Special Olympics Great Britain is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Trustees, alongside the addition of former Minister and MP Tom Pursglove to its Advisory Board, as the organisation continues to strengthen its leadership and governance to move into the next phase of growth and development.
The appointments come at a landmark moment for Special Olympics GB, which has now achieved Tier 3 compliance under the Sport England and UK Sport Code for Sports Governance — the highest and most rigorous level of governance required for sports organisations that receive funding.
Tier 3 compliance represents a significant milestone in Special Olympics GB’s organisational development and reflects several years of work to strengthen governance, leadership, accountability and long-term strategic planning across the movement. It demonstrates that Special Olympics GB is operating to nationally recognised standards and can deliver greater impact for athletes, families and communities across Great Britain.
The progress has been supported through Special Olympics GB’s enhanced relationship with Sport England as a System Partner, announced in 2022, to help build stronger foundations for future growth, partnerships and investment.
Within Special Olympics GB’s Board of Trustees, Dr Jan Burns MBE and Robert Powel rotate off following their nine-year (three sets of three-year) terms and Vijita Patel steps down, due to relocating overseas. In turn, it welcomes new members Geoff Nicholas, Ben Powers, Caitlin Ryan and Andrew Topen to help Special Olympics GB use sport to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities are seen, valued and taken seriously.
Geoff was a partner at Freshfields, one of the world’s leading law firms, for almost 30 years, and brings vast experience of advising large, international corporate organisations on corporate governance and compliance related issues. His clients included major sports clubs, rights holders and regulators, and he currently sits on the boards and management committees of several charities and third sector organisations, covering higher education, adolescent mental health and human rights.
Ben has more than 15 years of experience in secondary school education, including senior leadership roles, and was nationally recognised as a PE leader through his work with the Youth Sport Trust. He is passionate about using sport to drive inclusion and engagement and has most recently worked with the Worcester Warriors Foundation and the Worcestershire Cricket Foundation. Ben has also volunteered with Mary Stevens Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Arthritis UK.
Caitlin boasts more than 15 years of experience in retail and digital marketing and is currently a trusted client advisor at Google UK, where she partners with major retail and technology companies across EMEA to drive digital transformation. Having graduated from The Wharton School of Business, Caitlin brings a sharp strategic lens to her first board role. However, her relationship with the Special Olympics movement is deeply personal, having begun her journey as a volunteer in her home state of Connecticut in the US.
Andrew has more than 30 years’ experience in public affairs, communications and global media management, having worked with leading life sciences companies including GSK, Pfizer and Novartis. He has extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement and integrated corporate affairs, advising senior leaders and boards at UK, European and international levels. Andrew has also held leadership roles in industry organisations, including serving as Chairman of EuropaBio and currently as Secretary General of the World Pharmacy Council.
Alongside the refreshed Board of Trustees, which has a strong focus on financial sustainability and supporting the movement’s long-term goals, Special Olympics GB has an Advisory Board that hopes to unlock opportunities across the business and philanthropic sectors and strengthen fundraising capacity and capability.
Former Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Tom Pursglove joins the Advisory Board, bringing extensive experience across government, public policy and disability engagement. During his time in government, Tom played a key role in overseeing cross-government disability issues. He also represented the UK Government at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, where he met athletes and observed the impact of the movement first-hand.
Paul Richardson, Chair, Special Olympics GB
“Tier 3 is recognised as one of the highest standards of sports governance in the world and demonstrates that we are building a modern, transparent, strategically led and financially sustainable organisation that is fit for the future.
“It gives athletes, families, volunteers, partners and funders confidence that Special Olympics GB is governed to the very highest standards, with a genuine commitment to integrity, inclusion, welfare and long-term impact.”