Professor Shirley Pearce, Sam Messam and Pam Jardine have been appointed to the Sport England East Midlands Regional Sports Board, the body that provides a strategic lead for sport in the region and allocates lottery funding for sport and physical activity.

Professor Shirley Pearce has been Vice-Chancellor at Loughborough University since January 2006. Previous to that she was Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, where she was responsible for health professional education programmes.

Professor Pearce said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed to the sports board. I am proud to work at the premier Sports University in the UK.  Loughborough University already plays an important role in broadening the health and fitness agenda for the region and the nation as well as preparing top flight international sports men and women.”

“I am keen to be part of the strategic direction for sport in the region and to help ensure the East Midlands plays a full and central role in the preparation for and legacy of the 2012 Olympics.”

Sam Messam from Kirkby in Ashfield has been a member of Hyson Green Boys Basketball Club, a club for boys from all backgrounds, for over 20 years and works as a sports studies lecturer at the newly built Stephenson College in Coalville.

Sam Messam said: “I’ve seen a great wealth of talent come through the Hyson Green Boys Basketball Club from all different backgrounds. Sport is a fantastic tool to bring communities and different ethnicities together and I’m interested in ensuring there are role models for everyone.”

Pam Jardine from Nottingham currently works as a programme manager for New Deal for Communities - a community based regeneration programme funded by the government to improve the local area over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2010 – and identifies grass roots sport as an area she is most passionate about.

She said: “The community is where I work and that’s where my heart is. I’m interested in widening participation by making it easier for different communities to get involved and take part in sport. I also want to encourage stronger links between schools and sports clubs.”

Len Jackson, Chair of the Regional Sports Board, said: “The new appointees bring a huge wealth of experience and their knowledge and understanding of that area will be a great asset to the board."

“Sport for the community is something that Sport England is passionate about and Mr Messam and Ms Jardine will help us to drive that in the region.”

“Professor Pearce’s expertise and passion for sport will be an asset to us. She already holds an important role in sport in the region and her experience within that role will be welcomed by the board.”