The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has appointed Professor Nick Webborn CBE as the new Chair of UK Sport.
Nick has a lifetime of experience in high performance sport as an athlete, medical director, clinician, researcher and most recently as Chair of the British Paralympic Association. Nick has worked on 13 Paralympic Games and has decades of experience in providing performance support to British athletes.
Furthermore, as Chair of the British Paralympic Association, Nick played a critical role in leading the organisation through a period of change as they delivered a new 10 year strategy which sustained ParalympicsGB’s position near the top of successive Paralympic medal tables whilst embedding social impact as a cornerstone of their work.
Nick will take up the position later this month.
Commenting on his appointment, Nick said:
“It is a great honour to be appointed as Chair of UK Sport and to have the opportunity to continue the work of my predecessor, Dame Katherine Grainger, who I have had the privilege to work alongside over the last eight years.
Having spent much of my life in high performance sport, I know how much the UK public value the Olympic and Paralympic success that our wonderful sports and athletes have achieved over the last 25 years and how much the UK is respected as a host of sporting events.
"However, I also know that our sporting success is not guaranteed in the face of mounting global competition. I therefore look forward to working with the incredibly talented people we have across the UK sporting system to deliver continued success on the field of play and to unite, inspire and excite people all across the nation.”
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:
"I am delighted to welcome Professor Nick Webborn as the new Chair of UK Sport. His expertise in sports medicine and sports administration will bring invaluable perspective to this role.
"Nick's leadership will be crucial as UK Sport continues its efforts to grow Olympic and Paralympic sports, while continuing work with government to cement the UK's position as a world-leading host of prestigious competitions that leave lasting legacies in communities across the country."
Sally Munday, Chief Executive of UK Sport said:
"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Nick to the UK Sport team. His decades of experience in high performance sport mean that he is perfectly positioned to Chair UK Sport through the next phase of the delivery of our ten year strategic plan and to drive the system change needed to continue a positive future for Olympic and Paralympic sport and major sporting events in the UK.
"I know that people across the Olympic and Paralympic sport community in the UK will join me in giving Nick a very warm welcome to his exciting new role."