We’re delighted to announce that Eilidh Gibson has joined Women’s Sport Trust (WST) as our first Athlete Programmes and Relationship Manager for Unlocked, our flagship athlete initiative.
An Unlocked alumnus herself, Eilidh brings a wealth of experience from both elite sport and athlete advocacy. A former elite canoe slalom athlete, she founded a voluntary organisation, Slalom Inspires, to encourage women and girls in paddlesport and ran a business importing equipment. Since retiring in 2022, she has delivered youth events with Great Athletes, coached with Paddle Scotland, and worked to make university sport more inclusive at Scottish Student Sport. She also serves as an Athlete Representative on the International Canoe Federation Athlete Commission.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Jacobs Futura Foundation, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to creating lasting, positive change, we’re is relaunching the Unlocked programme. The funding has enabled the appointment of a dedicated manager to lead the programme and strengthen relationships with both Unlocked alumni and the wider athlete network.
The Unlocked programme is a leadership and development initiative designed to support elite female athletes in using their platform to shape the future of women’s sport. Launched in 2020, the programme provides athletes with training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help advocate for greater visibility, investment, and equality in women’s sport.
“My involvement in Unlocked in 2020 had a profound impact on both my professional career and personal life,” Eilidh explains. “What I learnt and who I met continue to influence me today. It was the first time I felt part of something bigger—surrounded by like-minded athletes who shared my passion for change. Unlocked felt like magic, with deep connections, growth, and shared purpose.
“I now realise that it was the Women’s Sport Trust, and the people behind it, who created the conditions for that magic. The same bold belief in athletes, commitment to change, and culture of connection and action runs through the whole organisation. Joining the WST team feels like a full-circle moment. I’m incredibly excited to help carry that energy forward with the next generation of Unlocked athletes.”
“We’re thrilled to have Eilidh join the team,” adds WST CEO Tammy Parlour. “She brings lived experience as an athlete and a deep understanding of what makes Unlocked so impactful. Her passion for athlete voice and meaningful change mirrors our values at WST. With the backing of the Jacobs Futura Foundation, we’re proud to be relaunching Unlocked and continuing to support athletes who want to drive progress and positive change in women’s sport.”
Recruitment for the next Unlocked athlete cohort opens in September, with the programme launching in November. Further details will be announced soon.