BASES welcomes new Division Chairs

Following open recruitment over the summer, congratulations are extended to our new BASES Division Chairs who have been appointed by the Human Resources, Remuneration and Appointments Committee. Both will take up post with effect from 15 November 2021, and their appointments will be noted at the AGM in November.

Division of Physical Activity for Health – Dr Kiara Lewis FBASES, University of Gloucestershire

Division of Physiology and Nutrition – Dr Lindsay Bottoms FBASES, University of Hertfordshire

Commenting on her appointment, Kiara said: “I am pleased to join the Division at this exciting time. BASES needs to continue to push to be the voice of sport and exercise within the UK, not only to those within the industry, but also to advocate for sport and exercise at national policy level. The pandemic has shown how important physical activity is to everyday lives and how much the country values elite level sport. How we advocate for public recognition and resources for those working to promote both activity levels alongside providing support to high level performance is a key question. We also need to make sure sport and exercise science is valued as an academic subject and continues to be supported as a degree level subject.”

Commenting on her appointment, Lindsay said: ”I am excited with the appointment and am looking forward to the challenges ahead. A focus of BASES and the Division is growing its member numbers particularly for and catering for practitioners. The goal is that anyone wanting to work in the field of Sports and Exercise Science should be a member of BASES and be accredited. Trying to reach practitioners is always a challenge, but this would help push the importance of being BASES accredited. Alongside this, increasing the number of BUES endorsed undergraduate courses and getting undergraduate students to be involved in BASES would help increase the importance of BASES. Increasing the reputation of BASES overseas is a significant challenge as well.”

Kiara and Lindsay will become Directors of the Association and will have a Board Induction in October, before attending the November 2021 Board meeting as Observers. Both will then take up their roles following the AGM this November.