Dr Julie Brunton
Chair
Director of Sport & Physical Education Nottingham University Ningbo, China
An accomplished academic, leader and manager with in depth experience in both senior university leadership, as well as managing a multi-disciplinary academic area of Sport, Health and Nutrition.
Passionate about the role of sport and recreation in the health and well-being agenda and in improving the student experience.
Research focuses on university student sport policy, governance, and behaviour change; the use of outdoor orientation activities with first year students; and dual-career student-athletes.
Linkedin: Dr Julie Brunton
Nigel Harrison
Vice Chair
CEO, Yorkshire Sport Foundation
Nigel has over 20 years of experience of working within the sports industry initially relating to sports facility management before a move towards sports development.
He has extensive experience in drawing up strategic plans in sport making a major contribution to the sports strategies in each of South Yorkshire’s Districts. Prior to joining the West Yorkshire Sports Company he was the first employee of West Yorkshire Sport in 2001 and worked at Calderdale Council in various roles including Sports Development Manager. His first jobs were with North Warwickshire Borough Council managing sports centres.
Nigel is a member of the board of the County Sports Partnership Network.
Twitter: nigelh4 Linkedin: Nigel Harrison
Louise Morby
Vice Chair
Senior Lecturer in Sport Development, Leeds Beckett University
Linkedin: Louise Morby
Chris Cutforth
Conferences and Events Lead
Senior lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University, Academy of Sport and Physical Activity
Before moving into higher education in 2008 where he teaches undergraduate students, Chris enjoyed a successful 20 year sport development career working in 4 local authorities and Sport England at local, regional and national levels.
During his time at Sport England Chris was responsible for the management of the Active Schools programme in the east of England and contributed to the design and development of several national sport development programmes, most notably Active Sports, the forerunner for today’s County Sports Partnerships. He was also seconded to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2006 to work on the volunteering strategy and Gamesmaker programme.
Chris is a Board member with the Yorkshire Sport Foundation and Chair of the Sheffield Doorstep Sport Partnership.
He is currently studying for a doctorate in Higher Education at Sheffield University.
Linkedin: Chris Cutforth
Sharon Clough
Scotland: Home Country Lead
Senior Lecturer Sport Management, University of Edinburgh, Institute of Sport, P.E. and Health Science School of Education and Academy of Sport.
Expertise in education and sport; as a university lecturer in Sport Management, Sport Development Officer and PE teacher, in schools and colleges in London and Edinburgh. Considerable experience in pioneering, directing and examining undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sport management and development. Recent research, knowledge transfer and enterprise on organisational change, gender equity and diversity in leadership and governance in sport social enterprises and NGBs. Member of Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group for Sport.
Linkedin: Sharon Clough
James Allen
Adviser
Director of Policy, Governance and External Affairs, Sport and Recreation Alliance
James is the Director of Policy, Governance and External Affairs where he leads on public affairs activity, policy, research and sports governance in England and Wales. He has worked for the last 12 years in a range of public affairs and communications roles in the private, public and not for profit sectors. James sits on the Board of Sport Resolutions (UK) and holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from Cardiff University.
Linkedin: James Allen
UK Sport Development Network 