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Rachel Baillache is appointed Chair of Access Sport

Martin McPhee has stepped down as Chair of Access Sport and passed the baton to community sports enthusiast Rachel Baillache who started her position in June.

Rachel Baillache chair of Access Sport

Rachel holds non-executive director roles at the Lawn Tennis Association, UK Sport, and the Men’s Professional Rugby Board. With a wealth of experience, Rachel is well-placed to drive Access Sport forward as it continues to make inclusion the norm in community sport. 

Having been a former audit partner at KPMG for over 20 years, Rachel was also a member of KPMG International’s Global Executive, serving as the Global Head of People, Performance, and Culture, and was responsible for global communications.  

She has worked extensively in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), having led KPMG’s first Global Inclusion Strategy and is currently serving as the Chair of the Lawn Tennis Association’s Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Group.

Rachel brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, governance, and risk and crisis management. Passionate about elite sport and grassroots participation, she offers a unique perspective that spans the entire sporting landscape. 

Rachel Baillache, Incoming Access Sport Chair, commented:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Access Sport. Ensuring sport is truly inclusive is a huge motivator for me, and I look forward to supporting the ongoing growth of Access Sport’s reach and impact.”

Outgoing Chair Martin McPhee has been a member of the Board of Trustees for nine years, including five as Chair.

Martin commented:

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Chair of Access Sport. I have been continually inspired by the dedication of our staff, volunteers, partners, and most importantly, the young people we serve. We have expanded the organisation’s reach, built strong partnerships, and made significant strides towards a more inclusive sporting landscape. I thank our Nominations Committee for running an open, inclusive and rigorous trustee recruitment process, and I leave the role with complete confidence in the future direction of Access Sport under Rachel’s leadership.”

Helen Rowbotham, Access Sport's Chief Executive, said:

“On behalf of the entire organisation, I wish to express my gratitude to Martin McPhee for his outstanding leadership and commitment to Access Sport. I am confident he will continue to support our mission and purpose. We are delighted to welcome Rachel and look forward to the next chapter of our journey.”

For updates on Access Sport’s work, please visit the Access Sport website.