Baroness Sue Campbell

Baroness Sue Campbell is a pioneering leader in British sport, widely recognised for reshaping talent pathways, performance systems, and opportunities across both elite and grassroots levels. Her influence spans several decades, and she is frequently invited to speak on high performance, leadership, and building winning cultures. Known for her clarity, authority, and commitment to developing people, she brings a unique blend of practical experience and strategic insight. These qualities make her an exceptional choice for organisations seeking to understand how high-performing teams and environments are created and sustained.

Sue began her career in the 1970s as a PE teacher before moving into higher education as a lecturer in Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University. She later became Deputy Director of Physical Education at Leicester University, and her work in this period laid the foundation for her transition into national sports leadership. Her appointment as Regional Officer for the East Midlands with the Sports Council of Great Britain in 1980 opened the door to senior roles in the National Coaching Foundation, where she served first as Deputy Chief executive and later as Chief Executive. She subsequently became CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, as well as an adviser to key government departments, influencing national policy and youth development programmes.

Sue’s impact grew even further when she became Chairman of UK Sport in 2003, a role in which she played a central part in shaping the high-performance system that supported the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Her leadership was recognised when she was made Baroness Campbell of Loughborough in 2008. She later joined The Football Association, becoming Head of Women’s Football in 2016 and Director in 2018. In these roles, she guided long term investment, structural reform, and the continued rise of the women’s game. Her achievements have been acknowledged through national honours such as MBE, CBE, and DBE, as well as her inclusion among the United Kingdom’s most powerful women.

Organisations invite Sue to speak because she offers unmatched expertise in building high-performance cultures, creating sustainable systems, and steering teams through significant periods of change. She translates decades of leadership across education, national sport, and elite performance into clear and practical guidance. Her approach equips audiences to strengthen resilience, improve decision making, and deliver lasting success.