CASES Board recommends the appointment of Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES as Chair for a new term

Members were advised that Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES will conclude her second term as CASES Chair in November 2027. Earlier in June, CASES advertised for a Chair-Elect to be in place by the November 2026 AGM, to then shadow Zoe in her final year. Following open recruitment from eligible members, only one application was received, that from Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES. 

View Zoe’s application. 

After a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, CASES is therefore delighted to propose a new term for Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES, who, in 2021 became the first female Chair of the Association. The new term of three years, from November 2027, will see Prof Knowles FCASES take the Association through its next strategy.

During her first two terms, Zoe was at the helm when the Association undertook a project to establish the new Values, Commitments and Behaviours. There was a full governance review which resulted in the formation of new Standing Committees and Advisory Groups, including a Public and External Affairs Advisory Group, Artificial Intelligence Group and a Climate Change Action Team. The Board signed a partnership with Clinical Exercise Physiology UK (CEP-UK), resulting in CEP-UK being housed within our governance structure and for which in 2024 the NHS included a dedicated webpage to the role of Clinical Exercise Physiologists and the career pathway, the first time NHS England have recognised a Sport and Exercise role and the associated career progressions within the NHS workforce.

There were launches of the (then) BASES Postgraduate SEPAR Endorsement Scheme (PSES), the EDI Advisory Group’s Role Models initiative for underrepresented members, and the EDI AG’s Professional Development and Mentoring Programme. 10 institutions were successfully recruited to act as BASES Outreach Hubs, with the hubs running the inaugural BASES school poster competition project. In 2026, we currently have 40 CASES Outreach Hubs.

In May 2024, BASES was granted the Charter of Incorporation by His Majesty King Charles III. On 1 April 2025, BASES was incorporated as The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

The CASES Medal of Achievement was launched in 2025 and in 2026 the Distinguished Contribution to CASES Award. SEPAR has continued to go from strength to strength, currently supporting over 280 active candidates, with 140 candidates having completed SEPAR since its launch in January 2020.

Commenting on her application and the opportunity to serve a new term from November 2027, Zoe said, “I am thrilled to continue leading CASES which has fantastic Board, HQ staff, volunteers and a membership passionate about making a difference for students, academics and practitioners. There are undoubtedly challenges within the sector, and CASES has made measurable contributions to debates, policies and advocacy work to support the profession and its standards both nationally and internationally. We will continue to grow our reputation and influence over the next few years through our current and future strategy and support members who wish to get involved through projects and initiatives as we do so.”

At the AGM 2026, which is taking place from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Wednesday 11 November, the Board will formally seek ratification from the membership of the election of Prof Zoe Knowles FCASES as incoming Chair-Elect. Zoe will then serve her final year of her current second term until November 2027, before then starting a new three-year term as CASES Chair from November 2027. Congratulations are extended to Zoe, with thanks from the Board for her strong leadership over the years and her commitment to lead and support the Association moving forwards.