MEET THE TEAM
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Lizette Subach
MANAGING DIRECTOR Lizette joined the BSA as Managing Director in spring 2022, bringing experience in recreation and community programming from her most recent work in the USA. She studied Communications at the University of Scranton and Health Education at Teachers College, while simultaneously working as an Associate in Physical Education at Columbia University. She has earned various certifications over the years, with her career primarily focused on health and fitness education and promotion. With years of experience helping adults adopt healthier lifestyles and tackle the challenges of building those habits, she knows how important it is for kids to start an active lifestyle early on. "Being a part of BSA is a privilege. I am continually impressed by the dedication and spirit of volunteerism that exists within our community. When I see the commitment of the many individuals who give their time and talents to keep our children active and engaged, I am reminded of how very special and important 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. |
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Jamie Martino
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 VICE PRESIDENT/STRATEGY & ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR 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 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR & BOARD SECRETARY 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. |
| Kay-Liegh Whiffler FINANCE DIRECTOR 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. |
| 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 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.'" |
| Cameron Tomkinson BASEBALL DIRECTOR Cameron moved to Belgium with his family in 2021. He first became involved with BSA in 2023 as a novice basketball coach, he then moved back to more familiar ground with baseball in 2024, becoming co-director of baseball in the same year. With a professional background in animal welfare, he has an interesting twist to his sports journey, as he somewhat unusually grew up playing tee-ball and baseball in cricket-obsessed Australia. Cameron is passionate about sharing his love for the sport and is eager to develop his skills as a coach. He has even been coaxed back into playing the game again, or at least its close relative, softball. He is a big fan of the BSA ethos and the inclusive nature of the organisation. He aspires to follow the example of the many volunteer coaches who have selflessly dedicated their time to help kids enjoy and thrive in their sport. Contact Cameron here. |
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 | Jim Bredemus BASKETBALL DIRECTOR Jim has been active with BSA basketball as a coach since 2022 and since 2023 as the director and coach. He joined BSA as a way to re-connect with basketball with his two sons starting to play, and has enjoyed coaching as a way to support kids in their development and to show them how fun basketball can be.BSA is a special organisation because it brings together all types of families from Brussels from expats to locals and everything in between. The strength of the program is its volunteers and the fact that kids of all skill levels are welcome, with a focus on development, teamwork, and fun. Jim is originally from Minnesota in the US and has lived in several different European countries (Germany, Czechia, the Netherlands, and Belgium), and works in the financial sector on climate change related topics. While he played a lot of basketball when younger, he's now more of a fan, still hoping for that elusive Minnesota Timberwolves NBA championship. Contact Jim here. |
