Jayce
Following the Annual General Meeting on June 22, Badminton England members elected five new directors to the Board. Among them, three were previously co-opted, and two are new to the Board.
Each elected director, introduced, voted, and approved by Board Chair Peter Emptage, has now been interviewed, voted on, and approved. We are delighted to welcome such a wealth of talent and experience to the Board.
Kate Aldridge and Chris Clements began their terms after being co-opted. Gene Joyner and Harley Towler have started their three-year terms, while Mark King has been re-elected for a second term.
George Wood was also elected but has accepted a full-time role with Badminton England instead of his Board appointment. We look forward to working with George in his new position.
Here’s more information about the new members:
Kate Aldridge, Elected Director
Kate’s love for badminton began in her youth when she competed in county-level matches for Sussex and Kent and local adult leagues.
Currently serving as the Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Kate is a firm believer in the positive power of sports and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility.
Her first project at the ECB was developing the “Transform Women’s and Girls’ Cricket” action plan, significantly boosting the visibility and participation of women’s cricket.
Kate is also a dedicated mentor for the University of Bath’s widening participation scholarship program.
Chris Clements, Elected Director
As the current Head of Digital Products at Wimbledon, Chris brings impressive digital expertise, including responsibilities for developing innovations to grow and expand Wimbledon’s fan base.
Chris also understands how to leverage the latest AI technologies, having spent three years at the Lawn Tennis Association, playing a key role in driving engagement.
With over a decade of experience in charitable trusts and board positions, Chris also brings first-hand experience as an athlete, having competed at the national level in two sports. Recently, he managed the daily operations of one of the country’s largest rowing clubs.
Gene Joyner, Elected Director
In addition to being a European Masters gold medalist, Gene is a coach and a passionate advocate for inclusivity.
Gene wears many hats, currently serving as CEO of the charity FareShare South West, Chair of the Avon County Badminton Association, and Trustee of SS Great Britain.
Harley Towler, Elected Director
A former player for the GB team, Harley represented England in the Sudirman Cup and Thomas Cup and later participated as a sparring partner in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
With a Ph.D. in sports biomechanics and engineering, Harley has served as a coach for the national under-15 squad since retiring.
Along with the newly elected directors, Alison Odell, who served on the Board from 2016 to 2022, has been elected Vice President.
Alison Odell has been involved in badminton as a player since 1975, representing Worcestershire and Cheshire. As Chair of TASS and a leader in both domestic and international university sports, she has been a steadfast advocate for badminton, driving much of the current structure of BUCS badminton, including the highly attended national championships in Sheffield, which she continues to support.
Nora Perry and Geoff Hind have been appointed Honorary Vice Presidents. Both have served as Vice Presidents, and we are delighted to appoint them as Honorary Vice Presidents in recognition of their contributions to the sport.
We also want to take this opportunity to thank Mike McSweeney, who decided to step down from the Board.
We appreciate his outstanding contributions to the Board since joining in 2019.
