Swim England launches comprehensive governance review

Swim England has launched a comprehensive governance review to evaluate and shape the organisation’s governance structures and procedures. The objective of the review will be to address some of the recommendations within the Listening Report, and to ensure the organisation is in the best place to support the delivery of the One Swim England strategy.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper, the governance review will explore what best practice governance structures and procedures could look like. It will be rooted in the current sporting landscape with an eye on future challenges and opportunities rather than how things have always been done.

The project will be guided by a Governance Review Steering Group, whose purpose is to provide strategic support and guidance, acting as a critical friend by advising and making suggestions regarding how to conduct the review and formulating recommendations. This group is comprised of eight people selected on the basis of their governance review expertise and from a variety of backgrounds to ensure diverse perspectives.

In addition, there will be opportunities for key stakeholders to input into the review early in 2026 to ensure a range of views are heard as part of a consultation phase.

Governance Review Steering group

The steering group will be chaired by Sara Todd, board member of Swim England and Aquatics GB, and Chair of Swim England South East. Sara brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in global procurement, including driving cultural change, organisational transformation, and successful collaboration with external partners. The group also benefits from the experience of:

• Anna Corbett, Chief Executive of Transformation CPR, Cornwall’s largest independent community outreach and foodbank network, who is also Vice Chair of the Board at Arts University Plymouth and a Trustee of Aspire Multi Academy Trust. Anna has overseen governance reviews, developed inclusive and transparent board structures and embedded strategic oversight and risk management in line with sector best practice.
• David Goodridge, currently Board Director at both British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association and the British American Football Association, with finance and governance portfolios and having undertaken recent governance reviews in both NGBs. David brings over 30 years experience in strategy, governance, operational and risk management having launched and transformed businesses at J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, Visa and Morgan Stanley in complex regulated environments.
• Ruth Giradet, who has held a number of roles related to best practice and governance in the corporate, charity and public sectors, including as Corporate Responsibility Director for Tesco Plc, as CEO of a youth justice charity, and as a non-executive Director for the Open University (until 2020) and currently the University of Edinburgh. As part of her role on the Management Board for Swim England London Region Ruth chairs the recently established Governance & Nominations Committee.
• Ruth Hall, Board Director at the Sport and Recreation Alliance and CEO of trade body UK Science Park Association. Ruth was formerly CEO of Archery GB where she conducted a high-level governance review including the Home Nations and Regions, and former CEO of Sport England’s National Outdoor Centre. Ruth has over 15 years’ executive leadership experience, and 6 years in the sports industry.

The remaining three members of the Steering Group are Swim England staff members Andy Salmon, CEO; Kirsten Fasey, Interim Director of Legal & Governance; and Helen Weeks, Sport Governance and Welfare Manager.