Lisa O’Keefe Recognised In King’s Birthday Honours List

IWG’s Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe has today been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Lisa has been honoured with an MBE in recognition of her services to sport as Executive Director of Insight at Sport England, a role she held from 2013 to 2022. During her time, Lisa transformed the approach to research and insight and played an integral role in the development and delivery of Sport England’s award-winning ‘This Girl Can’ campaign.

Being awarded an MBE is a fitting accolade for Lisa’s achievements, which also includes winning 45 Scotland international rugby caps and leading the world’s largest network of organisations dedicated to addressing gender inequality in sport, which she does in her current role as Secretary General of the IWG.

Responding to the announcement, Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Chair of IWG, said: “I am delighted that Lisa’s outstanding contribution to sport has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

“Lisa has dedicated her career, from athlete to senior leader, to challenging the status quo and initiating impactful change across the sports sector. Her passion for sport and its power to transform lives is contagious, and it’s fitting that she receives this national acknowledgement and honour.

“Lisa is a huge credit to the IWG, working tirelessly to advocate for gender equality in sport: connecting networks, sharing insights and data, and setting out the future path for accessible sport, on a global and national scale. On behalf of everyone involved with the IWG, I offer her huge congratulations.”