Four New Members Appointed to UK Anti-Doping’s Board
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that the Secretary of State has appointed four new members to the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Board.
In October 2017, Dr Frances Akor, Nicholas Griffin QC, Professor Nicola Phillips and Dr Claire-Marie Roberts will start their tenure at UKAD as Non-Executive Directors. They will take up places vacated by Professor John Brewer, Janice Shardlow and Justin Turner QC.
These appointments mean that from October 2017 women will account for 70 per cent of the UKAD Board, working alongside the Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead. This compares to the average composition of new female board members of 50 per cent at other DCMS Arm’s Length Bodies appointed over the last year.
Trevor Pearce CBE QPM, Chairman of UKAD said;
“I am delighted that Frances, Nicholas, Claire-Marie and Nicola have been appointed to UKAD’s Board. They each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from their respective fields in pharmacology, the law, sports psychology and physiotherapy as well as having invaluable experience in strategy and governance. With their new perspectives, I’m confident that we can grow and develop UKAD’s mission to protect clean sport in the UK.”
“Together with our existing Board members, Pippa Britton and Sarah Winckless, I look forward to working with them over the coming years to strengthen UKAD’s delivery and reputation in the anti-doping field.
“At the same time, I want to pass on my thanks and best wishes to Professor John Brewer, Janice Shardlow and Justin Turner QC, whose tenure with us has concluded. Their engagement and contribution has been greatly appreciated by all at UKAD over the last few years.”
“Additionally, many organisations in the sports sector have some way to go to increase the participation of women on their boards and I’m delighted that we are leading the sector.
The new Board members are:
Dr Frances Akor is a Consultant Pharmacist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and a member of the General Pharmaceutical Council's Fitness to Practice and Investigating Committees. She was a member of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Pharmacy Clinical Services Group between 2009 and 2012. For the last fifteen years, Frances has worked in academia, consultancy, the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS.
Nicholas Griffin QC is a barrister with expertise in both criminal and public law. He has worked with the police and other agencies in relation to significant investigations and cases. He regularly appears at public inquiries covering a wide variety of issues, from allegations of widespread abuse to military and police action. Additionally, Nicholas conducts internal investigations for institutions concerned about irregular activity and advises in relation to bribery, corruption and compliance matters.
Professor Nicola Phillips is an internationally registered Sports Physiotherapy specialist and a Professor at Cardiff University. She has worked extensively with both the Welsh and British teams at Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games for over 25 years. She is chef de mission for Wales’s Commonwealth Games team for 2018 and President of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy 2011 – 2017. Nicola’s main areas of both clinical and academic work are in rehabilitation of high performance athletes. Her publications include logistical and ethical considerations for athlete support staff working at Major Games.
Dr Claire-Marie Roberts is a Chartered Psychologist, a Chartered Scientist, Senior Lecturer of Sport & Exercise Psychology and Co-programme Leader for the MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology at the University of the West of England in Bristol. In addition to her academic work, Claire-Marie works as a sports psychology consultant to National Governing Bodies, professional sports teams, athletes, their parents, coaches and sport scientists. She has helped prepare a number of athletes and teams for international competitions including the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.