Honorary Graduates 2024: Baroness Sue Campbell
With more than 50 years working to progress sport in the UK, Baroness Sue Campbell DBE has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Sport by the University of Chichester.
It was her 12th honorary degree, and she said: “After the last one I wasn’t going to accept any more but I have a special connection with this University.”
That special connection is through the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy (WSLA), where she has been a speaker twice, and said: “I honestly believe that sport can changes lives for the better and to see those women from diverse countries come here, using sport as a vehicle to improve lives around them, they’re completely inspiring. I do not know anywhere else that is doing this.”
She added: “I have had an incredible journey through sport. I have learned something new every step of the way. I am in my seventies now and I’m in a job where I am still learning.”
Baroness Campbell started her career teaching physical education (PE) in Manchester, before lecturing at Leicester and Loughborough Universities.
She has since worked for the Sports Council (now Sport England), as Chief Executive of the National Coaching Foundation and Chair of the Youth Sport Trust as well as her current role of Director of Women’s Football with the FA, from which she is due to retire this year. Her time at the helm of women’s football has seen a significant increase in engagement in the sport by female players, officials, coaches and spectators.
She was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year, and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport in 2003, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2020.
