The closing module of UK Sport’s second International Leadership Programme (ILP) took place this Tuesday at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London.
The event welcomed guest speakers Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport and John Steele, Chief Executive of UK Sport who addressed delegates on the challenges participants will face in developing international careers in sport. In addition, ex Paralympian Marc Woods and British Paralympic Association Vice-President Tony Sainsbury also spent time with the group discussing the key characteristics of successful leadership in an international context. Session topics included ‘the operating environment of international sport’, ‘multi-cultural working’ and ‘negotiating and influencing’.
Working with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), UK Sport seeks to ensure that the UK is able to contribute to the development and governance of international sport via the building of relationships with International Federations and other key international sporting organisations. The ILP, launched in 2006, forms part of this remit and is designed to equip participants with the skills they need to become effective cross-cultural communicators able to operate successfully on the international stage.
“We at UK Sport recognise that in order to be able to impact on the governance of sport internationally we need to invest in our people,” said Steele. “Whilst UK Sport is hugely supportive of the UK’s international sporting representatives, we see the ILP alumni as flag bearers of best practice when it comes to operating internationally in sport. I am confident that we are developing a high quality cohort of people and am extremely excited about the roles they will go on to play in the future.”
The second intake of ILP graduates will now join an alumni network which will ensure that past participants and mentors are able to continue to share international best practice.
At last week’s European Judo Union (EJU) Congress in Athens, ILP graduate and Chair of British Judo, Densign White was re-elected as Sports Director where he will continue to manage Cadet & Junior Championships across Europe. White’s re-election demonstrates the immediate impact ILP participants are having in the international governance of their respective sports.
“The support and training I have received from the ILP has certainly developed my knowledge and skills in international sport and I hope to use this training to continue to develop the sport of Judo internationally,” said White.
UK Sport’s International Policy Consultant, Ben Calveley, said: “One of the key reasons for the ILP is to make sure that the UK is able to influence debates that take place in international sport and as the second year of the programme draws to a close, I am encouraged by the quality of graduates this week. As with any people development programme, the success of the ILP is dependent upon the contribution of the participants, each of whom should be congratulated on having completed the course but, perhaps more importantly, on having added value to the development of their peers. I am now incredibly excited about launching another year of the ILP.”
UK Sport will continue to develop the programme, and will be liaising with all UK NGB’s over the coming months to launch another programme year.
ILP Year 2 Graduates:
Densign White, British Judo
Steve Barrow, Football Association
Sue Catton, England Hockey
David Holmes, International Equestrian Federation (FEI)
Nick Pink, Youth Sport Trust
John Spencer, Rugby Football Union
Charlie Bethel, Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association
Zena Wooldridge, England Squash
Lindsey Jackson, Football Association
Charlotte O’Neill, LOCOG
Phil Atwell, European Universities Sports Association
Mark Simmers, Snowsport GB
Vikki McPherson, English Institute of Sport