Meet the Board

Gerry was appointed as the Chair of British Judo in August 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the BJA, with a background in financial, technology and software sectors. He has worked across the globe and has significant experience in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific markets.

Andrew Scoular has been Chief Executive of the British Judo Association since March 2013 having previously been the Chief Operating Officer since October 2011.  He started his career in sport in 2003 as an administrator with Scottish Hockey before he moved to the National Coaching Foundation (now SCUK).  He then went to work for Glasgow City Council where he managed one of the largest sports specific development teams in the UK with 60 sports development and support staff.  Andrew joined the RFU as National Development Manager in November 2000 before being made Head of Rugby Development and subsequently promoted to Director of Community Rugby in April 2006.  He is currently a Director of the British Olympic Association and sits on the Audit Committee.

Andrew is a former Scotland hockey international having over 120 caps and is an international coach.  He is a Level 1 qualified rugby coach.

Appointed to BJA Board September 2018.

Neil is a level three coach, senior examiner and 6^th Dan (5^th Dan competitive).  He has been involved in Judo for over 40 years. As Head Coach and Chairman of Pudsey Judo Club Neil is actively involved in grassroots through to senior international level Judo.  Having attended INSEP-Paris to develop his coaching he later supported the Visually Impaired GB team visiting Japan.  When living in London Neil trained regularly at the Budokwai.

Neil’s senior competitive Judo was as a member of Grimsby Judo Club winning national medals and representing Great Britain at the World Students – Strasbourg.

Neil is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant, having worked in several major international companies and now heads up a finance team in further and higher education.

Ben spent 16 years as a World Class Performance Athlete and competed at multiple VI World and European Championships as well as two Paralympics, winning bronze in London 2012.

Ben is currently a member of the British Paralympic Association Athlete Commission and Social Impact Committee, as well as a member of the North West Area Executive Committee.

Ben has vast experience across other NGBs as a Performance Lifestyle Advisor, as well as extensive judo experience from grassroots to elite level and is currently head of the Wolverhampton University Judo programme.  Ben also runs a community judo club.

Delia Wright was appointed to the British Judo Board of Directors in October 2023. Her professional background is in digital marketing and eCommerce driving performance and revenue growth at companies including BT, Dixons Carphone, QA Ltd and Samsung Electronics.

Joining the BJA is an opportunity for Delia to revive a youthful passion having practised judo at University.

Wai Cheung brings over 25 years of leadership experience delivering large-scale transformation programmes across the public and private sectors. A seasoned governance and delivery executive, he has overseen portfolios of up to £175 million, advising boards and executive committees on risk, performance, and financial oversight.

Currently Head of Digital Portfolio for Parliament Digital Services, Wai has previously held senior roles with Cognizant, NHS Test & Trace, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Capita. He is recognised for his calm, objective leadership and his ability to deliver under scrutiny in regulated environments.

A lifelong martial artist, former international competitor, and current Head Coach for Team GB Kyokushinkai Karate, his blend of professional governance experience and grassroots sporting insight will add valuable perspective to British Judo’s strategic vision, ensuring continued focus on integrity, inclusion, and community impact.

Marc has acted as JudoScotland’s interim Chair for the past two years before officially being elected as Chair in 2022, with a tenure period that will conclude at JudoScotland’s AGM in 2026.

His wealth of knowledge and experiences have been pivotal in shaping and delivering JudoScotland’s Strategy “JudoForAll” 2023-2027.

During his time as Chair, Marc has led the JudoScotland Board to undertake a thorough review of the Articles of Association, ensuring best practice in alignment with the UK Sport Code of Governance.

Nicki has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in international financial services and technology. As Chief Information Officer at Tokio Marine HCC International, she leads a global team and her specialisms include governance, risk management, strategic transformation, and cultural leadership.

A NextCIO 2023 winner and finalist for Women in Insurance Digital Champion 2025, Nicki is recognised for her inclusive, people-first approach and her commitment to fostering innovation and resilience. She has a proven track record of shaping sustainable operating models and embedding transparent, risk-based decision-making frameworks at board level.

Judo holds a personal significance for Nicki, whose sons both compete at national and international levels.

Russell is currently Chairman of the Northern Ireland Judo Federation and their lead/tutor for Safeguarding.  Russell has been involved in Judo for many years and is also a Level 4 Elite Performance Coach Tutor.

Russell also brings with him extensive tutoring and facilitating experience from a variety of other sports and sectors