Alasdair Donaldson

Alumnus Donaldson appointed Head of Para Sport

Alumnus Alasdair Donaldson has been appointed Loughborough University’s new Head of Para Sport.

Donaldson joins the University following almost ten years at British Triathlon where he held the position of Paralympic Pathway Manager.

In his new role – the only one of its kind in the higher education sector – Alasdair will be responsible for defining Loughborough’s strategic direction for para sport and the continued development of the University’s disability sport offer.

He has enjoyed a varied career to date in elite-level sport, including at UK Athletics as an Apprentice Coach for endurance, and SportTayside & Fife Athletics as Development Manager.

Alasdair also worked for two years as Technical Representative at leading sports brand New Balance.

He graduated from Loughborough University in 1998 (BSc Geography and Physical Education & Sports Science) and completed his PGCE Physical Education with Geography the following year.  

“I’m excited about working at Loughborough University and further building on the solid para sport foundations already in place,” he said.

“Loughborough means a lot to me – from the age of 14 I wanted to study here. Since graduating I have lived most of my life in and around the region and I see this as a great opportunity to make Loughborough a truly world-class institution across the whole para sport landscape.

“We want this to be not only the best place for those vying for Paralympic glory, but also an organisation that provides opportunities for all disabled students.

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy sport and physical activity and all the wonderful benefits that it brings.”

Loughborough’s para sport offer continues to evolve with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport the home of world-leading, impactful international research.

In performance sport, Loughborough Lightning Wheelchair Basketball made history by winning the inaugural Women’s Premier League title by going unbeaten throughout the whole regular season and play-offs.

For more information on para sport at Loughborough visit its dedicated website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/para-sport/

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 22/233

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2022 QS World University Rankings – the sixth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2023 and 11th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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