ANTOINETTE MCKEOWN

 

Antoinette McKeown is the CEO of Sport Northern Ireland and a key player in how Sport’s relationships with themselves, with the Stormont Assembly and the public, are managed.

She was first appointed to the role in 2013, then suspended and dismissed in 2016 before being reinstated the following year. That was a turbulent period in Northern Irish sport, and obviously for her but she came through and has been in the top chair through the challenges of Covid and Brexit as well as the highs of the Northern Ireland Women qualifying for the Euro’s next summer and Tyrone bringing the All Ireland Championship back to Ulster.

A new management team was put in place in early 2021, though that itself was not without challenges and the Director of Sport Michael Boyd left after only a few months in the position.

A new Strategic Plan running to 2025 has been put in place to secure “a culture of lifelong enjoyment and success in sport.”

Before joining Sport NI McKeown was CEO of the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland.

 

Check out the others who have so far joined the list right here.

 

 

 

This is the ninth edition of our Sport for Business listing of 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport.

We are proud to do so this year with a new partner in AIG, an organisation that have pledged their commitment to equality in their partnerships with Gaelic Games, Tennis, Golf and more, for whom “Effort is Equal” and with whom we have ambitious plans to extend the reach of this annual celebration of the Women who are making a difference.

They are drawn as before from the worlds of leadership, partnership, storytelling and performance.

We began this journey in 2013 when challenged that we would never be able to produce a list of twenty Influential Women in Irish Sport. The 20 stretched to 30, then 40 and 50 and it still does not do justice to the talent that is out there.

This year once more, to keep things fresh we will introduce at least 30 per cent of fresh names from last year. That will be the hardest part to have some names replaced but if it was too easy it would be of less value.

The list we will continue to build over the coming weeks is a snapshot of those women who are making a mark on how sport is played, consumed, grown and delivered.

They are part of making the role of women in sport unexceptional by being exceptional in what they do.

Recognition of their contribution is rarely asked for but is fully deserved, and we want your help in identifying those who you feel should be among them.

So, who do you think should be on the list for 2021?

 

 

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