The UKSI appoints Nigel Holl and Sarah Williams as Non-Executive Directors
The UK Sports Institute (UKSI) is delighted to announce two new Non-Executive Directors to the organisation’s Board: British Curling Executive Performance Director Nigel Holl and Finance Director at the RFU Sarah Williams.
Nigel and Sarah replace outgoing members Sir David Tanner CBE and Vic Luck, who have both served eight years (two full terms) on the UKSI Board.
Sarah Williams is a finance professional, currently working as the Finance Director at the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Williams has a personal focus on contributing to purpose-driven organisations, which she will bring to her work at the UKSI. She also holds positions as a Trustee of the Rugby Football Foundation and a Director at Rugby Care Limited and has previously held roles at The Football Association, Macmillan Cancer Support, Vodafone Australia and PwC.
Nigel Holl has worked in various roles across the British and Scottish Sporting sector at Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth level, including notably his position as Executive Performance Director at British Curling, which he has held since 2019. He was also the Curling Team Leader for the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. A keen sports fan and retired ultra-runner, Holl has held roles in sports in development functions including at England Hockey, performance roles at the Scottish Institute of Sport and as Performance Director for England Netball, served as CEO of Scottish Athletics and Strategy Director & Interim CEO UKA and serves on several boards in non-executive roles.
UKSI Chair John Dowson said: “Following an extremely competitive recruitment process, we are thrilled to welcome Nigel and Sarah as the newest members of our Board. We had many outstanding candidates, but Nigel and Sarah both excelled and we were deeply impressed by the relevance of their experience and clear passion for high performance sport.
“Nigel brings decades of knowledge and understanding of elite sport and knows first-hand what it takes to support a sport, an athlete or a team to succeed, while Sarah will bring her passion for purpose-driven activity, a broader knowledge of pro-sport and financial acumen to the team.
“I do also want to acknowledge the tenures of both Sir David and Vic, who have been fundamental to much of what we have achieved as an organisation over the past two cycles. We thank them very much for all they have contributed to the UKSI as well as to the wider sporting system. We wish them all the very best with their future endeavours.”
Incoming board member Sarah Williams commented: “It is an honour to be joining the Board to support the UK Sports Institute’s critical work with elite athletes. I am very much looking forward to commencing my role, particularly as we head into an Olympic and Paralympic year.”
Nigel Holl added: “I’m both excited and honoured to take on this non executive role on the Board of UKSI. As an organisation it plays a pivotal role in British Olympic and Paralympic Sport success, has a tremendous team in place, and I look forward to working with the Board and Senior Leadership team. I hope that with my wide experience across sport I will add value to what is already an excellent team.”