Siobhan Thomas

Siobhan Thomas is an Executive Director and Secretary of Great Britain Outrigger, the UK’s governing body for outrigger  (also known as va’a, waka ama, wa’a hoe, and oe vaka). Outrigger offers a distinctive dimension to governance discussions, with its deep roots in Pacific culture and the responsibility to uphold and promote cultural traditions and knowledge across all aspects of the sport.

In addition to her governance duties, Siobhan is part of the team responsible for strategy, policy, and development. She brings a unique dual perspective to governance, combining executive leadership with firsthand experience as an elite athlete. Siobhan competes internationally and has represented Great Britain at the Outrigger (Va’a) World Championships, earning silver and bronze medals in crew events.

At the international governance level, Siobhan sits on the Race Rules Committee of the International Governing Body, the International Va’a Federation. She served as Chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2022 International Va’a World Sprint Championships, held at Dorney Lake — the 2012 Olympic venue, and currently chairs the upcoming European Va’a Sprint Championships. Beyond sport, she is an education expert with international experience in curriculum development and over a decade leading an award-winning university BA/BSc programme. She holds a Doctorate in Management and Innovation from the London School of Economics.