each day from Brussels. He has two boys who he enjoys playing catch and wiffle ball with at home. Matt has had a number of amazing coaches in sports throughout the years, and has felt the impact those great people had on him and his life. He is also inspired by the positive impact sports have on him and countless others he has known, both as a child and now as a father. He relishes the chance to help children further develop skills such as perseverance and cooperation, to try to nurture the enthusiasm that these young athletes bring to the field, and to have fun playing baseball." Contact Drew & Matt here. |
NEW BSA sport! Corinna Robertson-Liersch VOLLEYBALL COORDINATOR Corinna began coaching volleyball with BSA in 2026 and brings a lifelong passion for the sport to every training session and match. She is the proud mother of one son and has loved volleyball since early childhood, first discovering the game while playing for her school team. Over the years, she continued competing in various leagues, beach volleyball tournaments with a teammate, and later in mixed volleyball competitions. By profession, Corinna is a teacher with academic qualifications in pedagogy and psychology. She also brings extensive experience in international youth work, having worked with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds throughout her career. In addition, she has worked on education policy at both a German ministry and the European Commission, gaining valuable experience in shaping educational initiatives and supporting international cooperation in the field of education. This educational, policy, and intercultural background strongly influences her coaching approach, helping her create a supportive, inclusive, and motivating environment for every player. Her passion lies in motivating young athletes and helping children fall in love with this unique sport that combines teamwork, skill, determination, friendship, and fun. She believes volleyball is not only about developing strong players, but also about building confidence, respect, resilience, and a true sense of team spirit. Corinna hopes to inspire every child to enjoy the game, support one another, and create lasting memories both on and off the court. Contact Corinna here |