Chris has over 15 years of executive leadership experience within the Sports and non-profit sector where he is particularly passionate about the positive impact that sport and physical activity can have on people’s lives. Throughout his career, Chris has led on a range of successful national programmes and initiatives in collaboration with a range of partners some winning national awards. Chris also has a good understanding of leading organisations through strategic change ensuring success across all aspects of operations. Born Deaf, Chris has had a lifelong involvement in Deaf and hearing sport as an athlete, administrator, and volunteer. He was first involved as a GB Deaf swimmer and was a member of the GB Deaf Water Polo team who competed in the 1985 Deaflympics in Los Angeles.  He has also had success in other sports including deaf football and rugby and he was a member of the successful Welsh Deaf Rugby team that won the Inaugural Deaf Rugby World in 2002. Following his retirement from sport Chris was one of the original committee members of UK Deaf Sport and he was the Chef de Mission for the successful Deaflympic GB team in Melbourne 2005. He is currently a member of the Inclusion & Advisory Group for the Lawn Tennis Association.

Denise has over 30 years’ experience of working in quality, compliance and governance. Denise initially worked in early years and childhood development with local authorities before going to work for Ofsted in 2001. Denise’s first role was managing several teams of early years inspectors in the South East region, before becoming the Quality and Training Manager for the Early Childhood Directorate, eventually becoming one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI). In 2016 Denise went to work as the Risk and Quality Manager for 3SC, a small social enterprise that manages DWP and MoJ contracts. Denise has joined UKDS as the Governance and Insight Manager. Away from work Denise loves walking her Cavapoochon along the many miles of sandy beach on the beautiful Lincolnshire coast and enjoys line-dancing and spending time with her four grandchildren.

Becky is the Project Manager for the Destination Deaflympics Youth Engagement Programme. She is hearing and gained her Level 2 BSL in 2001 also completing the first year of NVQ3 a year later. Becky pioneered surf coaching in BSL and has supported deaf students in primary and secondary educational settings. She is a secondary qualified modern languages teacher and public service hearing interpreter. Passionate about sports and the benefits they bring, Becky is a former GB Women’s foilist and competed at county level in netball and basketball. She co-ran a surf school for 13 years and more recently a primary level fencing franchise. She brings her experience of developing excellent relationships with governing bodies, schools, care settings, local stakeholders, service users and families and children to the role. In her free time, Becky loves trying out new sports like football and hockey and continues to practice her love of yoga. Surfing, foraging and travelling are also amongst her passions. Becky sees her role at Destination Deaflympics as a fantastic opportunity to engage with deaf young people up and down the country in order to push forward UK Deaf Sport’s mission to see every deaf person active and inspired by sport and physical activity. Becky said, ‘Here’s to greater youth participation in sport and more GB Deaflympics medals in the future!’