New Chair and Vice-Chair
28th April 2023
Leadership changes announced
LEAP Sports is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Johnston as our new Chair. Alex is currently National Grant and Policy Manager with Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games legacy funder, and leads on their sport and physical activity work across the UK. In this role, he works closely with sportscotland and the Scottish Government on the Changing Lives through Sport and Physical Activity programme which aims to support organisations to use sport and physical activity as a driver to intentionally achieve positive individual and community change and make sport in Scotland more inclusive and accessible for all.
This new appointment comes following the recent retirement of Keith Wimbles from the position.
On starting in his new role, Alex said "I’m delighted to join the Board of LEAP Sports Scotland as their new Chair and build on the incredible legacy of Keith Wimbles. I believe passionately in the power of sport, but it has to be for everyone without restrictions. LGBTIQ+ people in Scotland have a right to take part and enjoy the benefits of sport like everyone else. Scotland’s communities are diverse, and this diversity needs to be reflected in sport at all levels. I look forward to working with everyone at LEAP Sport Scotland and beyond to breaking down barriers to ensure sport in Scotland is genuinely inclusive for all.
In a further strengthening of our leadership team, we have also appointed Cara Shearer who will work as Vice-Chair alongside our existing Vice-Chair. Cara currently works with Scottish Athletics as a National Club Manager and serves as a board trustee for Scottish Women in Sport. Cara is passionate about empowering sporting organisations to modernise, become more inclusive and connect with their local communities.
Commenting on her move into the role, Cara said "I'm delighted to be joining Paul Skovron as co vice-chair of the LEAP Sports Scotland board. I've had the pleasure of being involved with the organisation for a number of years, most recently serving as a board member and supporting numerous innovative projects being delivered across Scotland and Europe. As a passionate advocate and member of the LGBTIQ+ community, I truly believe in the power of sport to change lives and I'm looking forward to continuing to strive towards achieving LEAPs inspiring vision of 'greater inclusion for LGBTIQ+ people in sport'
