Following a rigorous selection process, five new trustees have been appointed to CIMSPA’s board
Following the board’s annual skills review, we identified several specialisms which were prioritised for recruitment:
- Digital
- Sports leadership and administration
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Commercial
- Leisure operations
- Legal and regulatory
We sought to appoint trustees with significant experience at senior level in one or more of these areas, and were fortunate to have a very high calibre of candidates to choose from. With a total of 64 applications, we were delighted to receive so much interest in the roles from individuals from a broad range of backgrounds.
In appointing these new trustees, we are continuing to ensure that our members’ and partners’ best interests are at the heart of what we do.
We are pleased to welcome Magali Bruna, Catherine Dineley, John Harrison, Paul Neale and Matthew Vaughan, who have been appointed to the board, and are looking forward to working with them.
More information about the new trustees will follow.
Marc Woods
Chair, CIMSPA Board of Trustees
Our new trustees
Magali Bruna
With over 20 years of global leadership experience across the aerospace and construction sectors, Magali Bruna is skilled in translating strategic vision into actionable plans. Using data-driven insights and her expertise in supply chain management, business integration and organisational change, she has delivered manylarge-scale cross-functional programmes over the course of her career.
In her current role as Head of the Project Support and Integration Office at Laing O’Rourke, Magali has brought her understanding of strategic transformation to build and mature the business’s project management capability.
Magali has previously been a board member of local organisations as well as a school governor and is an active volunteer with the Association for Project Management. Her connection to the sector comes from her decision to retrain in horse riding 15 years ago and finding it hard to find suitably trained professionals to help her. This translated to a wider concern of how to find skilled professionals in the sport and physical activity sector and led her to CIMSPA.
“I am thrilled to have joined CIMPSA as a trustee, eager to contribute to its vital work in shaping a valued sport and physical activity sector for everyone. This role presents an exciting opportunity for me to apply my experience in a new sector and capacity. More importantly, it allows me to give back, supporting the growth and development of this incredible organisation and its members.”
Catherine Dineley
Catherine Dineley has worked in the culture, behaviours and ethics space since 2011, with experience in major corporations such as BP and Lloyds Banking Group.
Her current role is as Head of Ethical Business Conduct for BAE Systems, where she leads the Ethical Business Conduct programme, engaging with senior stakeholders across the air sector to lead, review and refresh the group’s strategy for business ethics and shape its overall business conduct strategy and programme delivery.
In her previous positions, Catherine also led people change and culture transformation programmes, including an award-winning strategic value refresh and an ethical programme change across 60 countries.
Though not professionally connected to sport and physical activity, Catherine has always been a keen swimmer and also enjoys spectating as a parent.
“I’m thrilled to be elected to the CIMSPA Board of Trustees. It’s a privilege to contribute to an organisation that champions professionalism and progress in our sector. I’m excited to collaborate with fellow trustees to support the development of sport and physical activity across the UK, and I look forward to helping shape a more inclusive and impactful future for our industry.”
John Harrison
John Harrison has worked in the sports sector for over 15 years, including roles at Sport England and Paralympics GB. Since 2022, he has been Sport Advisor at UK Sport, where he manages relationships with Olympic and Paralympic national governing bodies and supports Olympic and Paralympic cycle strategic investment planning.
Working directly with Chairs and CEOs on organisational health and development, he has also built up a wealth of experience across governance; board development; finance and risk management; equality, diversity and inclusion; social impact; people and leadership development; and international relations.
He was also the architect behind UK Sport’s Organisational Health Tool.
John is active participant in sport and plays hockey and cricket. He has coached, captained and volunteered on various boards and committees, including GB Disability Football Association and CP Sport’s Engagement and Insight Committee.
“I’m delighted to have been appointed to the CIMSPA Board of Trustees. It’s a real privilege to work alongside such passionate professionals in helping shape the future of our brilliant sector. There are plenty of challenges ahead, but with the energy and commitment across our community, I’m excited about the opportunities we can create together.”
Paul Neale
Paul Neale is a chartered accountant and risk specialist, having spent 34 years in the City of London with companies including KPMG, NatWest Markets, JP Morgan, Macquarie Bank, RBS and Mizuho Financial Group. During his career he has led audit, financial control, project management, non-financial risk teams and was head of a risk management department, responsible for ensuring the organisation identified, assessed, managed and monitored its risks.
Paul retired from full-time work in 2024 to spend more time with his family, supporting charities, volunteering, learning new skills and indulging in his love of travel, walking and sport as a keen endurance cyclist, runner and pickleball player.
Paul has been a member of CIMSPA’s Audit and Probity Committee since April 2019 and is also a Trustee and Treasurer of a small charity, Reverence for Life UK.
“It is a privilege to work with an organisation that has a mandate to have such a positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing society.”
Matthew Vaughan
Matthew Vaughan is the Principal of Brighton MET and Haywards Heath colleges as well as leading on adult skills across the seven-strong Chichester College Group that teachers over 25,000 students and apprentices a year.
He has worked in education since 1989 across a range of roles from teaching, notably social sciences, to managing departments and occupying senior leadership positions in several college groups, including as Head of Learning and Skills for a large city local authority. Matthew was also a senior Ofsted inspector for several years before returning to the further education sector.
Having consistently worked in, managed and led colleges that provide a range of curricula in sport and physical activity throughout his career, Matthew has collaborated with CIMSPA for a number of years before becoming a trustee.
“It is an immense privilege to be elected to the CIMSPA Board of Trustees. As a senior leader in the further education sector, I have worked with CIMSPA on several collaborative projects and initiatives that have resulted in significant improvement in career and life chances for students, local communities and employers across the East Midlands.
“CIMSPA has proved to be that continuously reliable, informed source of expertise for all developments, issues and policy in the sport and leisure sector; to be a trustee for such an important organisation is an honour. Thanks to CIMSPA, we have radically changed taught sports curricula and employer engagement to serve and meet the needs of our students, communities and employers far better.”