Welcome to the GB Board: Alan McMillan

Alan McMillan, a well-known figure in Scottish Badminton, has joined the Great Britain Board (taking over from Christine Black). Alan has been passionately engaged in badminton for over four decades. As both a former senior and a current masters Internationalist, he continues to enjoy competitive badminton.

Embarking on a significant career in sport, Alan joined sportscotland, Scotland’s national sports agency, in 1991. He notably pioneered the agency’s involvement in shinty as its inaugural employee dedicated to this sport.

Alan’s career path then led him to the role of Scottish Junior Golf Manager, where he played a pivotal role in initiatives leading up to the 2014 Ryder Cup. After an impactful 18-year tenure at sportscotland, Alan transitioned to the position of CEO at the Scottish Bowling Association.

In this role, he orchestrated the merger of the women’s and men’s outdoor bowling associations, creating one of the largest sport’s governing bodies in Scotland with over 800 clubs and 50,000 playing members.

Under his leadership, the association flourished, expanding from a modest team of two to a robust staff of over 17, encompassing areas such as governance, development, and high-performance departments.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Alan enjoys an active lifestyle. His passion for sport extends into his leisure time with a significant interest in cycling and golf, alongside his enduring love for badminton.

This blend of professional accomplishments and personal interests underscores Alan’s deep-rooted commitment to the world of sport, both on and off the court.

How GB Badminton operates 

Badminton GB Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, who’s Members are the Badminton Association of England Limited, the Scottish Badminton Union Limited, the Ulster Branch Badminton Union of Ireland Limited, and the Welsh Badminton Union Limited. Badminton GB Ltd is governed by its Articles of  Association.

Badminton GB Ltd is responsible for the governance of GB Badminton and its objects are:

  • to foster, encourage and promote the participation of GB Badminton in the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and any other events involving a GB team;
  • to arrange, provide and secure all necessary assistance and support for the preparation, representation and success of Players in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;
  • to affiliate and provide representation to the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association; and
  • generally to advance and safeguard the interests of British Badminton in the Olympic and Paralympic context and to do all such acts and things as from time to time are deemed necessary or expedient.
  • The home nations come together to compete as Great Britain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, European Games and Youth Olympic Games and therefore the GB programme is managed under a Memorandum of Understanding between Badminton GB Ltd and its Members.
  • The day to day operation and management of the GB programme is delegated to one of the Members and governed by a Lead Home Nation Agreement. Badminton England is the appointed Member nation for the Paris cycle. Please also see the Variation to the Lead Home Nation Agreement.

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