Dr Pippa Bennett appointed Paralympic Chief Medical Officer for ParalympicsGB and the EIS

Dr Pippa Bennett has been appointed as Paralympic Chief Medical Officer for the British Paralympic Association and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and will begin the significant, dual role in February 2022.

Pippa has worked in elite sport for 20 years; as Chief Medical Officer for England Women‘s Football, British Gymnastics and latterly with the British Equestrian Federation. She has supported athletes and staff at multiple Olympic, Commonwealth and World University Games and most recently with ParalympicsGB in Tokyo. She will continue her role with the Football Association as medical lead for women’s professional game and England Parafootball Teams.

Sitting across the EIS and BPA as Paralympic Chief Medical Officer, Pippa will be the strategic lead for all aspects of Paralympic medicine and health, as well collaborating with National Governing Bodies to drive projects targeting impairment-specific injury and illness trends in Para athletes. She will also lead the ParalympicsGB medical team and be an active member of the senior leadership team for Paris 2024.

Dr Pippa Bennett said: “I am very excited and honoured to take on this lead role with the British Paralympic Association and the English Institute of Sport. I am looking forward to continuing the excellent work of my predecessors and working with all our ParalympicsGB athletes and performance support staff.”

Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Paris 2024, said: “This is a critical role in ensuring we continue to provide world-leading services and Games-time environments for all ParalympicsGB team members not only to keep them safe but also to support them in delivering personal best performances when it really matters.

“I am delighted to be working with such an experienced and passionate advocate for para sport as we look to build on the record-breaking successes of Tokyo 2020.”

Pippa will also work closely with Tom Paulson, Head of Paralympic Performance Support at the EIS.

He said: “Pippa will bring a huge amount of experience to this role from a number of different roles in the UK high performance system. We are incredibly proud of our work nationally and internationally to enhance injury and illness surveillance and management in Para athletes and look forward to working closely with Pippa as we support athletes and sports in this shortened cycle into Paris.

Taking over from Dr Stuart Miller, who left the role in October 2021 after over 12 years supporting Para athletes and sports, Pippa will assist with ParalympicsGB’s final preparations for the Beijing Winter Games, which get underway on 4 March 2022. However, the role will primarily be focused on the Paris Paralympic Cycle and future Winter and Summer Games, with preparations for Paris 2024 already well underway.