Ulster Representatives

Ellvena Graham brings extensive leadership experience from across the business, tourism and energy sectors. A member of Ballynahinch RFC in County Down, she has been actively involved in rugby governance in Ulster since 2019, serving on the Ulster Management Committee and as Chair of the Ulster Commercial Committee. She also joined the Ulster Finance Committee in 2024. Ellvena has held a number of prominent leadership positions throughout her career, including Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland, Chair of ESB, and Head of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland. She currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Dale Farm Co-operative.  She was appointed to the IRFU Committee in 2025. 

Philip Gregg is a life-long member at Ballynahinch RFC where he served as a player with distinction, captaining the club’s first XV in 1989 and 1994-95. He also represented Ulster Juniors as a player and captain. Following his playing career, he became involved in the running of the club, holding a number of key positions before being elected Club Chairman for seven years. Philip was a member of the IRFU Ulster Branch Committee for 17 years before becoming President in Season 2022/23. Before retiring, Philip was Managing Director for Profast, a company he joined in 1989 as a Sales Representative.

Diane Nixon is a former Ireland Women’s international and a member of City of Derry RFC. Diane earned 10 caps for Ireland between 1994 and 1998 and enjoyed a distinguished playing career that included representing Irish Exiles, Ulster, Wasps FC and Oxford University, where she achieved four Blues between 1992 and 1995. Beyond her playing career, Diane has made a significant contribution to rugby governance and player development. She joined the Ulster Branch in 2023 and also serves on the Ulster Disciplinary Committee. From 2018 to 2020, she chaired the North West Sporting Partnership, a collaboration between Ulster Rugby, the IRFU and local authorities that promoted pathways and opportunities for girls' rugby. Professionally, Diane is a barrister and serves as Director of Education at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen's University Belfast. She is also a Parole Commissioner for Northern Ireland and a consultant to the Bar Standards Board in England and Wales, where she acts as Chief Examiner for Professional Ethics. She was appointed to the IRFU Committee in 2023.

Mark Orr is a member of of Dromore RFC and played rugby with Dublin University and NIFC. He has made a significant contribution to the game as a referee for more than 30 years, was a member of the IRFU National Referees Panel from 1994 to 2004 and continues to be actively involved in refereeing. Mark has extensive experience in rugby governance within Ulster, having served on a number of branch committees, including the Ulster Branch Rugby Committee and the Ulster Branch Nominations Committee.Professionally, Mark is a barrister who has practised law since 1980. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in Northern Ireland in 1996 and became a Senior Counsel in Ireland in 2002. He was appointed to the IRFU Committee in 2019 and serves as the Union's representative for Rugby Europe.