Independent Member
Patrick Nelson has been CEO of the Irish Football Association since 2009. Patrick is a director of the Association's stadium company and a trustee of its charitable foundation. He is also a director of the International Football Association Board, responsible for the Laws of the Game.
Before moving into football, Patrick worked in the global payment cards industry, with roles at Capital One, MasterCard and American Express.
He holds a Business Studies degree from Nottingham Trent University and a master's in European Sports Governance from Sciences Po, Paris.
Patrick was appointed as a Visiting Professor at Ulster University in 2020.
In 2022, Patrick was appointed as Chair of the National Trust Regional Advisory Group for Northern Ireland.