Women in Sport is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Catherine Calderwood to its Board of Trustees.
A prominent figure in public health, the former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes, with a particular focus on disparities which disproportionality affect women and girls.
Catherine’s commitment and dedication to promoting equitable access to healthcare and advancing women’s health rights make her an invaluable addition to the charity and its mission to tackle gendered health inequality.
Prof Calderwood joins Women in Sport as the charity celebrates 40 years of securing lasting change for women and girls in sport and society.
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport has been at the forefront of efforts to challenge gender stereotypes and institutional bias and continues to make bold steps towards ending misogyny and champion the rights of women and girls to train and work in sport work in sport without discrimination or abuse.
Sport can also act as a catalyst for wider societal reform.
Catherine Calderwood
Prof Calderwood has made significant contributions to public health policy and practice throughout her career. She served as the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland from 2015 to 2020, during which time she provided expert advice to the Scottish Government on a wide range of health issues and played a key role in shaping Scotland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as addressing the social factors of health that disproportionately affect women, such as poverty, violence, and discrimination.
Catherine's insight will be invaluable as we continue in our mission to create a society where every woman and girl can believe she belongs in sport.
Julia Newton, Chair of Women in Sport
Julia Newton, Chair of Women in Sport said: “ I’m so happy that Catherine is joining our Board. She has shown a passionate dedication to advancing gender equality in society that can only be described as relentless, a quality we hugely admire and share. Her insight and intelligence will be invaluable to us as we continue in our mission to create a society where every woman and girl can believe she belongs in sport.
“While there is much to celebrate during our 40th anniversary year, there is still much work needed to achieve this. Making our board more representative of British society has been a key aim since I took up the role of Chair last year and our recent appointments join an incredibly strong Board team that moves us closer towards achieving this. Together with our outstanding executive team we will continue to be both brave and relentless in pursuit of our goals and we are all delighted to have Catherine help lead on this.”
Women in Sport CEO, Stephanie Hilborne OBE said: “It is wonderful to have someone with Catherine’s qualities on our Board. She has devoted her life to the care of others – a leading obstetrician in our National Health Service she has been instrumental in saving the lives of countless newborns and new mothers. Women in Sport will benefit significantly from her expertise and leadership as we continue our work to improve the lives of women and girls.
Together with our new trustees we are resolute in our commitment to stamp out pervasive misogyny and stereotyping that are limiting the lives and enjoyment of so many women and girls within sport and wider society.”
Earlier this year Women in Sport also welcomed Polly Neate CBE, CEO of housing and homeless charity Shelter, Yama Otung, Head of Dispute Resolution at Livida Sport and Brian Moore, sports commentator and former England rugby union player to its Board of Trustees.
