David Stalker to step down from CIMSPA chair; Governance review underway to identify permanent successor

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) has announced that David Stalker will conclude his tenure as Chair, allowing him to focus on his growing network of facilities under the Oxygen Freejumping venture established in 2015.

David Stalker completes his work at the chartered institute having overseen the organisation’s remarkable transformation.

“I’m extremely proud of the achievements we have made over the last six years. It’s been a challenging journey re-shaping the institute into the strategic lead for professional development in the sport and physical activity sector and we have made some incredible gains. CIMSPA now has the endorsement of government, the support of Sport England and the backing of employers and the wider sector, something no other organisation in the sector has achieved,” says David.

“CIMSPA is firmly established as a strong and successful chartered institute and is perfectly positioned to deliver the workforce development plans as tasked by government. I’m delighted to be able to hand over the reins of such a healthy organisation to Andy Reed who will drive CIMPSA’s success forward.”

Chair of the institute since 2014 and a trustee for four years, David has steered the organisation through its transition to embrace the leadership role demanded by employers and the wider sector. CIMSPA now enjoys wholesale support from employers, awarding organisations and training providers who are working together to drive reform and deliver the workforce development agenda.

Under David’s direction, the institute has put employers at the heart of standards and qualifications, leading the development of a single standard matrix to provide clear and defined roles and the training required for every job in the sector, and ultimately creating a career pathway for every sport and physical activity professional.

CIMSPA now appeals to public, private and third sectors and has substantially expanded its products and services to offer more CPD opportunities than ever before, career mapping software to record learning and chart personal professional development, and an e-learning system that spans an entire spectrum of robust and relevant training from core regulatory learning to management and leadership.

David leaves CIMSPA as the institute enjoys strong membership and an employer partner scheme that is growing exponentially. “Under David’s watch, CIMSPA has changed beyond all recognition and I’d like to thank him, on behalf of the sector, for all his hard work. But the work doesn’t stop here. To continue to attract investment in the sector we need employers to take a place at the table and deliver the workforce development plans,” says Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA.

CIMSPA is currently undergoing a full governance review led by Anthony Collins Solicitors. This Governance review is consulting broadly across the sector, taking in views from stakeholders as diverse as the Royal College of Physicians, leading employers, Sport England, ukactive and individual CIMSPA members. The review, due to conclude in September 2016, aims to create a governance structure able to realise the ambitions set out for CIMSPA by DCMS in the Sporting Futures Strategy. It will conclude on a new process for the recruitment of the next permanent Chair of CIMSPA.

Interim duties as Chair will be taken over by current CIMSPA Board Member Andy Reed OBE.

As director of The Sports Think Tank and a former MP for Loughborough for 13 years, Andy has strong links with government and Sport England.

“It is critical that CIMSPA quickly delivers the integrity and quality of governance that can help it to realise the ambitions set out for it in Sporting Futures. This will require greater levels of employer and individual member engagement in the leadership of our sector’s chartered body. I look forward to supporting Tara and working with key stakeholders such as Sport England, UK Sport, the Sport and Recreation Alliance and ukactive to make that happen. My initial dual focus will be the completion of the governance review and ensuring that CIMSPA receives the financial backing it needs to deliver on Sporting Futures so it can get on with the job.

I would also like to thank David and will work closely with him over these next few months to maintain continuity.”

For more information about the free employer partnership scheme, visit our website.