Steering Groups

Steering Groups

The full Terms of Reference of the groups can be found here.

Events & Competitions Committee

Composition:

  • Chair, appointed by the Board
  • 4 members nominated by associations; the appointment will be by the Board and based on the skills set determined by the Board
  • Director of British Orienteering appointed by the Board
  • 2 members nominated independently

 

  • Terry Smith (Acting Chair)  Email
  • Mike Cope (Chair, Event Scheduling Group)
  • Charles Daniel (Chair, Rules Group)
  • Barry Elkington
  • Nev Myers
  • Representative from the Board 

Responsible for:

  • Advising the Board on the strategic development of events and competitions
  • Presenting to the Board a work plan that will deliver the vision and objectives of the Strategic Plan
  • Agree on key performance indicators and milestones contained in the work plan
  • Overseeing the delivery of the work plan
  • Monitor the delivery of the events & competitions aspects of the Strategic & Operational Plans and the achievement of key performance indicators and report back to the Board as required
  • Ensuring that the outcomes of committee business are effectively communicated

Notes from meetings:

March 2020

 

Rules Group, Map Advisory Group, Event Officials and Event Scheduling Group are sub groups of the Events & Competitions Committee  

Rules Group

Composition:

  • Chair, appointed by the Board
  • Rules Group may from time to time invite staff, experts or other representatives to attend meetings as presenters, advisors or observers. The Chair will approve such invitations in advance

 

  • Charles Daniel (Chair)  Email
  • Freya Askham
  • Barry Elkington
  • Alan Leakey
  • Graham Louth
  • David May
  • Graham Nilsen
  • Terry Smith

Responsible for:

  • Formulating, writing, reviewing and publishing the rules of orienteering for British Orienteering
  • Formulating, writing, reviewing and publishing technical guidelines for British Orienteering
  • Monitoring the application of the Rules and Guidelines across British Orienteering
  • Liaising with other groups including in particular the Event Officials Group
  • Ruling on appeals against Jury decisions at Level A and Level B events concerning the rules of Orienteering, and if appropriate publishing its decisions
  • Reviewing any changes to IOF rules and considering whether appropriate to reflect in British Orienteering rules
  • Advising the Board on any proposed IOF technical rule changes
  • Any other responsibilities regarding the rules as decided by the committee and agreed by Events & Competitions Committee
  • Refer any decisions of strategic importance to the Board for guidance or for a decision.

 

Notes from meetings:

2024 2023
  25 April 
  6 July
  19 September
  7 November
  12 December

Map Advisory Group 

Advise the Events  & Competitions Committee and Rules Group on all matters related to mapping; liaise with IOF Map Commission on mapping matters; provide technical advice, guidance and support on all mapping matters.
 

  • Chair (a member of Event Systems Group)
  • Events & Competitions Committee representative
  • 3 to 5 experts in mapping
  • Terry Smith – Acting Chair & E&CC Rep

  • Bruce Bryant

  • Graham Gristwood

  • Ben Mitchell

  • David Olivant

  • Rod Postlethwaite 

  • Paul Taylor

 

Event Officials Group

Appointed of suitable officials and advisers for Level A & UK O League events; provision of guidance, support and good practice to these event officials; provision of training and development programmes to support event officials at all levels.

  • Chair, appointed by E&C Committee
  • 2 to 5 additional members to cover any gaps in the required skills and knowledge
  • Vacant – Chair

  • Ranald Macdonald

  • David May

  • Alan Rosen

 

Event Scheduling Group 

Advise  Events & Competitions Committee regarding all event scheduling matters; based on the agreed strategies, coordinate the scheduling of all Level A and B events; act as a line of communication from associations and clubs to the national committees.
 

  • Chair appointed by E&C Committee
  • Events & Competitions Committee representative
  • 12 Association Representatives (appointed by Associations)
  • Mike Cope – Chair & YHOA

  • Allie Wilson-Craw – NEOA

  • Sarah Mansel – EAOA

  • Steve Scott – SOA

  • Philip Gristwood – SEOA

  • Wilbert Hollinger – NIOA

  • Kerina Lake – WOA

  • Richard Sansbury – SWOA

  • Jean Payne – NWOA

  • Richard Sharp – SCOA

  • Ursula Williamson – EMOA

  • Rick Roberts – WMOA

Notes from meetings:

2023 2022 2021
16 October 2023 18 October 2022 16 October 2021
13 March 2023 12 March 2022 13 March 2021

Coaching Advisory Group

Composition:

  • Chair, appointed by the Board
  • 3 experts each able to share ideas and represent the views and needs of their national associations (NIOA, SOA, WOA)
  • An expert nominated by the Board to share their views and represent the views and needs of England and the England Associations; to act as a contact point for members within England
  • Performance Pathway Director or delegate
  • Invited technical and or coaching experts as required; maximum number 2
  • A member of staff responsible for workforce development
  • Judith Holt – Chair
  • Helen Baxter  NIOA representative
  • Suzanne Robins-Bird SOA representative
  • Jim Wood – WOA
  • Hilary Palmer – English representative
  • Bernie Dietzig - Performance Pathway Representative
  • Pat Mee – Coach Education Expert
  • Howard Blackman British Orienteering member of staff

Responsible for:

  • Advising the Board on the strategic development and monitoring of Orienteering coaching in the UK.
  • Ensuring that the needs and coaching requirements of partners are met, where possible, in the plan for the development of coaching. Partners include Orienteering Clubs, Regional and Home Country Associations, UK Coaching, Awarding organisations and funding agencies.
  • Agreeing the development of sports specific criteria for coaching qualifications and ensuring that the resources are suitable for the delivery staff and coaches undergoing training/assessment

Notes from meetings:

 

 

Performance Pathway Group

Composition:

  • The Chair, independent from other performance roles within Orienteering, appointed by the Board of British Orienteering
  • A non-executive Director of British Orienteering with responsibility for Performance, appointed by the Board of Directors
  • The member of staff who has overall responsibility for the management of the Performance programme, ex officio and who can represent Level 5.
  • A delegate for Level 4 (i.e. manager or coach) appointed by the Chair
  • A delegate for Level 3 (ie manager or coach) appointed by the Chair.
  • A delegate for JROS, nominated by JROS, appointed by the Chair.
  • Up to two athlete representatives, preferably one Level 5 and one Level 4, nominated by athletes, appointed by the Chair.
  • Up to one parent of a Level 3 athlete appointed by the Chair.
  • Up to two Independent Performance Expert(s) (eg ex athletes or coaches) appointed by the Chair, who are not otherwise currently involved in the programme.
  • Ruth Beale – Chair
  • NIOA Representative
  • Jon Cross - Technical Adviser
  • John Musgrove – SOA
  • Nev Myers – JROS
  • Mark Saunders – WOA
  • Bernie Dietzig – Performance Pathway Director
  • Tom Bray - Performance Development Manager
  •                  – Performance Athlete, observer
  •                  - Performance Athlete
  • Ruth Beale – Liaison Director

Responsible for:

  • Set the philosophies, long term plans, annual targets and objectives of the Performance Pathway in line with the British Orienteering’s strategy (Thriving Clubs for a New Generation) and in conjunction with those responsible for delivery of the performance pathway programme
  • Discuss and approve the Selection Policy and membership of the Selection Panels for all GB representative international FootO competitions.
  • Provide those responsible for the delivery of the programme with expert advice and input on delivery, structure and resources and any challenging matters arising.
  • Act as one route for participants in the performance programme and other stakeholders to raise concerns or requests relating to the programme with a clear line of escalation through the PPSG Chair to CEO and BO Chair if required. Other formal routes relating to safeguarding, whistleblowing and staff performance already exist and should remain primary routes for these issues.
  • Consider any additional projects required to contribute to the Aims and Objectives of the Performance Programme and where appropriate submit to the Board for approval.
  • Provide the Board with formal reporting on a regular basis (at least annually), including logging issues or disagreements arising. This is not to replace the staff’s responsibility to report to board as standard.
  • Have no budgetary responsibility.

 

 

Notes from meetings:

 

Development Steering Group

Composition:

  • Group Chair, appointed by the Board
  • National Development Manager
  • 3 development experts each able to share ideas and represent the views and needs of their national associations (NIOA, SOA, WOA)
  • An expert nominated by the Board to share their views and represent the views and needs of England and the England Associations; to act as a contact point for members within England
  • Invited development experts as required, maximum number 2
  • A Director appointed by the Board to liaise between the Board and the group
  • Lyn West (Chair)
  • Andy Robinson (Board Liaison Director)
  • Ric Gamble – NIOA
  • Anne Hickling – SOA
  • Mark Saunders – WOA
  • Pauline Tryner – English expert
  • Howard Blackman - Club Development Manager

 

Responsible for:

  • Advise the Board on strategy regarding the development of orienteering
  • Support the development of key performance indicators and an implementation plan to meet the objectives which are embodied in the Strategic Plan
  • Challenge the plan to ensure the needs of partners are being met
  • Ensure alignment between the British Orienteering plan and the national association plans if possible
  • Monitor the delivery of the development aspects of the Strategic & Operational Plans and the achievement of key performance indicators and report back to the Board as required

Notes from meetings:

 

TrailO Development Steering Group

Composition:

  • Chairman, a designated Director of British Orienteering or a person proposed by the Committee and approved by the Board 
  • Director of British Orienteering, if the Chairman is not a Director
  • 6 members that are Trail-Orienteering specialists from the 13 Constituent Associations, each member appointed by the Board; Associations not represented have the right to elect a correspondent member
  • Chair – Graham Urquhart Email
  • EAOA – Iain Phillips
  • NWOA – John Kewley
  • SCOA - Colin Duckworth
  • SEOA – Ian Ditchfield
  • SWOA - Richard Keighley
  • YHOA – Christine Roberts
  • Team Manager - Elizabeth Urquhart
  • IT/Software - Tom Dobra

Correspondent Members

  • NIOA – Wilbert Holinger
  • SOA – Anne Hickling
  • IOF liaison/website – Clive Allen

 

Responsible for:

  • Advising the Board on the strategic development of Trail Orienteering
  • Delivering the relevant objectives as agreed by the Board in the Strategic Plan and where appropriate supporting other Committees and groups in delivering objectives
  • Agreeing on Key Performance Indicators with the Board to monitor assess, and report on performance
  • Monitoring and reviewing all Trail Orienteering activities and programmes
  • Production a programme to deliver sustainable international success and capable of supporting athletes to achieve the annual targets; reviewing the programme on an annual basis
  • Supporting, volunteers and staff in the delivery of the programmes and the international team by ensuring it is given the opportunity to achieve the agreed goals and medal performances
  • Advising the Board on disability awareness and other matters concerned with the involvement of disabled people in orienteering activities

Notes from meetings:

Recent minutes:

2023 2022 2021 2020
February January January July
April March September November
  May December  
  August     
  December    


Welfare & Safeguarding Steering Group

 

 

Composition:

The Steering Group shall consist of a Chair, representatives of the relevant work sectors of British Orienteering and the Lead Child Protection Officer of British Orienteering. A key representative will be identified from:

  • Chair, nominated by the Board
  • Lead Child Protection Officer
  • Representatives from:
    • People working in a welfare capacity at lower levels i.e. County/Regional/Club Welfare Officer
    • Parents
    • External child protection ‘advisor/practitioner’
    • Young people (with appropriate support)
  • Judith Holt – Chair
  • Peter Brooke – Lead Child Protection Officer

Responsible for:

  • Developing, monitoring and reviewing British Orienteering’s approach and plans to safeguard children and young people
  • Ensuring ownership and implementation of the plan to safeguard children and young people throughout British Orienteering
  • In conjunction with the Board, ensure that British Orienteering has a child welfare/protection policy and procedures in place which are reviewed annually and revised as necessary
  • Ensure all necessary related policies and procedures are in place and implemented throughout the organisation
  • Develop, monitoring and review all education/training strategies
  • Ensure that guidelines and procedures are established to provide training, support and supervision for children, individuals, clubs and any person against whom allegations are made
  • Ensuring that the outcomes of steering group business are effectively communicated