Two new UK Anti-Doping Board members appointed by the Secretary of State 

• The Secretary of State for the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) has appointed two new Board members to UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) Board: Ama Agbeze MBE (former England Netball captain) and Nicola Shannon KC (King’s Counsel practising in Crime and Regulatory Crime) 
• Nicholas Griffin KC, former Vice Chair of the Board, and Dr Claire-Marie Roberts, former Board member completed their second (and final) terms on the UKAD Board in September 2023 
• Current Board Member, Professor Nicola Philips OBE has been appointed Vice Chair of the UKAD Board 
   

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has today confirmed the appointment of two new UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Board members. 

Ama Agbeze MBE, former England netball international and captain, and Nicola Shannon KC, Barrister practising in Crime and Regulatory Crime, have both been selected as UKAD Board members for a four-year term. The appointments follow the departures of former Vice Chair Nicholas Griffin KC, and former Board Member Dr Claire-Marie Roberts, who completed their second (and final) terms on the UKAD Board in September 2023. 

Ama Agbeze MBE holds more than 100 caps for her country, and received an MBE for services to netball in 2019. Ama was a member of the England Team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2016, she was appointed England captain. Under her captaincy, England won the 2016 European Netball Championship, the 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series and the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Alongside her playing career, Ama is a qualified lawyer, broadcaster, TV presenter, as well as a diversity & inclusion specialist.  

Upon her appointment to the UKAD Board, Ama expressed her enthusiasm for the next phase of her journey in elite sport, stating, "I'm thrilled to join the UKAD Board and leverage my position and voice within elite sport to advocate for and support athletes. I eagerly anticipate using my insights and unique experiences to assist the organisation and support athletes in promoting and participating in clean sport." 

Nicola Shannon KC was appointed King’s Counsel in March 2023. She has experience in criminal courts at all levels, including the House of Lords, and sits part-time as a Crown Court Recorder. Her practice is focussed on serious and complex crime with many of her cases involving intelligence-led investigations and international mutual legal assistance. Nicola currently advises the Crown Prosecution Service and police investigators at an early stage in homicide, organised crime and serious sexual cases, including management of vulnerable witnesses, innovative approaches for those with disabilities, and safeguarding. She is also Chair of the Bar Council Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group and co-founder of the Kindness at the Bar initiative. 

Commenting on her appointment, Nicola said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the Board of UKAD and be able to offer my practice experience with vulnerable groups and safeguarding expertise to support the organisation’s legal and regulatory affairs in protecting clean sport while ensuring UKAD continues to offer a fair process to all athletes.” 

Commenting on the announcement, UKAD Chair Trevor Pearce said: “I am really pleased to welcome both Ama and Nicola to the UKAD Board, both individuals bring outstanding qualities to the Board that will be hugely valued. I look forward to collaborating with them both and hearing their fresh perspectives on how we can continue to protect clean sport in the UK. I would also like to thank both Nick and Claire-Marie for their contributions and advocacy over the past six years. They have dedicated their energy, time and expertise to clean sport and left the organisation in a much stronger position for Ama and Nicola to join us.  

 “Finally, I am really pleased to welcome and confirm Professor Nicola Philips OBE in her new role as Vice-Chair of the Board and look forward to continuing to work with her.” 

More information on the UKAD Board can be found here.