Duo of new UKAD Board appointments announced

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has today confirmed the appointment of two new UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Board members.

Dr Alison O’Riordan, a master athletics coach, and George Walker, a senior accountant, have both been selected as Board members for a four-year term commencing on 5 September 2022. The appointments come as Sarah Winckless MBE and Pippa Britton’s six-year stint on the Board comes to an end in September.

Dr Alison O’Riordan is a sports professional, educator, and researcher with over 30 years’ global experience in varying positions within the public and private sectors. She is a paralympic specialist with a PhD in biomechanics and brings with her seven years’ experience as a National Trainer for UKAD.

Alison is a director of her own company, AOR Sports Consultancy, and has worked successfully with several sporting organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, Athletics Australia, England Athletics, British Athletics and Paralympics Ireland. 

As a Master Athletics Coach, Alison has coached athletes onto six Paralympic Games for Australia, Great Britain and Ireland. As an educator and people developer, Alison has taught at all levels from primary to university, as well as athlete and coach development.

On her appointment to the UKAD Board, Alison commented: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of UKAD allowing my continued involvement in the essential work that UKAD plays in the global fight against doping in sport. It has been a privilege to be a National Trainer and part of the UKAD education team for the past seven years, and I am excited about this new and great opportunity to further support the organisation's work to help athletes participate in clean sport." 

George Walker is a Chartered Accountant who has held a number of senior finance and IT leadership positions with international organisations, mainly focusing on IT-driven business change.

He was a Board member of Sport Scotland from April 2013 to April 2022, a period that included supporting the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the redevelopment of the Inverclyde National Centre into the first fully accessible residential sports centre in the UK.

George, who is also involved in sports charities, is currently Vice-Chair of Scottish Sports Futures and a Board Member of SportsAid Scotland.

George added: “I am delighted to be appointed to the Board of UKAD and continue my passion for sports. This appointment will provide me with the opportunity to use my sport and business experience to support the ongoing development of the organisation as it continues to protect clean sport in the UK.”

Commenting on the announcement, UKAD Chair Trevor Pearce said: “I am delighted to welcome Alison and George to the UKAD Board. They both have a wealth of experience in the sporting sector and their respective fields, which will be extremely valuable to UKAD. I’m very much looking forward to working with them both and gaining their fresh perspectives on how we can continue to protect clean sport in the UK.

“Whilst we are excited to welcome two new Board members, it does sadly mean we will be saying goodbye to Pippa Britton and Sarah Winckless soon. Their dedication to clean sport and to developing UKAD has been invaluable and having them support and handover to Alison and George during their last few weeks in post will be a great benefit to us.”

More information on the UKAD Board can be found here.