Ben O’Connell joins as Member Trustee for Welfare and Safeguarding, bringing more than 20 years of experience across the sports industry. His career spans senior leadership roles in local authority, leisure trust, and higher education settings.
Currently serving as Director of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University - widely recognised as Wales' sporting university - Ben has led an extensive and diverse sport portfolio for the past seven years. His work includes oversight of professional sport franchises, national training centres, and a unique partnership with Cardiff Council delivering sport, physical activity, and health programmes across the capital.
Alongside his professional achievements, Ben is also the founder and host of SportH.E, the first podcast dedicated to higher education sport, where he engages with sector leaders on key issues and developments.
Harneet Dhillon joins the Board as Independent Trustee for Digital, Data & Transformation. She brings significant expertise in digital leadership, with a strong track record in data governance, cyber resilience, and technology-driven organisational change.
Harneet has operated at board level across complex and regulated environments, offering strategic insight into digital innovation, operating models, and responsible transformation. Her previous experience as a trustee in the charity sector has strengthened governance and risk oversight, and she will bring a clear focus to BUCS on digital modernisation, cyber governance, and the effective use of data to support long-term ambitions for higher education sport.
These appointments reflect BUCS’ continued commitment to strong governance, innovation, and the wellbeing of its community, ensuring the organisation remains well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the sector.
