IQA volunteers pose in stadium stands

Meet the IQA

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the IQA. The board may exercise all powers granted to the IQA and perform all lawful acts equired by the affairs of the IQA, so long as the exercise of such powers and the doing of such acts are consistent with the IQA’s purposes. The board shall have ultimate authority over the business, policies, affairs, and activities of the IQA.

Borja Arbosa portrait

Borja Arbosa

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Trustee (Treasurer)

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2020
Borja speaks: English & Spanish

A lawyer since 2014, Borja has been organizing associations and legal structures for the management of the sport since he began.

Fun Fact: I'm a sort of "orchestra man" in quadball. I would say that I have been in almost every possible role or position this sport could have.

Chris Lau in a referee shirt

Chris Lau

Hong Kong
Trustee (Chair)

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA: 2018
Chris speaks: English & Cantonese

Chris works in a law firm in Hong Kong and has been involved in the quadball community since 2015.

Italia Valera portrait

Italia Valera

Querétaro, México
Trustee

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA: 2021
Italia speaks: English & Spanish

Designer by profession, teacher by choice, coach by vocation, entrepreneur by conviction. Super tenacious to fulfill all of the above.

Fun Fact: Italia has synesthesia (it's not a disease, promise!) actually, it's kind of amusing.

Kym Couch portrait

Kym Couch

USA
Trustee

Joined the quadball community: 2012
Joined the IQA: 2019
Kym speaks: English & American Sign Language

Kym is a Trustee who has been involved in the quadball community as an organizer, referee, and very bad player since 2012. Kym lives in Boise, Idaho but happily uses every quadball opportunity she can to travel.

Fun Fact: Kym has over 50 animals including 2 dogs, 6 chickens, a turtle, a bearded dragon, a ball python, and an unknown number of fish, snails, and shrimp.

Alex Benepe portrait

Alex Benepe

Los Angeles, California, USA
Ex-Officio Trustee

Joined the quadball community: 2005
Joined the IQA: 2005
Alex speaks: English

Alex co-founded the IQA and US Quidditch and helped Xander Manshel develop the original rules to real-life quadball in 2005. He has served as a board member for both organizations, as well as USA Dodgeball. Alex is currently the Vice President of Innovation for CircusTrix, parent company of Sky Zone and other active entertainment brands.

Fun Fact: If you thought inventing quadball was the nerdiest thing Alex has done you would be mistaken – he also builds and paints Warhammer models.

Luke Derrick

Luke Derrick

Australia
Trustee (secretary)

Joined the quadball community: 2012
Joined the IQA: 2022

I am a teacher in NSW, Australia. I have been playing quadball for 9 years now but I also enjoy playing basketball and helping out with plays and musicals.

Fun Fact: I lived in NZ for 18 years but I have only ever played quadball in Australia.

Volunteers

Like any volunteer-based organisation, our volunteers are the lifeblood of the IQA. Split into broad departments, our volunteers make everything the IQA do possible. From translating rulebooks and managing our technology stack, to organising our flagship tournaments and working with our members, to the nuts-and-bolts work of the legal and operations teams, to improving the way quadball is played through rulebooks and raising the standards of officiating with resources for referees. Quadball is a young sport where every volunteer makes a massive difference. If you want to help grow quadball, head over to our Volunteers page to see what roles are currently available.

Human Resources & Operations

Aaron Carroll

Jonesboro, Arkansas
Executive Director

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA:
2020
Aaron speaks:
English

Aaron Carroll is a healthcare professional living in Jonesboro, Arkansas. When he isn't working or volunteering with the IQA, he can be found streaming, camping, hammocking, or volunteering his services for suicide prevention.

Fun Fact: Aaron is an affiliated Twitch variety streamer.

Jeremy Schleicher

Director, Operations

Joined the quadball community: 2007
Joined the IQA: 2022
Jeremy speaks:
English

Jeremy Schleicher has been involved with quadball since 2007, as a spectator, player, coach, general event volunteer, and NGB staff member. Professionally, Jeremy has degrees in fields including Information Technology, Communications, and Leadership Theory, and is a Technical Trainer for the Manhattan-based law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Fun Fact: Jeremy was formerly a competive Speech and Debate coach, and is an avid musical theater fan.

Madison Burns portrait

Madison Burns

Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Diversity and Inclusion Co-Manager

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA:
2020
Madison speaks:
English

Madison Burns is a Statistician and Researcher living in the Research Triangle in North Carolina. They have two black cats (Aleister and Binx) and many Animal Crossing villagers that they attend to in their free time.

Fun Fact: Madison has seen over 100 musical artists in concert, including Willie Nelson at his ranch in Austin, Texas after sneaking in to the Luck Reunion.

Communications

Lore Badts

Harelbeke, Belgium
Director, Communications

Joined the quadball community: 2018
Joined the IQA:
2020
Lore speaks:
English, Dutch, & French

Lore is a social creative from Belgium, playing in the United Kingdom with the Werewolves of London. She has taught at university and high school, where they lectured their students strategic communications through quadball examples. They also have a strong focus on political communication, where their skills in strategic communication come to play.

Fun Fact: Lore also teaches presentation training, but her main advice is "don't prepare at all!" (Not to be taken seriously, always prepare!)

Joke Daems portrait

Joke Daems

Gent, Belgium
Translation Manager

Joined the quadball community: 2014
Joined the IQA: 2017
Joke speaks: English & Dutch

Joke is the kind of person that likes to make the impossible possible. When not busy running fantasy tournaments or inventing international music competitions, they can be found learning about translation, language, and inclusivity. They're enthusiastic, driven, and always looking for growth.

Fun Fact: Joke has read all 41 Discworld novels.

Arylu Navone Sarubbi portrait

Arylu Navone Sarubbi

Rosario, Argentina
Social Media Manager

Joined the quadball community: 2014
Joined the IQA:
2020
Arylu speaks:
English & Spanish

Arylu is a very active and passionate person. When she is not working, she loves to spend time writing stories, reading any book she gets, using social media, making cosplay, traveling, playing sports, hanging out with friends, or learning something new. Arylu and some friends developed the first potterhead podcast in Argentina and they are already on season 3!

Fun Fact: I love ice cream!

Junia Amanti portrait

Junia Amanti

Siena, Italy
Italian Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2013
Joined the IQA: 2018
Junia speaks:
English & Italian

Junia Amanti is a quadball player from Italy. She is a Communication student and has been a volunteer in the quadball community since 2015. When she’s not dealing with quadball -related work she likes to cook, hang out with friends, and take care of her cat!

Fun Fact: Junia has a cute cat called Coco who always keeps her company while she does her quadball tasks.

Anouk Nyfeler portrait

Anouk Nyfeler

Basel, Switzerland
German Translator Team Lead

Joined the quadball community: 2019
Joined the IQA: 2020
Anouk speaks:
English & German

Anouk likes to solve all kinds of puzzles and to learn new skills.

Fun Fact: Sometimes I give names to spiders

Jannis Grimm portrait

Jannis Grimm

Volketswil, Zürich, Switzerland
German Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2018
Joined the IQA: 2018
Jannis speaks:
English & German

Jannis Grimm lives near Zürich and loves volunteering at different quadball levels, being goal judge in tournament finals, as well as board games, cats, and live event video directing at his church and for musicals. In his free time, he works as a Software Engineer, making smartphone apps at a large company.

Fun Fact: When helping to test the IQA referee website, I did over a dozen referee tests in one weekend to find the reason for an issue. At least I got quite efficient after a while.

Jessy Pabst portrait

Jessy Pabst

Schalksmühle, Germany
German Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2018
Jessy speaks:
English & German

Jessy loves everything that is colourful and fun. They like to try out crazy things so quadball is perfect for them.

Fun Fact: Jessy unicycles in the mountains.

Severin Wyss portrait

Severin Wyss

Basel, Switzerland
German Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2017
Joined the IQA: 2019
Severin speaks:
English & German

Severin just successfully completed the trial phase of their job after having achived a Masters Degree in Computer Science this Winter. Besides quadball, they go for jogs or like to bike. Inside they love to play games and cook. They were at most international tournaments where Switzerland had a slot, referees and coached both their local team and helped with the national team as well.

Magdalena Koschmieder portrait

Magdalena Koschmieder

Neuburg/Donau, Germany
German Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2019
Joined the IQA: 2020
Magdalena speaks:
English & German

Magdalena is a Geography student currently living in Eichstaett (Germany). Magdalena likes hiking, biking, skiing, playing the trumpet, reading and travelling.

Fun Fact: I don't know any...

Andrés Carballosa portrait

Andrés Carballosa

Lugo, Galicia, Spain
Spanish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA:
2020
Andrés speaks:
English, Galician, & Spanish

Andrés Carballosa is a teacher who lives in Lugo. Not only that, but a full-time quadball lover and semi-amateur translator too!

Fun Fact: Andrés would like to be a great writer someday!

Marc Alcalà-i-Rams portrait

Marc Alcalà-i-Rams

Granollers, Catalonia
Catalan Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2017
Marc speaks:
English & Catalan

Marc Alcalà-i-Rams is a quidditch player from Catalonia. As a sociologist, Marc is interested in the protection of languages and cultures. Outside university Marc also enjoys comic books, coffee, and chatting.

Fun Fact: Marc used to read dinosaur encyclopedias as a hobby before high school.

Desire Torres portrait

Desire Torres

Arequipa, Perú
Spanish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2019
Joined the IQA: 2020
Desire speaks:
English & Spanish

Desire Torres is a sports nutritionist who lives in Cusco Perú. When she is not working she loves to play quadball , to run and to catch all Pokemons she is able to.

Fun Fact: I love beer as much as I love sports.

Lucas Szykula portrait

Lucas Szykula

Argentina
Spanish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA: 2021
Lucas speaks:
English & Spanish

Lucas is a Seeker and Chaser from Argentina. Their hobbies include cooking, playing the piano (still learning), sports, reading and writing. They love travelling abroad, learning, and experiencing new things.

Fun Fact: The chipás I bake(a type of cheese bread) are quite famous amongst my community.

Merve Türkyilmaz portrait

Merve Türkyılmaz

Turkey
Turkish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2019
Joined the IQA: 2020
Merve speaks:
English & Turkish

Merve is an English literature student who, at the age of 16, is sucked into the madness of quadball, from which she will never recover. She enjoys knitting, fiction podcasts, giggling hysterically, chicken live streams and playing tabletop RPGs. You can find her singing sea shanties or talking to herself at any given time. My advice? Try to avoid eye contact and start walking in the opposite direction.

Fun Fact: As a very predictable twist, I was the villain all along...

Yunus Özbek portrait

Yunus Kerem Özbek

Akyaka, Turkey
Turkish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2021
Yunus speaks:
English, French & Turkish

Yunus has been playing quadball since 2016, they fell in love with the game the moment they saw it. They remember telling themselves "This is the weirdest sport I've seen so far. I must play this" Ever since it's been one of the most important things in my life. They are living their life as a second-hand bookseller and a student that's preparing to get into university. Their favourite hobby besides quadball is Fantasy Role Playing (FRP).

Melisko Ercan

Ankara, Turkey
Turkish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2018
Joined the IQA: 2021
Melisko speaks:
English & Turkish

Melisko is a university student who lives in Ankara, Turkey. They love painting and reading a lot, and likes watching or playing any kind of sports.

Fun Fact: Melisko cannot figure their right and left. It took time for them to understand.

Vini Alves

Limeira, Brazil
Portuguese Translation Team Lead

Joined the quadball community: 2021
Joined the IQA: 2023
Vini speaks:
Portuguese, English, Russian, Spanish and French

Vini is a historian who is passionate for languages, sports, and gender inclusive policies and studies. Quadball is the sport that merged these passions and that has became a really important part of my life since I started playing. I love to play, but also to referee, and organize events and develop it on my country and around the world.

Fun Fact: Vini participated in a Brazil's National Team practice 3 months after start playing quadball.

Raquel Melchior

São Paulo, Brazil
Portuguese Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2019
Joined the IQA: 2023
Raquel speaks:
I'm Raquel Melchior, I'm a nurse and a student, I live in São Paulo - Brazil. I look quadball, and I used to help only my team but now I want to help in my country's quadball and help it grow so we can be recognized in more places in here.

Fun Fact: For some reason I really like eating ice.

Görkem Öksüm

Bingöl, Turkey
Turkish Translator

Joined the quadball community: 2018
Joined the IQA: 2023
Görkem speaks:
Turkish, English

I live in Ankara. I play quidditch for four years for different teams. I am studying psychology and philosophy at METU.

Jaelithe Swan portrait

Jaelithe Swan

England
Content Team Member

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2023
Görkem speaks:
English

Jaelithe grew up in England on the South Coast and discovered quidditch at university.

Events

Pauline Raes portrait

Pauline Raes

Oostende, Belgium
Trustee / Co-Secretary / Director, Events & Membership Services

Joined the quadball community: 2014
Joined the IQA: 2015
Pauline speaks: English, Dutch, & French

Pauline lives in Oostende, Belgium and has volunteered in various positions both in and outside of the IQA. In her spare time, she loves walks on the beach with the dogs, reading books, watching tv shows and spending time with friends.

Fun Fact: Pauline made and executed a stage play for charity with friends when they were 17.

Luke Zak portrait

Luke Zak

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Deputy Director, Events & Membership Services

Joined the quadball community: 2010
Joined the IQA: 2021
Luke speaks:
English

Luke Zak is a lifelong Minneapolitan. When he is not playing quadball you can find him playing board games, enjoying a craft beverage, planning for the return of concerts, and pursuing his MBA.

Fun Fact: Luke's Patronus is a platypus.

Membership

Jamie turbet portrait

Jamie Turbet

Canberra, Australia
Director, Membership

Joined the quadball community: 2015
Joined the IQA: 2021
Jamie speaks:
English

Jamie has been playing quadballsince 2015 when she joined the ANU Owls as a beater. She's volunteered at a club and national level in many roles since 2016. When Jamie is not busy volunteering she can be found dancing at her local studio and going for a hike at the local mountains.

Fun Fact: Not only have I played quadball, I competed at the 2017 national jugger tournament in Canberra and my team did surprisingly well.

Brenda Flores

Lima, Perú
Expansions Manager

Joined the quadball community: 2016
Joined the IQA: 2021
Brenda speaks:
English & Spanish

Brenda is an interior designer and mother of two. She loves design, her partner, and her quadball team The Black Basilisks, and helping people whenever she can.

Fun Fact: Brenda used to not like sports but loves promoting quadball.

Gameplay

Michael Clark-Polner

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Rules Team Lead

Joined the quadball community: 2011
Joined the IQA:
2018
Michael speaks:
English

Michael Clark-Polner is a decision support analyst and travel concierge who lives in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in the United States. In his free time away from quadball he enjoys officiating other sports, particularly American football.

Fun Fact: As children, both he and his wife appeared on children's television shows on the same network, long before they met (Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood and Reading Rainbow respectively).

Arkady English portrait

Arkady English

England
Rules Team Volunteer

Joined the quadball community: 2017
Joined the IQA:
2019
Arkady speaks:
English

Arkady is a programmer and musician who also likes to dabble in chess, acting, video games and writing. He even occasionally finds time to play quidditch.

Fun Fact: I'm pretty sure I've done most of the performing arts in front of an audience at some point in my life.

Nicholas Weir portrait

Nick Weir

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Rules Team Volunteer

Joined the quadball community: 2014
Joined the IQA: 2020
Nick speaks:
English

Nick is a student, employee, or couch potato in Pittsburgh, depending on when exactly you ask.

Fun Fact: "I play quadball" is my go to fun fact.

Amel Sadiković portrait

Amel Sadiković

Vienna, Austria
Rules Team Volunteer

Joined the quadball community: 2018
Joined the IQA: 2020
Amel speaks:
English, German, & Bosnian

Amel plays for and coaches the Vienna Vanguards in Austria, Europe. He is currently attending law school and works in refugee law. Outside of the office and off the pitch, he watches way too much quadball film.

Fun Fact: He listens to music at least 5 hours a day.

IQA Logo

Get Involved

  • What is quadball
  • How to Play
  • Volunteer
  • Continental Games
  • World Cup

Resources

Disclaimer

IQA and its activities are not licensed by, sponsored by or associated with Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling or their affiliates. 'Quidditch', 'Harry Potter' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. - Harry Potter publishing rights © J.K. Rowling

All Rights Reserved © 2024 International Quadball Association