2024

General Manager at Real Betis Balompié Foundation since 2018, with experience in policy design, institutional coordination and field interventions in Asia, Central America, Europe, and United Nations global events. Specialising in environmental issues, sports, youth employment, social inclusion of vulnerable groups of people, within the framework of Corporate Sustainability.

Denise joined Sport England in May 2023 to promote environmental sustainability initiatives within the organisation and to work with partners to improve the environmental performance of the sport and physical activity sector.

Denise Ludlam has spent many years working in the environmental sustainability sector. She started her professional career in agroecology research. Denise then spent several years working for national parks in the UK and in central and eastern Europe before moving to environmental work in the charity sector. Much of the focus of her work has been on education and training; sharing experiences in, and communicating about, the importance and value of our natural environment, whether this be a protected landscape or an urban nature reserve. Further work specialised on sustainable travel and transport.

After a ten-year stint as a primary school teacher, leading on science and Forest Schools, Denise stepped back into the sustainability sector. She spent several years working for Derbyshire County Council on strategies and projects to improve the environmental performance of the Council and of the county.

Lindita Xhaferi Salihu leads work on sectors engagement in climate action as part of UN Climate Change wider Global Climate Action work. She led development of both Sports for Climate Action and Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and works closely with a variety of stakeholders to mobilize key actors and catalyze ambitious action towards decarbonization. Before joining UN Climate Change, Lindita worked in public relations and coordinated projects promoting multi-stakeholder engagement in policy and sustainability. Lindita has an educational background in engineering, international relations and global energy & climate policy.

Tiberio is Associate Professor in Sustainability Management at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, a public University located in Pisa, Italy. His research interests range from corporate environmental management to sustainable consumption and production, from Environmental performance and LCA to circular economy. He is author of more than 60 international publications and project manager of numerous international projects funded mainly by European Commission. At Sant’Anna University he coordinates the Sport Sustainability Management research area, focused on environmental sustainability activities applied in different sports like Football, Biathlon, Athletics, Floorball, Canoeing, Sailing.

Jasmin Paris is a mother, long distance fell runner, small animal vet and research scientist, who was launched into the media spotlight in January 2019 when she won the 268-mile Montane Spine race outright, breaking the overall record by 12 hours, and beating her nearest rival by 15 hours. This year, she became the first woman to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, something many had previously considered impossible for a woman.

The Barkley Marathons race is widely regarded as the world’s toughest ultramarathon and has been completed by only 20 people in the last 35 years. Consisting of five 20-mile loops through the wilderness of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, with more than 20 000m ascent, the race has a 60-hour time limit. In March 2022, Jasmin Paris became the first female in 9 years to complete a Barkley Marathon ‘Fun Run’ (3 loops in 40 hours), and in 2023 she reached the furthest point (on loop 4) of any woman in the history of the race. In 2024, on her third attempt, Jasmin became the first woman to finish the race, completing the 5 loops with only 99 seconds to spare, in a dramatic finish which delighted onlookers around the world.

Already a two times World and European Champion, Imogen became Olympic Champion at Paris 2024, in the Lightweight Women’s double sculls with Emily Craig.

Imogen is a qualified doctor, having completed her medical degree in 2023, and is an Ambassador for the Rivers Trust. Sustainability is incredibly important to her, and she is working to improve sustainability within rowing, but also more widely among sport. After participating in Veganuary in 2022 she is now vegan.

Imogen started rowing at First and Third Trinity Boat Club during her first year of university, signing up for a taster session in exchange for two free drinks in Freshers Week. Rapidly falling in love with the sport, she won the Beginner eights at BUCS in her first year before going on to win the Blondie-Osiris race in her second.

Imogen is a triple Cambridge Blue, winning three Boat Races (two in record time), and she also has a Blue in cycling, winning the BUCS team time trial while at Cambridge. While at Cambridge, she met her fiancé at First and Third.

Chris started his Professional cycling career in late 1993. Over the following 8yrs Chris held the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France on three separate occasions, took three World titles on track and road and broke several world records.

As Chair of Sport England, Chris oversaw an organisation that administers approximately 200 million pounds of funding to enable everyone in the country to access sport and be physically active. The innovative strategy involves working in and with communities to empower them to make the changes needed in their neighbourhoods.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Chris has ever faced though, is to lead a whole new organisation, Active Travel England. As Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Chris is charged with setting up this organisation and overseeing the administration of a 2 billion Pound budget. It will raise the standards of active travel infrastructure and ensure that every large development in the country enables people to live without cars if they choose.

So far, it’s been quite a ride for Chris and his unwavering companion throughout has been the bicycle, a wonderful and simple device that reduces carbon, improves safety and gives health. It has the power to change the world if we create an environment where people feel able to trundle to shops, schools and workplaces under their own steam. The enduring mission for Chris is to help make that happen.