Commonwealth Sport Foundation confirmed new Trustee Dr Jeya

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation, the charitable foundation of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, has announced Dr Jeya Wilson, as its newest Trustee following a global search.

Dr Wilson, an Aotearoa/New Zealand citizen, brings a wealth of international experience having held numerous high-profile positions across a broad spectrum of organisations, sectors and countries.

She is on the board of the Nigeria-based Africa Initiative for Governance, a private sector led initiative to transform the public sector in Africa where she was founding CEO, Chair of Adam Smith International Ltd, Governor of Northumbria University, and Trustee of the Oxford Union. She previously served as Vice-Chair of Fairtrade International, Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee, and the oversight committees of the International Labour Office and the Global Fund.

Dr Wilson’s executive positions include CEO of Africa’s largest chamber of commerce and industry, Director for Business Partnerships at UNDP, CEO of the World Heart Federation, and Executive Director of the International MBA of the University of Geneva. She was also New Zealand Honorary Consul in South Africa.

She has a doctorate in international relations from Oxford where she was President of the Oxford Union. In her younger days she rode a 750cc Dunstall Honda, and was an occasional soap actress.

Dr Wilson will join the Foundation’s Board of Trustees led by Chair Christian Brodie and Vice Chair Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The Board also includes CGF President Dame Louise Martin and Vice President Chris Jenkins, who leads the CGF Development Committee.

Commonwealth Sport Foundation Chair Christian Brodie said: "I am delighted we have appointed a hugely talented individual in Dr Jeya Wilson as the newest Trustee of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation.

Our ambition, when we launched our search for Trustees, was to recruit talented individuals from across the globe who reflect and embody the rich cultural diversity of the Commonwealth and Jeya’s appointment demonstrates the start of fulfilling that commitment.

Jeya brings significant skills and experience to the Foundation, having worked in numerous high-profile leadership roles in several countries of the Commonwealth. I have no doubt that she will be a significant and valuable contributor to all areas of our work."

Commonwealth Sport Foundation Trustee Dr Jeya Wilson said: "I am honoured to have been appointed to the Commonwealth Sport Foundation Board.

The Foundation has a pivotal role to play in harnessing the power of Commonwealth Sport to positively impact the citizens of our 72 nations and territories.

I am passionate about supporting this work while promoting the Movement’s wider vision to create peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities across the Commonwealth through sport."

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation will continue its recruitment for new Trustees over the coming months, with a focus on finding energetic, committed and capable people to take the Foundation forward to new levels of impact and engagement.

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