Tony Blair Sports Foundation Staff

Jeanette Pickard
Chief Executive

Jeanette previously managed Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency office.

When Tony Blair stepped down as MP for Sedgefield Jeanette was asked to set up the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and became Chief Executive of the Foundation in November 2007. As CE Jeanette is responsible for the overall organisational management, strategic development and delivery of the core business of the Foundation.

Jeanette has always been involved in community issues having represented many residents and organisations in her time as a local Councillor. In the past, Jeanette has volunteered as a School Governor and has helped organise many fundraising events for local community groups.

Jeanette has a keen interest in sport and has gained significant exposure to community sports organisations and coaching structures through her own participation and that of her family.

Arlene Ainsley
Membership Recruitment and Development Manager

Arlene Ainsley became the Membership Recruitment and Development Manager in June 2010.

Arlene has almost 25 years experience in the voluntary and statutory sector working with volunteers and was a councillor for over 10 years. She has recently worked in social marketing and communications.

Arlene has been a school governor for over 20 years and is currently Chair of Governors of a large primary school.

When not at work Arlene enjoys spending time with family and friends and working in her garden.

Christianna Munro
Executive Assistant

Having previously volunteered with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, Chrissy now works as the Foundation’s Executive Assistant. Her role involves the delivery of the Foundation's events and the development of coaching pathways in local schools across the North East to provide the region’s young people with a route to become involved in coaching and officiating sport.

Chrissy has worked in both sports development and operations management in the public and private sectors and gained experience in the management of high performance sport, development pathways and community programmes as Senior Operations Manager of the Durham Wildcats BBL franchise, a partner of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation. She also has direct experience of performance sport having represented England in netball at U17 and U19 level and playing in the Netball Superleague for 5 years whilst studying Sports Performance at the University of Bath.