Understanding Directors’ and Trustees’ Duties in Sport

Directors and trustees in sport take on significant legal, ethical and strategic responsibilities. Understanding Directors’ and Trustees’ Duties in Sport is designed to help current and aspiring board members clearly understand what those duties are, why they exist, and how they apply in practice within the unique context of sport.

This course will consist of 3 x 90 minute evening workshops which you will need to book separately. We want these sessions to be a chance to interact with your peers to learn together about what Directors' and Trustees' Duties entail. In order to make this as accessible to as many people as possible, we will record the content of these sessions however we will be editing out the group discussion in order to promote an open dialogue.

This series provides a practical introduction to directors’ and trustees’ duties under UK law, including the Companies Act 2006 and charity legislation, and explores how these duties interact with the realities of modern sports governance. Through real‑world sporting examples and interactive discussion, participants will build confidence in fulfilling their role responsibly and effectively.

You will explore the role of the board, the distinction between governance and management, and the expectations placed on directors and trustees when acting in the best interests of their organisation and the sport as a whole. Particular attention is given to common challenges in sport, including conflicts of interest, representing stakeholder groups, and balancing independent judgement with elected roles.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the core duties of directors and trustees and what they mean in practice
• Recognise the consequences of non‑compliance and the protections that good governance provides
• Apply directors’ and trustees’ duties confidently within a sporting context
• Gain practical insight into managing conflicts of interest, loyalty and transparency
• Better understand the responsibilities that come with board membership in sport

Who is this course for?

This is suitable for:

• Elected and independent non‑executive directors of sports organisations
• Trustees of charities operating in sport
• Aspiring board members considering taking on a director or trustee role
• Senior staff and governance professionals with board‑level responsibilities

It is particularly valuable for those who are new to board roles, transitioning into non‑executive positions, or seeking a practical refresher on their legal and governance duties within a sporting environment.

What will each session cover?

Each session will be based upon the relevant sections of the legal framework of: Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, Charity Commission Guidance, Charities and Trustee Investment. These will be linked to A Code for Sports Governance along with other British sports governance frameworks to give a more contextualised understanding of the Duties within sport. Each session will have a case study and breakout sessions to ensure that you get the opportunity to put the learning into practise and learn from one another.

• Session 1 - The Role of the Board - 18:00 - 19 May 2026
  • This session will cover:
    • Role of the Board
    • Governance vs. management
    • Collective responsibility vs. individual accountability
    • Exercising independent judgement
• Session 2 - Acting in the Best Interests of the Organisation - 18:00 - 2 June 2026
  • This session will cover:
    • Acting within powers
    • Acting in the best interests of the organisation / consistently with its purposes
    • Promoting success of company
    • Managing resources responsibly
    • Exercising reasonable skill, diligence 
• Session 3 - Conflicts of Interest and Loyalty - 18:00 - 9 June 2026
  • This session will cover:
    • Conflicts of interest and loyalty 
    • Benefits from third parties 
    • Declaring interests 
    • Characteristics of elected and independent directors in a sports body

The content of all three sessions will be recorded with group discussion edited out to promote an open dialogue.

Rowland Jack

Rowland Jack is the founder of I Trust Sport, a sports governance and compliance company dedicated to improving sports governance through collaboration. He supports federations, NGBs, sponsors and other organisations on a range of governance projects. From October 2015 to September 2016 Rowland worked in-house at UK Sport as a governance consultant helping to develop the Code for Sports Governance.

Before taking on his roles in governance consultancy, he worked in sports marketing and communications for more than 10 years, including at six editions of the Olympic Games, summer and winter. Rowland started his career at Sport England, where he worked on the National Lottery funding programmes and managed the chief executive’s office. In 2018 he joined up with two other sports governance specialists to start a second consultancy company, Governance United Ltd.

Chloe Buchanan

Chloe is a Sports Governance and Sustainability Consultant and brings legal and corporate governance expertise from her background in civil litigation, the financial services industry and the retail sector. Chloe is a qualified lawyer and a a Chartered Company Secretary with Associate status with the Chartered Governance Institute.

At I Trust Sport, Chloe is dedicated to combining her professional expertise and lifelong enthusiasm for sport, to strengthen governance across the sports sector.

Upcoming dates