Paralympics Ireland have today announced the appointment of Neasa Russell as their new Chief Operations Officer.
Russell joined Paralympics Ireland in 2021 as the Chef de Mission and Sports Director. She led the Irish Paralympic team to the Covid interrupted Paralympic Games in Tokyo and the recent Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
In her role as Sports Director, Neasa has also redesigned the Paralympic Sporting system in Ireland that has seen the establishment of programmes like Allianz NextGen and the development of vital strategic partnerships with the likes of the Sport Ireland Institute.
In her new role Neasa will take responsibility for implementing the new PI strategic plan, to be launched later this year, by designing and delivering new programmes and initiatives with our partners, that will support the current and next generation of Irish Paralympians. She will also lead on the development of sustainable operational, investment and funding models to support our ambitions to develop a Para Sport system that enables athletes achieve world class performances whilst also changing people’s perceptions of people with a disability.
Speaking about the appointment of Neasa Russell as the Chief Operations Officer of Paralympics Ireland, CEO Stephen McNamara said “I am very pleased that Neasa has agreed to become our new COO. Neasa brings a wealth of expertise from her previous roles in the United Kingdom and has become a real thought leader in Irish sport. Neasa shares the values and culture we need to ensure that while performance is our goal, fun, collaboration and shared learnings is our aim as we develop athletes as people, not just potential medal winners. I am looking forward to working closely with Neasa as we roll out our new Strategic Plan, which is now in its final stages of development, and work to further strengthen and develop Irish Paralympic sport to LA, Brisbane and beyond.”
New Paralympics Ireland Chief Operations Officer Neasa Russell said “I am delighted to take up the new role of COO with Paralympics Ireland. I have relished my time in Paralympics Ireland to date having been involved for two Paralympic cycles. There is so much potential in the Irish Paralympic and High Performance system. I am really looking forward to working with the PI team and our many partners to build a thriving system for our Para Sport community which matches the energy, and meets the ambitions, of our Irish Paralympians.
Notes: Neasa Russell is a native of Galway where she performed to a high level as a rower before becoming a coach herself with Rowing Ireland. She moved to the UK where she worked with the GB Rowing team before joining UK Sport as a Performance Pathway Scientist and then Sport England as Head of Talent Development. There she helped to develop a world leading athlete recruitment and development system. She joined Paralympics Ireland as Sports Director and Chef de Mission in 2021 leading the team to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, reprising her role as Chef De Mission for the Paris 2024 Games. Neasa will now begin her role as Chief Operations Officer for Paralympics Ireland with immediate effect.
