Helen Phillips MBE announced as President of CGW

Commonwealth Games Wales (CGW) announce today that Helen Phillips MBE is the new President of the organisation
Nominated by the CGW Board and elected by the members at yesterday’s AGM, Helen Phillips MBE will begin her role immediately, taking over from Anne Ellis OBE who steps down after two Games cycles.

Helen has played an integral role in leading the board over the last 9 years through modernisation program and the commercialisation of the brand. Helen has supported the planning & delivery of Team Wales at five Commonwealth Games, including Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010, and most recently as Chair for Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. During this time establishing very strategic relationships with significant stakeholders in Wales and across the Commonwealth both in business and in sport.
Helen was awarded an MBE in 2019 for service to Welsh Gymnastics, formally a judge and administrator and more recently President of British Gymnastics. Whilst judging at 2002 Commonwealth Games was her first official involvement with Commonwealth Sport, Helen’s competed internationally as a Squash player and later a coach and referee.

The new President of Commonwealth Games Wales said ‘’I am honoured to accept the role as President, and the opportunity to take the baton from the great Anne Ellis OBE, who has inspired so many in Welsh Sport heightens the honour that goes beyond any of my previous achievements. It’s been a pleasure serving our member sports and their athletes and albeit in a different role I look forward to the next cycle and enhancing the profile of Team Wales.

Rebecca Edwards-Symmons, CEO of Commonwealth Games Wales added “Helen has been a fantastic Chair to our organisation and is an inspiring leader who is highly regarded, respected, and admired by many. Her vast experience coupled with infectious passion for Team Wales is admired across the CGF and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her guidance and exceptional leadership in the first six months of my tenure here at Team Wales. I look forward to working with her and Gareth Davies, our new Chair for the next quadrennial, in the build-up to Victoria 2026. This is a very exciting time for Team Wales with such an impressive President and Chair”