Volleyball Ireland has appointed former Olympian and experienced sports administrator Scott Walker as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Walker joins as Volleyball Ireland reports 15 per cent year-on-year growth in participation, alongside hosting and achieving medal-winning performances from Irish national teams in European ‘Small Country’ competitions.
A two-time Olympian, Walker brings more than 25 years of experience across sport management and development. That includes 17 years with the Irish Rugby Football Union, where he held senior roles spanning strategy, technology and sports development.
He has also previously worked with UK Sport, supporting Olympic and Paralympic high-performance programmes.
Volleyball Ireland President Clodagh Nic Canna said the appointment would support the organisation as it plans for the next stage of its development.
“We are delighted to welcome Scott to Volleyball Ireland. Volleyball has made tremendous progress in recent years here in Ireland, both in growing participation and strengthening our national teams.”
“Scott’s wealth of experience, strategic insight and proven leadership will be invaluable as we shape our organisation for continued success into the future.”
Walker said there was significant potential to build on the progress already made across clubs, participation and the international game.
“I’m excited to join Volleyball Ireland at such a positive time for the sport. The growth in participation and the progress of Ireland’s national teams demonstrate the enormous potential that exists.”
“I look forward to working with the Board, staff, clubs, volunteers and wider volleyball community to build on these achievements and help create a strong, sustainable future for the sport.”
Sport for Business Perspective
Volleyball is among a number of sports benefiting from changing participation patterns and population demographics in Ireland, and sustained growth of 15 per cent in a year creates both opportunity and organisational demands.
Walker brings experience from much larger sporting structures, particularly from his time with the IRFU, and his interim appointment gives Volleyball Ireland access to senior expertise in strategy and organisational development at a key stage in its evolution.
The challenge will be to translate increased participation and improved international results into a stronger long-term structure around clubs, volunteers, competitions, commercial development, and the national teams.
For a governing body experiencing rapid growth, strengthening the organisation behind the sport can be every bit as important as attracting the next wave of players.
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Image Credit: Volleyball Ireland
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