Karen Roberts to leave British Judo
April 16, 2026
British Judo can today confirm that Karen Roberts will be leaving her position as Development Director to take up an exciting new opportunity as Director of Athlete Services at the UK Sports Institute.
Roberts has been a central figure within British Judo for nearly two decades, making a significant impact both on and off the mat. A member of Pinewood Judo Club, under the tutorage of the late Don Werner, she represented her country at the highest-level. The Sydney 2000 Olympian, won World and European Championship medals and took the 2002 Commonwealth Games title in Manchester.
She joined the BJA World Class Performance Programme staff in 2007 supporting athletes and coaches through the Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo cycles. In 2022, Roberts was appointed Development Director, where she played a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the sport, working closely with partners and stakeholders to grow participation and strengthen the performance pathway across the UK.
Her departure marks the end of a highly influential chapter for British Judo, with Roberts widely recognised for her leadership, athlete-centred approach, and contribution to Olympic and Paralympic success.
Speaking on her departure, Chief Executive Andrew Scoular said:
“Karen has made an outstanding contribution to British Judo over many years. Her passion for the sport, combined with her expertise and leadership, has helped drive significant progress across both performance and development. While we are sorry to see her leave, we are incredibly proud to see her take on such an important role within the wider high-performance system and wish her every success.”
Chair Gerry Gualtieri added:
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Karen for her dedication and commitment to British Judo. She has been instrumental in shaping our organisation and supporting athletes to achieve success on the world stage. She will be hugely missed across the Association, but this is a fantastic opportunity for her, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her in her new role.”
Roberts will move into her position as Director of Athlete Services at the UK Sports Institute in July, where she will support athletes across a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic sports, bringing her extensive experience and insight to the broader high-performance environment.
Everyone at British Judo would like to thank Karen for her outstanding service and wish her continued success in the next stage of her career.
