UK Sports Association appoint two new trustees
The UK Sports Association (UKSA) is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Trustees, Peter Ackred and Andy Heffer.
Both will join the UKSA Board from 20th August 2020 boosting UKSA’s collective experience of industry leaders working together to achieve UKSA’s vision of a society that enables people with intellectual impairment, Down syndrome and autism to excel.
Pete Ackred (CEO, Disability Sports Coach) and Andy Heffer (former Director of Sport & Development, Special Olympics GB), join the Board as independent appointments, bringing a wealth of experience of business, sport, development and working with disabled people to complement the legal, governance, UK and international sport, education and commercial expertise already present through current Board members.
Commenting on the appointments, newly elected Chair, Genevieve Gordon-Thomson said:
“It is with pleasure we welcome Pete and Andy to the UKSA Board, during such an important time for athletes with intellectual impairment in sport.
“Andy and Pete bring a depth of expertise and cross sector knowledge from their respective UK wide networks. These networks will be of enormous value to UKSA as we continue to support athletes with intellectual impairment, Down syndrome and autism to excel in national and international sport”.
UKSA Chief Executive Tracey McCillen said:
“These latest appointments to our Board is hugely exciting. I look forward to working with Pete, Andy and the whole Board in the weeks and months to come. Athletes with intellectual impairment, Down syndrome and autism deserve recognition in performance sport, whether through Paralympics or Virtus Global Games – they work hard to achieve GB representation.
“We are committed to seeing athletes achieve their ambitions. With UKSA’s strong Board, our collective voices will ensure that the change needed in the sports sector to enable them in performance sport is realised.”
Pete Ackred said:
“I am delighted to be joining the UKSA board on its journey to make competitive sport inclusive for all. It is key that we open the door for more opportunities for people with a learning disability to excel in national and international competitive sport. I believe that working with UKSA to develop existing and new partnerships is the key to driving this.”
Andy Heffer said:
“I’m honoured to have been asked to join the Board of UKSA. Much of my career has been spent trying to improve provision for people with a learning disability within the sports sector and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to continue this important work with UKSA”.
The UKSA Board includes
- Genevieve Gordon Thomson (Chair), CEO Tactic Connect
- Gavin MacLeod, CEO Scottish Disability Sport
- Fiona Reid, CEO Disability Sport Wales
- Jane Coia, Performance Coach & Former Chair, Welsh Sports Association for People with Learning Disability
- Gary Fraser, Performance Manager, Scottish Disability Sport
- Pete Ackred, CEO, Disability Sports Coach
- Andy Heffer, Former Director of Sports & Development, Special Olympics GB
The UK Sports Association is the only national disability sports and umbrella body in the UK for sport and people with learning disability, Down syndrome and autism focusing on elite, high- performance sport.
UKSA promotes, supports and facilitates talented sports people in the UK to train, compete and excel in national and international sport. UKSA is the only official Great Britain member of Virtus (formerly Inas), is responsible for and manages eligibility and classification across the UK and manages GB Teams to Virtus events.
For further information, images and interviews contact
Tracey McCillen, UKSA on 0207 490 3057, email tracey.mccillen@uksportsassociation.org
Out of hours 07710 455 067 www.uksportsassociation.org
