
My name is Verity. I am an early career researcher with extensive industry and higher education research, teaching, and administration experience. Main interests are around how sport and other cultural entities have been used in local, national, and international contexts to govern society, in particular around notions of inclusivity.
My research activities are connected to an established international network of governing actors related to a variety of organisations, where strategies and programmes include engagement with placemaking, international sporting events, sport and cultural policy, and sport diplomacy.
In other words, I like anything to do with governance, sport, events, and society!
I have a BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Nottingham, an MA in International Law, Ethics and Politics from the University of Birmingham, and completed my PhD in Spring 2020 titled ‘Interconnecting discourses between governing actors, policy, and legacy around London 2012’ at the University of Worcester. Since then, I have engaged with a number of higher education institutions through exchanges, work contracts, and collaborations, including Toin University of Yokohama (Japan) and the University of Manchester.
I currently split my time between a Doctoral Prize Fellowship at Loughborough University, then activities with Counsel Ltd. and SOAS University of London Japan Research Centre.
A spotlight on a number of these activities (and yes, I like being busy):
- contributing to the sportscotland, project titled: Equality and Sport Research, April to September 2020
- contributing to the Lawn Tennis Association, project titled: County Governance Project: Enabling a joined up approach to growing tennis, October 2020 to July 2021
- contributing to the Football Foundation, project titled: Groundskeeper Volunteering Development Plan, December 2021 to June 2022
- contributing to the Archery GB, project title: Structure review of archery in the UK, March 2021 to present
- contributing to the convening of the Japan and Sport Symposia Series, final event in May 2023 ‘Crossing the Finish Line: Our Final Japan and Sport Symposium‘
- a member of the UK Sports Development Network Leadership Group, champion for student and early career voices
- a member of the Sport in Society journal, as Associated Editor
- a member of the British Society of Sports History, Lord Aberdare Literary Prize judging panel (2023-present)
My academic outputs can be accessed through a range of repositories, including Google Scholar. Please contact me directly if there is a publication you do not have access to. I will see what I can do to get it across to you!
Notable industry and media contributions include:
- Co-author on a ‘Major cultural and sporting events’, UK Parliament, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry written evidence submission
- Contributor to ‘Commonwealth Games looks to change track as it struggles for relevance in crowded field‘, Financial Times article
- Author of piece in the sportanddev ‘Sport and Democracy‘ series titled, ‘The diplomatic opportunities and challenges presented by international sports events: A snapshot from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup‘