Welcome to VERCIDA website.
Skip to main contentCategory: diversity, Women in athletics, UK Athletics, Careers in sport, sport, Leadership through change, Sports, Women on boards, Women in Sport, Athletics, athletes, women in boardroom, sportswomen, British Athletics, UKA, changes, change, board members, female athletes, disability in sport, media and sport, athletic
UK Athletics has announced it will commence the recruitment of a new board member, having made a number of decisions about the diversity of backgrounds, skills and experiences it sees as important for the organisation and the sport.
The advert for the role, to be released by the end of the month, will highlight the UKA board’s focus on appointing an applicant from ethnically diverse communities, and with recent and relevant athlete experience. The UKA board has recently increased from 8 to 12, following the addition of a director nominated by each of the four Home Country Athletics Federations. All nominated directors were men, and the UKA board is now looking to appoint a woman to this position.
UKA’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Draisey has volunteered to stand down from his position as a director of the company, to enable the process to happen and ensure board continuity. He will continue in his role as CFO, Company Secretary and Executive Champion for Race supporting the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.
Full details of the process including role description and how to apply will be released shortly through the UKA website.
Chair of UKA Nic Coward said:
“We are committed to driving positive change within our organisation and the whole sport, with a demand that all involved have an open and collaborative mindset. Athletics is for everyone. That is a core belief at the heart of our Athletics Unified strategy. We will soon finalise and publish our Diversity Action Plan for the next four years, and one commitment is that the board of the sport’s governing body board should itself be from a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and experiences. As part of this, going forward, we have decided at least two of our board are to be from a minority ethnic background.
“Our Let’s Talk About Race programme created impactful conversations across the sport and within UKA, with board composition one of the very many issues initiatives that were considered. The change we are making also reflects our commitments to diversity as signatories of the Race at Work Charter, which addresses race inequality in the workplace.
“Mark Draisey has shown his personal commitment to our plan for change, and I look forward to working with him and everyone involved in the sport in delivering Athletics Unified.”
Current UK Athletics Board:
Nic Coward – Chair
Joanna Coates – CEO
Penny Avis – Senior Independent Director
David Abrahams – Athletics Northern Ireland Nominated Director
Gordon Arthur
Ian Beattie – Scottish Athletics Nominated Director
Stuart Cain
Peter Crawshaw – England Athletics Nominated Director
Mark Draisey – CFO – to stand down
Stephen Perks – Welsh Athletics Nominated Director
Anne Wafula-Strike
Mike Whittingham
VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.
UK Athletics
Inclusive features
Whilst 8 March is the recognised date for International Women’s Day, UK Athletics spent the entire week celebrating some key figures within the sport working hard and deserving of wider recognition....
On the 8th March, it was International Women’s Day, and to celebrate, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advocates at UKA have spoken to several stakeholders in the sport about this year’s theme,...
On the 8th March, it was International Women’s Day, and to celebrate, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advocates at UKA have spoken to several stakeholders in the sport about this year’s theme,...
On the 8th March, it is International Women’s Day, and to celebrate, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advocates at UKA have spoken to several stakeholders in the sport about this year’s theme,...
Help us find the best workplace for you by sharing more about yourself.
We will never disclose your information with others.