Alison O’Riordan and George Walker appointed to UK Anti-Doping Board
The Secretary of State has appointed Alison O’Riordan and George Walker as Board Members to UK Anti-Doping for four year terms.
Alison O’Riordan
Appointed from 5 September 2022 until 4 September 2026
Dr Alison O’Riordan is a sports professional, educator, and researcher with over 30 years’ global experience in varying positions within the public and private sectors. She is a paralympic specialist with a 20-year involvement in para sport.
Alison is a director of her own company, AOR Sports Consultancy, and has worked and consulted successfully with several sporting organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, Athletics Australia, England Athletics, British Athletics and Paralympics Ireland. As a Master Athletics Coach, Alison has coached athletes onto six Paralympic Games for Australia, Great Britain and Ireland. As an educator and people developer, Alison has taught at all levels from Primary to University, as well as athlete and coach development.
Regarded as the world leader in seated throws research, Alison has a PhD in the biomechanics of seated throws with a significant publication record and presents around the world in this area. For the past seven years Alison has been a valued member of the UKAD education team in her role as a National Trainer, combining her passions of clean sport and education. She will be joining the UKAD board providing expertise in para/disability sport.
George Walker
Appointed from 5 September 2022 until 4 September 2026
George Walker is a Chartered Accountant and has held a number of senior Finance and IT leadership positions with international organisations, mainly focusing on IT-driven business change.
He was a Board member of sportscotland from April 2013 to April 2022, a period that included supporting the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the redevelopment of the Inverclyde National Centre into the first fully accessible residential sports centre in the UK.
George is also involved in sports charities, he is currently Vice-Chair of Scottish Sports Futures and a Board Member of SportsAid Scotland.
Remuneration and Governance Code
Remuneration for this role is set at £215 per day. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. George Walker and Alison O’Riordan have declared no activity.