Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Board Directors
Thursday 28 March 2024
British Showjumping are pleased to announce the appointment of three Independent Non-Executive Board Directors who will be joining the Board on the 1st April 2024.
Iain Graham, CEO commented “We were really pleased with the calibre of candidates who applied for the positions of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Legal & Governance and Equine Welfare and the appointment panel were unanimous in in their recommendations of Genevieve, Julie and Chris respectively.
All three candidates bring a wealth of expertise in their respective areas, and we are really fortunate to have individuals willing to share that experience and knowledge with the organisation”.
Genevieve Gordon-Thomson – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Genevieve is CEO of Tactic Connect. Since 2001 Gen has worked actively within sports law; advising private client and organisations and governing bodies in the UK and abroad. Genevieve is the retained lawyer for the Netball Player Association. She is working with Tribe Identity on a new project to deliver sporting opportunities to the LGBTQ+ community. Her work in EDI spans across the projects she is working on with each client and forms a central part of her work in sports law.
Gen holds the following appointments:
- Independent Trustee - Football Regulatory Board
- Chair - British DanceSport Association
- Chair - Sport Excel UK
- Vice Chair - British Association for Sport and Law
- Governor – Seaford College
Julie Smyth – Legal & Governance
Julie is a highly experienced lawyer who has worked in international law firms and in-house in the heavily regulated Aerospace industry for over 25 years, most recently as the General Counsel of GKN Aerospace. She has extensive experience in advising on, and managing, complex, multi-jurisdictional legal, governance and reputational matters. Her focus is on working with very senior teams to deliver practical solutions, champion positive change, and help organisations have robust governance and assurance controls in place so that they can grow and develop their strategy in a sustainable way.
Chris Johannson BVMS CertEP MRCVS – Equine Welfare
Chris qualified from Glasgow University in 1992, and in 2000 was a founding partner and now Clinical Director at Western Counties Equine Hospital in Devon which has evolved into a busy first opinion and referral hospital. Clinical work is largely focussed on horses in training and sports horses alongside duties as an emergency surgeon. A senior vet at National Hunt racecourses and a FEI official veterinarian responsible for veterinary service provision at Bicton Arena Horse Trials including the one off 5* event and the BS Summer Tour. Chris is also a former BEVA council member.
Chris has a wealth of experience at all levels of sport and is acutely aware of the importance of prioritising the welfare of the equine within sport and providing visible veterinary care.
“We would also like to extend our thanks to Samantha Livesey, Arlina Mauree and Andy Bathe for the time and support they gave during their terms as Board Directors”.
