Dr Anita White, founder of the charity Women in Sport, the International Working Group on Women and Sport, and the Anita White Foundation has been awarded the CBE for services to women and to sport.
Anita captained the England hockey team to World Cup glory in 1975. There was almost no recognition at the time and she and her teammates were denied the chance at an Olympic medal because they played in an era when many women’s sports and events were excluded from the Games. Men’s hockey had been a regular feature of the Olympics since 1908.
Anita wanted a different experience and fresh opportunities for others. In 1984 she was among a group of remarkable women who created the Women’s Sport Foundation (now the charity Women in Sport) to challenge the male dominance and outright sexism of British sport. It was the first such organisation in its field in the UK and has become known as a centre of excellence for research, tirelessly advocating for the rights of women and girls in sport, and in society.
Anita went on to establish the first official World Conference on Women and Sport in 1994, one outcome of which was the formation of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG). The IWG is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing equity and equality in sport and physical activity for women and girls around the world, its Secretariat is currently hosted by the UK with Anita serving as Strategic Advisor.
Anita also created a foundation in her name (the AWF) to support women leaders in sport from countries where they face particular challenges to access education and development opportunities. The AWF has financially supported a wide range of projects including adaptive sport for landmine victims in Uganda, leadership in rugby league in Papua New Guinea and awareness campaigns for women with disabilities in Malawi.
Anita White said: “It is a great honour to be named alongside all the other people recognised for their service this year. It is my belief that sport is for everyone, and in the past forty years tremendous strides forward have been made – but we must go further to achieve true equality. I hope this honour inspires other women and girls to break down barriers and smash glass ceilings in 2025.”
Women in Sport Chief Executive Stephanie Hilborne OBE said: “Anita White’s life has been, and continues to be, dedicated to sport, education and human rights. She is an extraordinary woman whose hard work has improved the lives of women and girls immeasurably, enabling millions to experience the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport. We are so proud to continue her work at Women in Sport.”
