Debbie Jevans Keynote Speaker

First woman to chair Wimbledon’s AELTC Board (2023–)
Director of Sport, London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics
Record £53.5m prize fund & ELC rollout at Wimbledon (2025)

Debbie Jevans's Biography

Debbie Jevans CBE is one of Britain’s most respected sports leaders, trusted to guide iconic institutions and deliver complex events on the world stage. As Chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (2023–), she helps steward The Championships, Wimbledon, bringing board-level rigour and operational excellence to one of sport’s most scrutinised environments. In 2025, Wimbledon introduced electronic line calling, announced a record £53.5m prize fund, and updated finals scheduling to maximise the fan experience and global reach.

Jevans began in elite competition, winning Junior Wimbledon and competing as a professional tennis player (1976–1983). She reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in singles and the last eight in mixed doubles, and represented Great Britain at junior and senior level. She then moved into global sports leadership at the International Tennis Federation, serving as Director of the Women’s Game and General Secretary (1987–2002), helping shape the international game and its long-term growth.

From 2003–2012, Jevans served as Director of Sport for London’s Olympic bid and then the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, becoming the first woman in Olympic history appointed Director of Sport for an Olympic Games Organising Committee. Appointed CBE in 2013, she went on to lead England Rugby 2015 (October 2012–March 2015), chaired Birmingham’s successful Commonwealth Games bid work, and served as Sport England Vice-Chair (appointed 2014). She also served on the English Football League board (2014–2023), including Executive Chair (2018–2019), and is a trustee of the Invictus Games Foundation and the EFL Trust, as well as a Special Advisor to Podium Analytics (2021–).

A compelling, straight-talking keynote speaker, Jevans shares practical lessons from high-pressure decision-making, public scrutiny and world-class delivery. She equips leaders with tools to align stakeholders, build resilient teams and execute at scale whether the goal is a major transformation, a high-profile launch, or a culture that performs when it matters most.

Leading major events: planning, risk and delivery at scale

Governance under scrutiny: boards, reputation and accountability

High-performance teams: culture, clarity and execution

Women’s leadership: breaking barriers in elite environments

Creating legacy: turning big moments into lasting impact

She has delivered sport at maximum operational intensity as Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping organisations plan, align and execute under immovable deadlines.
She brings nationally recognised leadership as a CBE (2013) and Chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club from July 2023, helping leaders protect trust while modernising iconic brands.
She has led major tournament build-up as Chief Executive of England Rugby 2015 from October 2012 to March 2015, showing leaders how to coordinate stakeholders and maintain performance when pressure peaks.
She brings deep governance experience across British sport as a senior independent non-executive director of the English Football League from 2014, including Executive Chair 2018–2019, helping boards balance integrity, commercial realities and long-term trust.
She has shaped elite sport from inside global governing structures at the International Tennis Federation, helping audiences understand how strategy, rules and competition evolve across international markets.