UK Athletics today confirmed the appointment of Jennifer Thomas as an independent Non-Executive Director.

Thomas has previously held a number of senior communication roles within Direct Line Group and Lloyd’s of London and is now a consultant to clients including Glaxo Smith Klein, focussing on corporate communications, internal and external engagement, brand development, corporate social responsibility and diversity and inclusion.

Within athletics she competed for England over 400m and 400m hurdles, for Belgrave Harriers as well as in the US and Canadian sporting and collegiate system. She continues to work with athletes in a South London based high-performance squad, helping develop wider skills to complement the core performance development. She is also, since January 2021, a Non-Executive Director on the Board of England Netball.

She will commence her board term for UK Athletics from 1 May 2021.

Jennifer said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Board, supporting and advocating for athletics, which I believe has so much to offer, both at grassroots and elite level. It is such an important time for the sport and I am looking forward to working with the rest of the Board, particularly as the organisation collaborates with the wider athletics community to achieve its joint strategic objectives.”

Chair of UK Athletics, Nic Coward, said “It is great to welcome Jennifer to the Board.  She has a considerable commitment to the sport, following on from her own athlete career, and brings a wide range of hugely relevant skills and experience that fits with the rest of the Board as the organisation and the sport as a whole looks to realise the ambitions of our Athletics Unified strategy”.