About Chartered Institute Of Public Relations - Sports Network
Welcome to the CIPR Sports Network podcast, open to all listeners with an interest in sport and fitness.
We provide a forum for debate and best practice in sports communications, discussing the hot sports topics of the day and how they impact the wider social landscape.
The network aims to stage events with high-profile speakers, including industry leaders, national journalists and sports personalities.
Top 5 tips to a successful celebrity talent partnership from Lizzie Liebenhals
As a talent agent and a woman working in football, Lizzie shares some of her hard earned lessons on what makes a great talent / brand partnership having worked with household names to create value for talent, clubs and commercial partners.
24 Aug 2026
A Conversation with Steve Martin
This month, Chris Haynes and Sarah Pearce spoke to Steve Martin, the founding partner of MSQ about his career in PR.
29 Jul 2026
Heather McCormick on leadership, storytelling and sport's evolving communications landscape
“Stay curious. Technology, human behaviour and audience expectations are constantly evolving, and as communicators we have to keep learning and growing.” This month we speak to Heather McCormick, Group Communications and Public Affairs Director at London Marathon Events,
24 Jun 2026
A defining voice of MLS. A conversation with Kevin Egan
A defining voice in Major League Soccer, Kevin Egan recently spoke to the CIPR Sports Network about his successful career.
28 May 2026
Ian Taylor – Building a Successful Career in Sports Comms
Ian Taylor, founder of Taylored Sports Communications, recently spoke to the CIPR Sports Network to share his insights into building a successful career in sport communications.
In a career which has spanned 20 years, Ian has experienced everything - from supporting Burnley with their recent Premier League relegation, to involvement as the Director of Communications at the Game 4 Grenfell charity match on behalf of QPR, through to overseeing media attention for a British winner of the Tour de France.
28 Apr 2026
The power of contacts, conversation and knowing the story with Paul McCarthy ex NOTW Sports Editor
This month the CIPR Sports Group spoke to veteran sports journalist and experienced communications consultant Paul McCarthy about his career, his transition to public relations and the changes and challenges he has witnessed in his two decades in journalism and 15 years in PR.
Speaking candidly to David Alexander and Chris Haynes, he reflected on the shifting media landscape, the parallels between journalism and PR, the enduring importance of human relationships, and the principles that underpin effective crisis management.
23 Mar 2026
Sarah Brown-Fraser: Inclusive Communication in Sport
In this episode, the CIPR Sports Network Group talks to Sarah Brown-Fraser from Activity Alliance. A communication accessibility expert, Sarah discusses how Activity Alliance is setting the standard for inclusive communication, shares examples of campaigns that stand out as best practice, and highlights things to avoid when considering accessible communication.
20 Aug 2025
John Zerafa on Driving Campaigns: Small-Time Strategy to Olympic Bids
In this episode, the CIPR Sport Network Group talk to Jon Zerafa, an expert in campaign communications, reputation management and public affairs in sport. In a 60-minute conversation, we discuss joined-up communication strategies, how to drive a core message across different audiences, fuelling your career with constant curiosity and the ever-changing global sports landscape.
7 Jul 2025
Building a career in sport with Dan Maisey
Another powerful conversation for the CIPR Sports Group podcast, as Dan Maisey joined us to offer insights into building a career in sport, understanding the jobs market and how to navigate recruitment, for yourself or when building a team.
3 Jun 2025
Craig Spence and 'We the 15': Where advocacy and communications meet
In this compelling conversation, Craig Spence, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), shares powerful insights into the world of Paralympic sport and the broader movement for disability inclusion. Representing the 15% of the global population living with a disability, Spence discusses the transformative role of international communication, advocacy, and media in reshaping perceptions and driving social change.
7 May 2025
Corporate to Centre Field: Shaping Communications at Irish Rugby Football Union with Aoife Clark
For this month’s podcast, we were fortunate enough to be joined by Aoife Clarke, Director of Communications at the Irish Rugby Football Union.
1 Apr 2025
Henry Winter on football journalism and good press officers
In the first episode of the CIPR Sports Network's Podcast, we are joined by Henry Winter.Voted Footballer Writer of the Year by the Football Supporters’ Association in 2023, Henry has previously served as football correspondent for The Independent, The Telegraph, and The Times and now writes for World Soccer as well as having a regular column at https://www.henrywinter.football/It's a fascinating conversation about the dynamics between sports journalists and PR teams in sport and why he believes the importance of trusted relationships between hacks and flacks is good for everyone.
4 Mar 2025
Aquatics GB CEO, 'Comms Guy', Drew Barrand on leading sport forward
This episode of CIPR's sports podcast is a conversation with Drew Barrand, Chief Executive of Aquatics GB. His story is a rare, inspiring example of a self-labelled “Comms Guy” who sits at the top of a national sport and fully deploys the power of communication.
30 Jan 2025
Sustainability in sport: Olympic rower Imogen Grant on the importance of athlete activism
In the latest CIPR Sports Network podcast episode, we spoke to Olympic champion and activist Imogen Grant to find out why using her platform for social good is a fundamental part of her success. Imogen talks about how she juggles elite training, her studies and now her role as an NHS doctor with campaigning for cleaner rivers and the importance of getting people active.
19 Dec 2024
How team GB's communications strategy is evolving: Olympic execution Scott Field
The Sports Network spoke to Scott Field, Team GB Director of Communications and Marketing. Scott joined us to delve into the topic of “Evolving role of communications with Olympic athletes, brands and audiences” giving his expert insight into his role with Team GB, how the four-year cycle impacts communications planning, in-Games execution and his personal experience of success, resilience, and the importance of comms to Team GB Olympic success.
22 Sept 2023
Ten communications commandments from Chelsea FC stalwart Steve Atkins
We were very pleased to chat with Steve Atkins, Chief Communications Officer, McLaren Racing. Steve was previously Director of Communications for Chelsea FC and joined McLaren ahead of the 2023 season. He spoke about his sports communications experiences and lessons and provided some insight into the world of international sports communications.
2 Nov 2022
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves on controlling your own narrative
The CIPR Sports Network previewed Qatar 2022 with Former FA MD & Comms Director Adrian Bevington and former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, talking all things comms and the FIFA World Cup.
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