Professor Nick Webborn has been appointed as Chair of UK Sport

The Secretary of State has appointed Professor Nick Webborn as the Chair of UK Sport for a term of four years, which will commence on 22 May 2025.

Professor Nick Webborn 

Professor Nick Webborn CBE DL has a lifetime's experience in high performance sport as an athlete, medical director, clinician, researcher and most recently as Chair of the British Paralympic Association. 

As a world leading expert in sport and exercise medicine, Nick has worked on 13 Paralympic Games and has decades of experience in providing performance support to British athletes. He was also Chief Medical Officer for Paralympics GB at the London 2012 Paralympics and for the Invictus Games 2014. In the former role, Nick helped develop the winning bid for London 2012 and played a critical role in the delivery of athlete healthcare services for the Games. 

Since then, Nick has gone on to become one of the UK's most prominent sport administrators. As Chair of the BPA, Nick played a critical role in leading the organisation through a period of change as they delivered a new 10 year strategy which sustained Paralympics GB's position near the top of successive Paralympic medal tables, whilst embedding social impact as a cornerstone of their work. Nick is also incredibly experienced in the world of international sport, having served on the Medical and Anti-Doping Committees of the International Paralympic Committee.

In 2016, Nick was awarded an OBE for services to Paralympic Sports Medicine and the British Paralympic Association and a CBE in the 2022 New Years Honours List for services to Sport and Sports Medicine.

Nick is delighted to have been appointed as Chair of UK Sport and looks forward to leading the organisation to deliver the next phase of its Strategic Plan, ensuring the positive future of Olympic and Paralympic sport and major sporting events in the UK.

Nick continues to practice in the field of Sport and Exercise Medicine and has published over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters.

Nick Webborn 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.”

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”.

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.”

Remuneration and Governance Code

Chair of UK Sport is remunerated at £40,000 per year. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office's Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Professor Nick Webborn has not declared any significant political activity.