Introducing the new Institute for Sport Business Advisory Board

The ISB Advisory Board has been designed to ensure that Loughborough University London’s Institute for Sport Business (ISB) continues to deliver teaching relevant to industry and as a result produces desirable graduates for the industry.

The new Board is made up of experienced academics, industry professionals and Institute for Sport Business student alumni. The Board consists of the following members:

• Professor James Skinner (Director of the Institute for Sport Business)
• Sophie Morris (Strategic Marketing and Sponsorship Director, Millharbour Marketing)
• Kate Bosomworth (Chief Marketing Officer, M&C Saatchi)
• Dr Emily Hayday (Lecturer in Sport Business)
• Tom Kingsley (EMEIA Sport Industry Group Leader)
• Jennie Wong (Project Development Manager – Global Disability Innovation Hub)
• Harriet Eastham (Performance Data Analyst, Southampton FC & Institute for Sport Business alumna)
• Tim Copley (Director of Insight, Technology & Data, London Sport)
• Will Lloyd (CEO, Global Sports)
• Emmanuel (Manny) Sackey (Senior Business Development Manager at Sportradar and Institute for Sport Business alumni)
• Ben Smith (Head of Research & Innovation, Chelsea FC)
• Kiki Christofi (Loughborough University London PhD representative)
• Miles Jacobson (CEO, Sports Interactive)
• Jennie Wong (Project Development Manager, Global Disability Innovation Hub)
• Katie Ferguson (Two Circles)

On Thursday 30 September, all the board members met to introduce and outline the purpose of the board. Director of the Institute, Professor James Skinner, led the introductions and then discussed the legacy and rich history of Loughborough University in respect to Sport Business.

The purpose of the ISB Advisory Board has been established as:

• Help to inform curriculum development to ensure contemporary nature of programmes
• Collaborative dissertations and research projects
• Support Student Network opportunities
• Guest lectures for the Board to engage with current students

The Board discussed a range of matters including its master’s programmes, Collaborative Dissertation and executive short courses. Particular attention was given to how ISB programmes are attracting a more diverse and international  student body despite the impact of COVID-19.

Professor James Skinner then moved on to focus on the ISB Research Strategy and current research projects. This discussion highlighted  the importance of building strategic connections with industry  partners around the world. Dr Holly Collison presented an overview of her research on using sport as an intervention to reduce knife crime in London. This was This followed by three current Institute for Sport Business PhD students providing a brief presentation about their research.

Ben Cole, Head of Strategic Projects and Future Space, presented on the aims of Future Space and how ISB Advisory Board members get involved in future opportunities, such as the Digital Skills programme.

In the closing minutes of this meeting, it was proposed that the next ISB Advisory Board meeting will take place in March 2022, with a focus on Institute for Sport Business taught programmes and curriculums, and how experiences and impressions of the Board will impact on this.

To find out more about the Institute for Sport Business Advisory Board, please visit out dedicated web page here.