London Sport announces Jade Cation as new Director of Impact and Innovation

• Jade Cation arrives from EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, where she was Head of Insight and Digital
• Current Director of Insight, Technology and Data, Tim Copley, moves across to Director of Operations role.
• Both will be part of organisation’s Senior Leadership Team

Jade Cation has today been announced as London Sport’s new Director of Impact and Innovation and will take up her new post on Tuesday 7 June.

An experienced senior leader specialising in digital, insight and data, Cation arrives at London Sport having spent the last 14 years at EMD, the national governing body for group exercise.

Cation joined EMD as a National Delivery Manager and spent time as Head of Business Development before moving onto her most recent role as Head of Insight and Digital.

As Head of Insight and Digital, she was responsible for impact measurement and reporting as well as developing and delivering the organisation’s Digital, Research and Insight strategy.

Under her leadership, EMD won the Digital Transformation Award at the 2021 ukactive Awards for their classfinder application and use of open data feed to share class listings during covid-19.

Cation, a Brunel University graduate, is an ongoing member of the Open Active Steering Group, has been a non-executive director for UDO IT, a Cardiff-based street dance charity.

She has also been a facilitator on the women Sports Leadership Academy for four years and the Females Achieving Brilliance network.

The appointment is the first new addition to London Sport’s senior leadership team following the arrival of CEO Emily Robinson in February.

Current Director of Insight, Technology and Data, Tim Copley, is moving across to Director of Operations with incumbent Jill Cochrane coming to the end of her interim contract with London Sport.

Speaking on the announcement, Cation said:

“I am thrilled to be joining London Sport and to play my part in their efforts to ensure that more inactive Londoners enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of physical activity.

“London Sport do an incredible amount of work as part of their LDN Moving strategy and I’m excited to think I’ll be the first to see and share the positive impact of those efforts in my new role.

“With five years of Sport England funding secured, I cannot wait to work with Emily and the rest of the London Sport team to deliver long-term, sustainable, and positive change for the city.”

On Cation’s appointment, Emily Robinson, CEO of London Sport, said:

“I’m delighted to be welcoming Jade to the London Sport team and am extremely confident she’ll make a big difference in terms of our innovation and impact work moving forwards.

“Jade will be an excellent addition to the senior leadership team and I’m excited to see Tim use his vast experience of the sector and our city when he becomes our new Director of Operations.

“Congratulations to both of them on their new roles.”

About Jade Cation

Jade is a senior leader in sports, fitness and health who has experience in creating and delivering impactful strategies that are based on evidenced need.

Her skills and experiences, gathered at EMD UK and in sports development at national, county and local level, cover everything from data and technology to strategic vision and leadership.

Her most recent role at EMD UK was Head of Digital and Insight but she has also been Head of Business Development, National Development Manager and National Delivery Manager at the national governing body.

She sits on the Open Active Steering Group and spent six years as a Non-Executive Director at Cardiff street dance charity UDO IT from 2014 to 2022.

An ex-competitive swimmer, Jade was a swim coach for 15 years working with learn to swim through to triathletes and is passionate about mental health, completing a level 1 counselling qualification.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, swimming and walking, eating good food, and is an avid audible fan.