Pat Aiyenuro and James Williams elected to BF Board

Following the recent Board Director elections, BF is delighted to announce that Pat Aiyenuro and James Williams will be joining the Board of British Fencing. 

Pat Aiyenuro joins the Board after 17 years of volunteering in the sport at all levels from running one of the UK’s most successful community clubs to team managing GBR teams.  Awarded a BEM for services to sport in 2017, Pat has been active in community projects to make fencing more accessible and inclusive. Pat’s other roles include Weapon Manager, Chair of Sabre Selectors and BF International Liaison Officer. Outside of fencing Pat brings her experience as a school governor and charity board trustee.

James Williams has been involved with the sport of fencing for 37 years, representing GBR at three Olympic Games. As an athlete he served on the FIE Athletes Commission and the Board of the British Olympic Association and over the years has had extensive experience in a variety of roles including that of coach, coach developer, Performance Manager, Weapon Captain, selector. James joins the Board with a wealth of public sector experience and is currently an Executive Director in one of the largest unitary authorities in the South East of England, leading on a range of programmes that interface, health wellbeing and sport.

On receiving the news, Pat Aiyenuro said: “I am delighted to be elected on to the Board of British Fencing. I look forward to working with the board and supporting the strategic objectives and facilitating the delivery of strategies to grow the sport at all levels, especially at the community grassroots level. Thank you to all those who voted for me and for all the support I have received from the fencing community during these elections – it has been amazing. During these challenging times it is important that we as a fencing community continue to support each other to get through this pandemic, while promoting the physical and mental health benefits that our sport has to offer.”

James Williams said: “I am thrilled to be elected onto the board of British Fencing. Thank you to all members who have put their trust in me. I look forward to representing you on the board. I will work with our officers and other board members, to help secure the future of our sport. Fencing is unique. It enables athletes to maximise their potential at an elite level through competing at the Olympics. It also has a broader role in empowering individuals and communities to come together to heal divides in communities, get fit, build lifelong friendships and enhance health and wellbeing. Thank you all again for giving me a chance to give something back to our fantastic sport.”

Chair of the Board, Mark Lyttle, said: “I am delighted to welcome Pat Aiyenuro and James Williams to the Board and look forward to working with them both.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Directors, Anne-Catrin Sallaba and John Troiano, on behalf of the Board and members, for their work and commitment and selflessly giving something back to the sport. John has served for 8 years and chaired the Audit Governance and Risk Committee with insight and integrity. Anne-Catrin has served for 4 years and been a member of the Nomination Committee during that time. We are sorry to see them leave the Board.”

Full voting results can be found here.

Board Director appointments are subject to formal approval at the next AGM.