Mark Garcia-Kidd

What were you doing before you went to Volleyball England?

"I was working at AEG Europe who run major events around the world. They currently run and operate the O2 arena and the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith for example. I was part of the project team that was organising British Summer Time festival held at Hyde Park. It was a very interesting job with plenty of opportunities. Sadly, the pandemic hit and as a major events business it became increasingly too difficult to organise events which let me to the opportunity at VE".

What role did you have at VE?

"I had the role of Project Talent Lead, I was part of a fantastic team of people who operated and managed the talent pathway and our senior indoor teams and beach athletes. It was also an exciting time with Birmingham 2022 on the horizon and getting to support athletes in preparation for that".

What attracted you to the role at VE?

"VE advertised 3 project lead roles that had remote contracts, I had just achieved my project management qualifications and was looking for an opportunity to enter a project role. It felt like a good fit as a starting point to my project management career. Additionally, I had come through the Volleyball England Talent pathway, starting as a cadet at 15 years old to playing senior internationals till 2021. When I was offered the role of Talent Project Lead it felt like it had gone full circle and I was thrilled to involved in something that had given me so much at a younger age".

Where did you go after leaving VE?

"After over a year in role and a great start to my project career, I was offered a role at DeepDish. I took months to accept the role and thank you to DeepDish for their patience. It felt like a good logical step forward in my project career. I will always be incredibly thankful to Volleyball England for giving my first step into project management and being able to support our national teams and athletes".

What was your Favourite part of the role at VE?

"This is a tough question as there’s a few. My favourite part will always be helping the athlete from the cadet u17s to the senior beach/ indoor teams. The amount of times my colleagues and I would be watching a live stream of an England team playing and messaging each other in excitement during the match was a favourite. The amount of investment and care my colleagues and I had in these athletes competing was one of my favourite things. The small part we played in the office to organise/enter teams for these competitions gave us all something to look forward and cheer during the day. In addition to this, my favourite part was organizing and informing the beach athletes about the CWG Funding Tournament and CWG Selection Tournament. I had the opportunity to manage the multiple stakeholders and create two fantastic events. I must thank Chris Jones and Jake Sheaf for working so closely with me to make both of those events and everything in-between a success".

What is your current role?

"My current role at DeepDish is an operational and business development role. I have certainly enjoyed it thus far and its extremely exciting to be part of a new business. I find myself diving into new opportunities and avenues that help not only develop volleyball but other sports as well. I’m very much enjoying the challenge and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the DeepDish team".

What has been your lasting memory of being part of VE?

"I have so many good memories of my time at VE. I think the biggest thing that has stuck with me from the moment I started to now is that the people in the office truly care and go above and beyond for the community. I had only seen VE through an athlete’s mindset and had a certain impression about the office. I couldn’t have been more wrong; the number of additional hours’ people would do and the amount they cared was enlightening. There are so many unsung heroes in that office that I had the privilege to work with. Just in talent the work Gillian Harrison and Bertrand Ollie would do to support athletes was incredible. They deserve every thank you going and I was extremely privileged to work with them. In addition to that, the volunteers who give and do so much for volleyball in this country is outstanding. The most impactful memory I have is working with Alex Bialokoz as the Volleyball England Covid Officer at the time, late into the night during the pandemic to create forms and risk assessments templates to get England teams back to competition. He was the reason teams could play internationally at the end of 2020 onwards, very much an unsung hero.To summarise my overall memory of my time at volleyball England is that I was given or trusted with the opportunity to grow professionally and deliver projects. I am extremely grateful to have worked with a wonderful group of people in an organization that gave me so much as an athlete. I have undoubtedly forgotten people who deserve as much of a thank you in the above and apologies for that, it was a true pleasure and just a big thank you from me to VE".

Thank-you for your time, Mark!